Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-01-11

W
were not intended and are, therefore,
not equipped They very properly have
their separate establishments under
separate boards Of managers, but these
boards and the superintendent of the
several institutions should be brought
into cooperation and comprehensive
system Of charity and correction made
possible, which will increase efficiency
and prevent waste and Intellectual eff
fort. This can be done by a reform
very similar to that so fortunately eff
fected last winter in the administra-
granting proper supervisory authority
to the commissioner of charities and
correction and associating with him a
small, responsible board, which may in
turn, together with the commissioner,
advise with the superintendents and
directors of the various institutions.
Other states have already shown us
the way in this important reform of or
ganization, and we should feel i'm
PEELED to take it by reasons of hui
manity as we'll as of efficiency and
economy.
Reformatory For Women.
In this connection / would urge very
strongly upon the legislature the need
of a reformatory for women. 4 suit
able site has already been chosen in
Hunterdon county, near Clinton, and
purchased by the authority of the state.
and men and women whom the whole
state knows and trusts have prepared
plans for an institution for which all
recognize the immediate need
There is another matter which
should no longer be left at loose ends
without thorough reorganization.
mean the supervisor of the health of
the state. | intend no criticism of our
excellent board of health, but only re-
peat the testimony of its own members
when | say that our present means for
safeguarding the health of the state
are entirely inadequate 1t is not
generally realized how vast. compli-
Gated and difficult matter it has be-
come since we began to perceive what
it is really the duty of the state to do
for the health of its people. Every
sort of infection must be guarded
against A costly war must be waged
on the mosquito and the housefiy
those active breeders of disease. The
!, dissemination of poisonous gases from
factories, from locomotive engines and
from the vast bodies of smoke which
pervade our cities must be prevented.
The dairy business must be sharply
supervised along with cold storage and
the handling Of foodstuffs in the mar
kets. Oyster beds must be inspected
and guarded against pollution. The
adulteration of foods must be prevent
ed. There must be some thorough and
efficient system of keeping our lakes
and streams from pollution. Sewage
must be supervised and properly regu-
lated. Systematic war must be made
with such diseases as tuberculosis,
and the state must be guarded against
the Introduction of fatal epidemics
from every quarter. Garbage collec-
tion and disposal must be systematized
and regulated. Thorough inspection
must be carried into score of places
where disease is most likely to origi-
nate. Have we the machinery for
these great tasks? Have we made
sure of the service of experts. doc
tors, engineers, biologists. whose ad-
vice will enable US to feel that we
have done our duty by the people of
the state In all the important matter
of the conservation of their lives and
health? Is it not our duty to consider
very carefully and at once the crea-
ton of a thoroughly effective depart
ment of health?
The duty of the state to make
! every service it renders the people
( efficient, responsible and economical.
seems to be one Of the first and most
manifest duties of government. Next
to that is the duty in self governed
/ country of making the representative
| body from which legislation proceeds
| in fact representative, as nearly as
possible mirror of the character and
! opinion of the communities of which
I the state is composed. 1t seems to me
| of the first consequence, therefore. that
/ the promise we have made the people
| of the state, that we would at once
| take the initial steps necessary to
\ effect return to system of assembly
districts in place of county delegations
to the legislature should be redeemed
and that constitutional amendment
/ for that purpose should be submitted
to the vote of the people at the earliest
1 possible time.
/ 1t is equally imperative, as it seems
to me, that the use Of the courts of
| justice by the people should be simpli-
fed and facilitated. Our legal proceed
ure is too technical, too complicated.
/ too expensive, too little adapted to the
use of the poor and unschooled. With
splendid courts of undoubted integrity,
we nevertheless feel that the rich liti-
CANT can tire the poor litigant out and
I