Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-01-18
THINGS TALKED ABOUT

A good many people are already
talking about National delegates, and
it is intimated that there are to be
candidates pledged and unpledged.
The Salem Sunbeam talked on the sub
iect last week and named a citizen of
Gloucester county for the honor. We
copy the Sunbeam's article in full:
.'Tn very short time, now, we will
be electing the delegates to represent
us at the great National Convention
called TO nominate candidates tor
president and vice-president. Ex-Gov.
Murphy, who has a big say in what
the Republicans of this State will do,
announces that the delegates to the
Republican convention will be elected
in the time-honored way by conven-
tion, but the Democrats will probably
elect their delegates at a primary to
be held for that purpose. The Con
gressional district will be entitled to
two delegates to each of the big con-
ventions and we may expect to see
the worthiness and fitness for the hon
or of many men discussed between
now and the time of election. There
is one Democrat in South Jersey
whom we would like to see honored
if he desires the honor and that is
Editor James d. Carpenter, of the
Woodbury. democrat" For gem
GRAFTON Bro. Carpenter has been fig
ing the battles OF. Democracy and has
never been seeker for reward. In
victory or in defeat the columns OF
the, Democrat" have reflected his
optimism and his unyielding faith in
the principles of his party. Safe
and sane apply to him every day in
the year. He is a Democrat every
time and all the time, and his DEM
ocracy is recognized as an ornament
even by his political opponents. If
he desires to go as delegate to our
National Convention and help NOM
mate our governor as our party's can
didate for the presidency, or if, with
no desire for the honor, he is willing
to go as our representative, the honor
could be bestowed on no one more
worthy"
Previous to the enactment of the
law placing the offices of Sheriff, Sur
rogate and Clerk on a salary basis, it
was supposed that the fees of those
Offices yielded fat salary and that
on a salary basis they would yield
nice revenue to the counties. But the
experience is. otherwise. In this coun-
ty the entire fees of the Surrogate's
office for the year 1911 yielded $4,-
s77S. SO. Salaries alone were. $500,
and advertising, and maintenance
must be deducted from the balance,so
there can be very little, if any, bal
ance for the county out of that.
The fees from the Sheriffs Office
were $2,443.43; salaries $500, and
advertising fees and maintenance, so
that office was conducted at loss.
The fees from the Clerks office
amounted to $7,527.49, and salaries
7,23264 The Clerk says that approx
innate value of services his Office rem
ders the county, if paid for on the fee
basis would amount to about $4,000.
This being SO, the experience is that
in this county the receipts from the
offices just about wipe the slate clear
Certainly they are not big source of
revenue.
The cold weather is the principal
topic of talk these January days, and
a good many people are busy in un-
accustomed ways-thawing frozen
water pipes and making an extra shift
stoking the furnace.
80 ~
Closely allied with the extra coal
consumption is the ash question. The
city men were so busy with city work
last week that the usual ash gather
ing service was neglected, and ashes
adorn the curbs on many streets. And
while the cans thus stand the supply
is increasing in cellars, and we are
returning to the had scheme of stor-
ing ashes in the cellar. tsld this calls
to mind that the plan of gathering
ashes weekly is not only great con-
venience to house-holders but is
safeguard against fires, and makes
for health and comfort of the home.
We want to commend Council for in
augurating it, and pray them to re-
sumo it as soon as the water system
requires less attention.
***
Beware OF riders Six young
Trenton people, three boys and three
girls, all in their teens, went on such
ride last Thursday night. After
spending SSNSIdI uOuIS III iDdu
house, they started home, and five or
the party met death in the bottom OF
stream of waer The survivor walk
ed, ran and crawled two miles for
aid. The speedoneter showed the car
was going 20 miles an hour when it
skidded into the stream.
#s* **
There is bill before the Legisla-
ture to abolish Boards of Chosen
Freeholders, as at present constituted,
and adopt the small Board system.
In counties of Gloucester's class we
would have three freeholders, at an
annual salary Of $1,000 each. The
Gloucester County Democrat has be-
lieyed that township representation
was the ideal method for county gov
ernment, but the success of the small
boards in other counties. and the rapid
increase in county expenditures here
under the old system, has somewhat
shaken our ideals in that regard. The