Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-03-17
DEMOCRATS TO
SEE A LIGHT
Must Back the Economy and
Efficiency Commissioner
tFrou the NEWS oorrespondent.)

Trenton, March 17.-Democratic
leaders who look farther than the
tips of their noses are coming to see
that unless they spous the SER
Vice OF the Economy and Efficiency
Commission, In its recommendation
to the Legislature, past party
pledges will have been violated ana
the strongest appeal to the people In
the coming state campaign will have
-been discounted by legislative mac
tton. The Republican leaders are
more than content to allow he
democratic Legislature to shoulder
the responsibility of evading the
principle of economy interviewer in
the report of this commission with
Its sample Of a preliminary net an
nual saving Of $4,000.
The bills for which this commits
sion stands committed, and intro
duced by Senator Edge, one of its
members, had the tacit commenda-
ton of Woodrow Wilson, while Gov
ernor and for which he asked legis-
siative consideration prior to his re-
ttrement. They conceive of a union
OF all the oyster commissions, the
two tax departments, the auditing
department with that of the Comp
troller's office, amalgamation of the
functions of the waterways and ca
nal supervision and consolidation OF
all related labor bureaus.
Naturally the adoption Of these
measures means a slight curtailment
of the patronage list, and any oppo-
Bttion to them from Democratic leg
islators Is taken as a confession that
the party of Wilson has gone back to
the spoils system. Ignoring the pro-
.gressive trend Of the age and war;
ranting the Republicans In uniting
to establish true economy and eff
ctey ~ in the state government.
ere are indications that the
Del. cratic leaders see the danger
Of wrecking chances for a long lease
OF power in ignoring this vital issue,
and there were signs at the close
of the weeks session Of the Legisla-
ture that Acting Governor Fielder,
himself a candidate for governor,
would 500 make 1t clear that he
would set up just such a platform az
the Economy and Efficiency Com
mission has made its base OF opera
tons, and which a bunch of over
greedy job seekers would ignore,
and, while temporarily beneitting
themselves, destroy absolutely DEM
"ocratic opportunity in this state.
The friends of Mayor Wittpenn, Of
Jersey City, Fielder's rival for the
nomination, see the necessity for an
overshadowing issue if his appeal
for popular support is to be respect
ed in the primaries, and they may
fnrpp him IN anna ont IN tho oman
and declare for retrenchment in the
operation OF the State government.
Governor Wilson committed his
party to economy and efficiency, it is
held, and no lodging in the Legisla-
-ture will avail, unless it be to cover
the Democracy with confusion. II
Fielder takes advance ground for
this issue, being In a position to ad-
vance the work of a non-partisan
commission, serving without COM
pensation and. it must be admitted,
most heroically In the public inter-
est, it will put something over" on
Wittpenn and meet the slogan to be
@. hurled over the State by the Repub-
licans.
- Proof that the Republicans in the
Legislature are ready to quote Wood
row Wilson in behalf of a perfected
government supervision. and call to
view Democratic pledges, was given
Just before the Senate adjourned for
the week. The resolution calling for
final adjournment about April 3,
was under consideration when Sem
ator Edge took the floor to explain
that six bills asked by the Economy
and Efficiency Commission were still
in committee. The Senator made it
clear that he didn't care II the Leg
islature held on until doom's day,
he would not agree to adjournment
until these reformatory measures
were properly presented and treated
as their merits demanded.
The more Progressive Democrats
are outspoken for the service Of the
. Commission, on which are James F.
O'Mealia, the hustling Supervisor Of
Hudson, and probably the candidate
for Mayor Jersey City, and William
j. Kraft, recently appointed pros
: ecutor OF Camden as one of the last
official acts of Governor Wilson.
These Democrats, at much personal