Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-25
ECONOMY BOARD
IS DIVIDED OVER
COLONEL BRYANT
Majority Wants Him Retained
as Labor Head, With Ad-
ditional Duties.
WOULD GIVE HIM CHARGE
OF STATISTICS BUREAU
McDermott Faction Demands
His Dismissal on Evidence
of the Recent Probe.
Especial to the Evening star.I

TRENTON, March 25.-Two reports
We're submitted by the memoers OF
the Economy and Efficiency Comm s.
sion to Governor Fielder today. Both
treat of the recent investigation OF
the department of labor, but they
provide different remedies for the
deficiencies In the administration Of
that department which are admitted
by both reports. Under ordinary cir
cumstances one would be termed the
major 'ty, and the other, the minority
report, but Assemblyman Walter L.
McDermott, who maintains that
things have not been properly con-
Quoted in the labor department by
Col. Lewis 7. Bryant for years past,
will not admit that his Is a minority
report
State Senator Walter E. Edge, OF
Atlantic county. Samuel Ludlow, Jr.,
of the Union Trust Company, or Jer-
sey City; Supervisor James O'Mealia
of Hudson county and former Sena-
tor Isaac n. Nichols, Of Cumberland
county, signed the report which would
figure as a majority report, If all of
them were qualified to sign. Assem-
blyman McDermott claims that the
term of office of Senator Nichols ex-
pired with the election of Senator
Ackley, a Democrat, to succeed him
as State senator.
With Senator Nichols off the sigma
lures of the majority report" and
Commissioners Krafts sentiments still
n doubt, Assemblyman McDermott
refuses to refer to the report signed
by himself and Assembly William f.
Mount as q minority report.
Senator Edges report recommends
doing away with the Labor Statistics
Bureau, which seemed to come
through its investigation with flying
colors, while the recommendation Is
made that the labor bureau, with Col
Bryant still at its head, take over
the duties of the statistics bureau.
Assemblyman McDermotts report
recommends the merging of the labor
department with some other depart
ments. with the incident decapita-
ton of Commissioner Bryant, just as
the commission recommends the same
sort of changes with other depart
ments.
Senator Edges report is as follows:
Edges MAJORITY" Report.
I'm the report of this commission
submitted to this Legislature accom-
panied by a message from his excel
lency. Governor James f. Fielder
dated February 16, 1stg,s ws fua lie
reference 10 certain INVESTIGATIONS
that were under way with regard to
the organization and conduct of the
department of labor. -
I'VE postponed making report or
recommendation concerning this de-
partment until we could secure addi- |
ttonal data. but agreed that report |
would be submitted during the term
of the present Legislature. In ac-
cordance with this promise. this com
mission has caused an examination
to be made in the affairs of the de- |
partment of labor In quite consider |
able detail. We have come to the |
conclusion. as result Of this inves- |
tigation. that the labor bureau .s
conducting an extremely important |
branch of State activity. The scope |
OF the work OF this department is |
from year to year being enlarged and |
is becoming more and more a de- |
partment involving considerable State
Under the present law regulating |
the organization and MANAGEMENT of |
the department. 1t is under the super-
vision of only one person under the |
title of commissioner of labor. BY |
reason of the nature of the work of
the department the commissioner is
charged with not alone establishing
the general policies affecting the con-
uhiL VI Nit OtDdi LtIlbDL WiIHlil Lllf
statutes. but also with the selection
and direction of the employees.
I'VE believe. under the circum /
stances. that this department should
be organized in accordance with tho
general plan Of organization which
this commission has heretofore rec
for other departments of
the state. In other words. that the
commissioner in active charge of the
work of the department be under the
general direction of an advisory
visorY board for this department
We're established that greater ef-
ficlency and economy would result
and that the State would thereby
have an added check and safeguard
now denied by reason of what might
appear one man management.
Recommends Advisory, Board.
I'VE. therefore. respectfully recon-
mend that an advisory board be add
ed to the organization of the State
department of labor TO consist of six
members to be appointed by the gov
ernor. by and with the advice and
of the Senate. at least two
of whom are to represent employed
capital of the State and two the
abor interests of the State. not more
han three members to be representa-
ltive OF any one political organ
zation. The term of office of the
board to be for a period OF three
Years. the term of the first board tn
be so arranged that two members
.erms shall expire the first wear. two
The second year and two the third
year The board to have the author
tv to establish the general policies
If the department of labor and to
!