Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-25
Majority Wants Bryant Re-
tanned as Labor Head, With
Additional Duties.
Continued from First Page,

| ployes.
! THE Commissioner of Labor to be
| subjected to the directions and gen
| eral policies established by the board
and to be charged with the super
vision of the employees and with the
| management of the detail affairs of
| the department The Commissioner of
| Labor to be subject to removal from
| office for inefiiCiencY or proper cause
upon the recommendation of the ma
| jority of the advisory board to the
/ Governor and upon proper hearing
| by the Governor, who shall have au-
! thOrity, if he deems the cause SUI
! ficient, to remove the said Commits
sioner of Labor from office. The mem
| bers of the advisory board shall serve
without compensation. but shall be
| reimbursed for their actual expenses
and shall hold meetings at least once
each month in Trenton, or at such
place or places as the services Of the
State demand.
Cut Bryants Salary.
THE salary of the Commissioner Of
Labor should be fixed at $1,000 per
annum, as we believe that the present
salary paid is eXtravagant. In order.
however. that the salary Of the said
| Commissioner of Labor can be nd-
| justed in accordance with the Consti-
tutional limitations. this reduction
should be made to take effect M the
expiration of the term of the present
! incumbent
I'm 1878 the Legislature resolved
that:
Whereas, as guardians of the pub
| lie welfare, the State authorities are
called upon to consider, and in all
| legitimate ways endeavor TO improve
the physical, mental and moral condi-
tions of the citizens Of the State. es-
| pecially those whose daily toll con-
tributes so largely to the prosperity
of manufacturing and other produce
tive industries: therefore,
"A bureau of statistics should be
created, the chief of which should be
appointed by the Governor, subject TO
the confirmation of the Senate
THE salary of the chief was fixed at
81, 500 per annum. At the present
time the bureau consists of a chief, a
deputy chief three clerks and a stem
ographer. The reasons for the crea-
ton Of the department were chiefly to
improve conditions of those employed
in the various industries of the State.
However, when the comprehensive
| law of 1894 was enacted in its forty
six sections, regulating the age, en-
ployment, safety, health and working
hours of help in factories, it re-
suited in the establishment of the
department of labor with a compre-
hensiVe organization. AS heretofore
stated, the enlargement of its func-
tions, through rulings and enact
ments, including the merger of the
work of the Employers Liability
Commission, 1t is today the logical
department to handle and supervise
the work heretofore conducted by the
bureau of statistics
Would Merge Departments.
while this committee believes that
the work of the bureau of statistics
has been efficient and has contributed
much valuable data in the interests OF
the people of the State, it is, never
theless, true that the department of
| labor is likewise conducting a statis-
tical department that in many ways
creates duplication of work. In our
opinion there should be but one State
body charged with control over this
particular subject of labor and in
dustry. The department of labor
should be such in fact. and upon it
should be placed the duty and re-
sponsibility, not alone for enforcing
| the laws for the regulation of labor,
| but also collecting and tabulating all
| data in reference thereto, to our in
| dustries and Industrial possibilities.
| THE bureau of statistics and de-
partment of labor are so closely re-
! lated that, in our opinion. they should
mot be separated, and especially is
| this so when we find that the depart
ment collecting the statistical in
| formation is not at the present time
properly equipped to verify the re-
ports which it receives. The equip
ment, staff and routine of the labor
department would permit of such col
| lection and Verlfication were the work
of the two departments combined.
I'VE are, therefore. recommending
| that the position of the chief of the
| bureau of labor statistics be termi q
| mated; that the department of labor
| succeed to all of the powers and
| duties of the bureau of statistics of
| labor and Industries. This merger
with the department of labor will no
| doubt render unnecessary some, If
| not a substantial part of the help
| now employed by them, but We feel
| that those in charge of the admins
| tration of the labor department will
| do well to consider the ACCESSIBILITY
! of retaining that portion of the staff
| Of the bureau of labor statistics
| which has been accountable for the
| excellent statistical reports which
| have emanated from that depart
ment. The combining of all of the
J statistical work in relation to our
! labor and industries with the depart
| ment of labor ought to create not
/ alone a more efficient handling of this
! particular branch of work, but result
| in actual economies amounting to a
4 considerable annual saving
| THE supervision of the work of the
| labor bureau by an advisory board
/ such as we have herein recommended
| should result in added economies of
a substantial nature"
| Assemblyman McDermott's report
| is as follows:
"The subscribers cannot assent to
| the conclusions reached by other
! members of the commission, and
| therefore submit their views sepa-
| rately.
The work of the commission has
ontailed the unwelcome task of pro-
| posing the adjustment of many Off :
| ces. In order that this might be
/ done with as much impartiality as
/ the circumstances would admit of, it
! was definitely decided as a rule to
! govern the recommendation of the
| commission, that, when it dealt with
/ a department of the State, it would
| treat all of the superior officers of
| such department alike, by terminal
! ing their tenure Of office, and by
| leaving it to the governor to reap
| point whomsOever he might choose.
For instance. it was at first pro-
posed that the head of the bureau
| of shell fisheries be retained. After
| discussion ii was decided that this
| might appear partial. Later it was
! proposed that the State Board of AS
/ SCISSORS be abolished and their func-
tons transferred TO the Board of