Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-20
PRESS BUREAU IS
TURNING EN- OUT
Republican Writers Compile An
other "News Letter" Arraign-
ing Democratic Majority.

TRENTON. March 20.-Another
statement in arraignment of the
Democratic majority in the Legisla-
ture was issued today by the publicity
bureau of the Republican State COM
mittee The statement which is be
ing sent to all the newspapers of the
State scores the Democrats for lack
Of results during the ten weeks of the
legislative session, and says they
have compelled an extra session by
their dilatory tactics.
"Governor Fielder" declares the
statement, has been unable to COM
mand the support of the majority for
his revenue raising bills His attempt
to apply caucus sule led 10 revolt.
There is no assurance that the esti-
mated deficit of nearly S2400000 can
be avoided without the imposition of
q State tax. Although the Senate has
passed q resolution for sine die adj
journment on April the chances are
largely against the session being end
ed on that date"
The statement goes on to prove
how the measures advocated by Gov
ernor Fielder and the Democratic
party were opposed by even the
Democratic assemblymen. The bills
mentioned are those increasing auto
mobile fees, which would bring tho
State from $3.50. 600 to 100000 addi-
tlonal revenue with a loss to the
municipalties by exempting the au-
tomobles from taXation a new di.
rect Inheritance tax and an increase
In the collateral Inheritance tax by
which tho State would gain at least
s5OO000: a change in the system of
bank taxation by which a million
dollars was to be had from the banks
and a raid on the school money de-
rived from railroad taxation.
The statement declares that when
the governor tried to bind the Demo-
cratic assemblymen to him by eau
Gus seven of them walked out and
that James r. Nugent. city counsel
of Newark, notified the governor that
the Essex delegation would not stand
for bills that meant a loss in revenue
to the city OF Newark of $4,000 a
year.
The state Deficit.
In connection with the administra-
tlons school money bill and local
taxations, the statement says:
THE Democratic leaders We're
called on to explain how it was that
q State surplus of over $4,000, 900, left
by a Republican administration, had
beer changed to q State deficit of
over SO DOC, 000-Why these extra taxes
Il
reply from the Democrats bout the
natural increase IN State expenses,
but the Republicans pointed out that
while this increase had cones on dur
ing the fifteen years of their admin
istration, the States revenues had
also increased, without additional
taxation, except upon the railroads,
the additional revenue from this
source being turned over to the school
districts to reduce local taxes. Now
the Democrats proposed to add to the
local burden by diverting from the
school funds to the State account the
amount heretofore provided to pay
the expenses of the commissioner of
education, State Board of Education,
State board of examiners, practise
teaching, free school libraries, indus
trial education and manual training
md State Normal School at Newark.
"In the debate on the administra-
TONS school money bill In the Senate
At was stated that to withdraw the
Etate appropriation from the Newark
Normal School meant imposing
burden of $4,000 annually on the
taxpayers of that city. In every city
where there is an Industrial ana
manual training course the State now
provides n certain sum and like
amount is raised by the school dis
tflct. BY the Fielder plan OF with
drawing direct State support the local
appropriations would have to be
doubled.
In 1909, when, owing to financial
strfngency some reimbursement 81
State and school funds was necessary,
the Republicans, then in power, in
vited the Democratic members OF tho
Legislature to a Joint conference,
where there was mutual agreement as
to a revised State financial policy. No
eli ion has hngn shown To
the minority by the present majority.
The division of the school funds
being made n partisan matter, the
Republicans say they cannot he criti-
cised for declining to support bill
framed in secret by the majority and
presented without sufficient oXplana-
ton or adequate defense from the
democratic leaders. a showdown
has been called for by the minority
ad declined by the majority, who
perforce must get out of their iinan
cial muddle as best they can. The
question as to the amount of State
revenue lost by the Wilson Seven
Sisters laws driving corporations
out of the state remains unanswered.
Criticlses Tax Measures.
The statement continues to rap the
administrations taxation measures
as "a haphazard. makeshift policy
which is not in accord with the
Fundamental principle expressed in
the constitution in this phrase all
property shall he assessed according
to uniform rules" II calls attention
to the "ehaotic" condition of the
States finances due to general
inefficiency."
1.-THE assault upon Ocean Grove
continues the statement, by the pas
cage OF the bill breaking the contract
OF the State with the Ocean Grove
Camp Meeting Association, is bitterly
resented by the Methodists in New
Jersey They say that they have the
sympathy Of the other denominations,
whose rights may be similarly over
ridden to serve political ends
with none OF the administration
measures enacted into law at this
writing" the statement concludes
with the revenue question unsettled
and economy measures halted, with a
public announcement 10y Chairman
Hennessy of the appropriations com
mittee that every State department
and institution must get along with
less money than it claims to need. and
the end OF the session in sight, the
early prediction that Democratic legis-
lative incompetency would be mani
tested is being fulfilled"