The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-01-26
TUESDAY. JANUARY Is. 1915
The Legislature.

Legislature now in session in accordance
with platform pledges was plainly indi-
Gated when Senator Mathis of Ocean
County introduced a bill to cut
exorbitant salaries Of certain high offic-
ials. It is generally believed that this
bill will become a law in which event
Senator Mathis states there will be a
saving Of about SIS, 900 annually to the
State.
Some of the reductions set forth in the
bill are: The salary of the Governor is
cut from $4,000 to SO, 500. The Govern
or will retain, however, $500 a year for
serving on the State House Commission
which has made his salary S10,50O. The
salary Of the Chief Justice is reduced
from $4,000 to So. 200, but he will get an
additional 1000 for sitting in the Court
Of Errors. There will be a similar cut
in the C~hancellor's salary. The associ-
ate justices OF the Supreme Court and
the vice chancellors' salaries will go
from s12,O 900 to $500; Circuit Court
Judges rom &c. 0 to $500. The State
Treasurer, Comptroller, Secretary Of
State and Attorney General will be cut
from $4,000 to $4,000. The Supreme
Court Clerk and the Chancery Clerk
from Sc, 000 to $1,000. The Commission
Of Labor from $1,000 to $1,000. The
Commissioner of Education from $4,000
to $1,000. The Public Utility Commits
sioners from $500 to $1,000 and men
lower down in proportion.
In addition to this, another bill for the
reduction Of salaries OF County Officials
perhaps this week which will result, if
passed. in the saving of $500 0 more
making the total saving Of the two bills
$4,000.
The economy and efficiency bills
show a saving of a little more than $780,
900, SO that in all at least $500, 900 annu-
ally will be cut from the expenses of
running the State if all of these bills are
passed.
One Of the planks in the Republican
platform last fall was the reduction Of
exorbitant salaries and that the Repub-
lican majority has thus FASTENED to
carry out this pledge is an evidence Of
good faith that should increase the con-
fidence Of the voters in Republican
principles and Republican methods Of
administering the affairs of the State.
Officials salaries had been boosted out
of all proportion by Democratic Legisla-
lures. 1t is a matter of general know
ledge that New Jersey is paying higher
salaries than other States of similar pop
ulation and income, therefore the bills
introduced along this line cannot be dis
puted IN the ground of justice. There
has never been any good reason why
New Jersey should pay such fancy salar-
les and, now that the treasury of the
State has been emptied by this extrava-
gance, it is high time that the economic
and efficient business system proposed
by the Republican majority be installed.
The economy and efficiency bills have
been widely discussed during the past
week. Democratic newspapers have
vainly attempted to discredit the motive
that brought about the introduction OF
the eight bills by saying that they
were for the n purpose Of legislating
Democrats out of Office. This opinion
has gained no support whatever because
the people understand the true situation
too well to permit it to be in any way
clouded by newspapers that have con-
Goned the extravagances of recent Dem
ocratic Legislatures.
The economy and efficiency bills
represent. as a whole, a plan to benefit
the taxpayers of the State. They seek
to give the State a business-like method
for the transaction of it's business-that
and nothing more. They may not all
become laws in the form in which they
were introduced but the general opinion
is that the fundamental principles will
be adopted.
The fifth of the economy and efficiency
bills which creates a department of labor
and industry by consolidating the pres
ent department of labor statistics, with
an advisory board of eight members, not
more than o from one party and re-
quiring the appointment of three labor /
men on the board, has met with the
greatest opposition. 1t is said that both
the employers and the labor men have
asked to be heard on the bill and Sena-
tor Read stated Tuesday that a date for
such a hearing would be liked next week. !
1t is certain that the claims advanced by |
both sides will receive the most careful
consideration.
1t is most likely hat $40, 900 will be
saved to the State by the bill that was
passed on the opening day of the ses-
sion which compels corporations and
individuals who desire copies of legisla-
tive bills to pay $40 for each set. Last
year it is estimated that the practice of
giving bills free to all who asked for
them cost about $4,000.
In the Senate Tuesday morning,
Minority Leader Hennessy took adyan-
tage of a technicality to legislate against
the farmers of the State. Senator Gaunt
asked that the rules be suspended and a
the Commission on tuberculosis in
Animals for $35, 900. The commission
had advanced the State Board of Health
in the fight on the foot and mouth dis
ease. The bill was reported out of COM
without the signature of the
Democratic member, as called for in the
rules. and the minority leader grasped
opportunity to keep the farmers
out of their money as long as possible.
1t was a piece of petty party politics
on the part of Senator Hennessy that
the farmers are likely to remember.
Minority Leader Martin, in the House
made a futile attempt to assist the
Democratic Common Council of Newark
to further obstruct the administration of
the affairs of that city of opposing the
bill introduced by Assemblyman Wolf
OF Essex, providing that the Mayor of
Newark be authorized to name a clerk !
to be auditor of Newark who can be des-
TO act in the place of the audi
tor. The real fact is that Mayor Ray
named an auditor who the Demo- {
Common Council refuses to con-
firm and relief is sought through the !
bill. Mr.. Martin made a tremen-
dous but unsuccessful effort to distort '
the Wolf bill in a typical Hudson Coun- [