Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1915-02-16
ECONOMY BILLS
ARE REPORTED
IN THE SENATE
Bitter Fight Will FoI|oW--Pro-
vides to Cut Down on State
Boards and Offices-Means
One Waterway Commission.
Special to the EVENING NEWS.

SPtNFut ~ tNc IL iSANtNO I'VE W D.
Trenton, Feb. 16:-The economy
and efficiency bills were reported in
the senate today by the judiciary
committee with numerous amend !
ments. This action was the result !
of the conference of the Republican
legislators held yesterday afternoon
at which these measures were con-
sidered. The amendments will be !
printed and the amendments will
come up for final action later. AS.
there Is considerable difference of
opinion as to some of the merits of
the measures, big fight is expected
before they get through both houses.
The bill relating to the department
of labor is substitute for the meas
ure originally introduced and retains |
General Lewis T. Bryant, Republi- |
can, as the head of the department, |
but merges into it the bureau of sta
tistics. This will legislate out of
office Chief George G. Low, Democrat,
of the Bureau of Statistics. and will |
mean a strong attack from the Demo-
cratic lawmakers. The measuresl
amended mako general chAASes BY
--&s,,'e II tt
| ncrD,a,n were ta1enI pE, !, -. =,
DRY board of eight Il. embers of eacl
consolidated departn2 Mt will selec
the chief of the department, as wei
as the sub-chiefs, and give the COVER
nor the deciding vote in case of a tie
, The original measures provided tha
the governor should name the advis
ory board and also the chiefs, and nj
provision was made for a decision Il
case of tie vote. The bill mergin
several departments into the ney
conservation departments as amend
, ed postpones for one year the consol
idation of the State Water Suppl
Commission. This is in defiance t
Paterson, Passaic and other cities l.
the section who desire the presen
negotiations for a permanent waite
supply to be concluded before the oil
board is abolished. The amendment
strengthen the civil service require
ments in the bills.
Power to Name Engineers.
The Forest Commission, the Gee
!, logical Survey, the Fish and Gam
, Board and the Harbor Commissio
are all given complete power to nam
, their own engineers, directors, et'
The bill merging the engineering de
partment of the state Board {
, Assessors with the Board of Publ
Utility Commissioners, as amended
paves the way for a general stat
!. engineering department If in futur
such policy shall be deemed wis
The bills merge several department
into the department Of conservatio
and development, create the depar
= ment of commerce and navigation b
=, several consultations, consolidat
= the State Board of Assessors and th
!, State Tax Board into a new board {
+. . taxation and assessment; consolidat
!. all the several oyster commission
! into one commission and reorgani2
u the State Board OF Health in additio
to tie change referred to in the labc
? department
. Senator Read, chairman of til
! judiciary commission, said today thu
the amendments are the result of tn
J. Investigations of the committee an
: the public hearings held on the bill
y He declared that the suggestion thu
y the proposed labor consolidation is
= political move is ridiculous. "Tt
j. substitute offered is not alone I'll
committees action he said, "but
the spontaneous demand of the pc,
3 pie of the state, both employers ar
: employees. We expect both politic
parties to support these bills. Thel
can be no legitimate and proper re-
s son why they should not" Senate
Hennessy, the Democratic member
: the Judiciary committee. agreed tt
: amendments should be printed befol
the bills be taken up in order thi
they may be fairly understood.