Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-11-06
FINISH SURVEY
OF MUNICIPAL
FINANCE EVILS
Remedies for Present Condi-
tions Offered by Pierson Leg
isIative Committee.
STANDARDIZATION OF +
METHODS is ADVISED
Detailed Report to Come Later.
Bills to Be Presented at
Coming Session.

4 With view to enacting legislation
that will correct certain inefficient
practices. in the affairs of municipali-
ties of the state and likewise present
La nniication and Standardization Of
1 financial matters, the Commission for
the Survey of Municipal Financing
will issue their report about Decem-
Der 15
Practically the work Of this COM
lmission has been completed in so far
as collecting data and inEormafDn
fis concerned. since they have held
Hearings during the past year in every
city and town of the State with a
population of more than 1000 in
l'habiTants. The services OF this prob
ing committee have been conducted
Mn an energetic name. under the
Leadership of Arthur N. Pierson, OF
Westfeld, who with E. Morgan Bar
lradale, of South Orange, IS secretary,
sdid great portion Of the clerical
work.
When the Commission for the Sur
vey Of Municipal Financing was ap-
lpointed by the legislature there was
a general demand from towns and
municipalities for enlightenment and
progress, especially as to their finan-
cial problems. There has been found
ia wide variance of systems In vogue,
with the result that complete unlfi-
cation and Standardization seem to
be a dire necessity IN order that mu-
inequalities may come out in the light
and solve problems that in many
cases are serious ard handicap prog
ress and growth.
In making recommendations and
urging the passage ui laws covering
j thp result of fhelr Investigation It is
briefly tile purpose of the commission
to stop the practice of STAYING off
payday by requiring each yearls adj
bmiuistration to confine itself to tbs
expenditures within the aprropria-
tionS4e be designated as "pay as yos
Has Doubled,
! II has. been disclosed as a reso;i OF
| nurneyQas Aeaxines that the present
condt fiofas shbW the bonded debt os
municipalities and counties OF the
State is between ssOo, ,oo0, 600 and s225,-
0o0.o00. Tho Bonded indebtedness OF
the state has doubled itself in ten
years, and there is another problem
which must be confronted In the rapid
growth of sinking funds, wl1ich at
! present amount to $42. .00g,00e and
/ which must gradually Increase until
the funds amount to over $4,000 600
| Il Is now the purpose of the Com
mission for the Survey of Municipal
| Finance TO present report to the
hpubiic early next month which will
contain number of important
recommendations and likewise review
| the financial methods and conditions
OF various coupties, cities and towns
Of the State. Many evils that bring
about unhappy results lrave been
| found, while on the other hand tie
commission has secured much valu-
able information and data from men
| familiar with municipal finance. The
latter suggestions and information
have been carefully considered and
| will be embodied in certain bills that
are to be presented at the next ses-
sion of the Legislature for enactment
Before the bills are introduced the
commission proposes to give the
widest publicity possible to the inteat
| and purport of their measures and
hearings Will be held wherever re-
| quired, SO that the fullest and most
complete thought can be had on tire
subject. as to whether such legisla-
| ton is desirable.
In beginning their investigation
| early in 1914 the commission set out
to take In as many towns and cities
as possible. City officials, bankers
and other men interested in the finan-
cial affairs of their respective cities
were cordially welcomed to appear
and In nearly every case all phases
of the question were discussed in an
| CONTINUED ON Page ., Column L.,