The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1915-03-13
LARGE DEFICIT MAY
MEAN STATE TAX
Republican Legislators Are En-
deavoring to Prevent This
Necessity If Possible.


Trenton, N. j., March 11.-Repub-
lican legislators have devoted con-
siderable of this weeks legislative
period to the discussion of the deficit
in the State treasury, and of how this
deficit shall be overcome.
Price, Waterhouse & Co., expert
accountants, submitted a report to
the legislature which estimated the
deficit at ~$1,435,350.S4. AS a last re-
sort this deficit must be met with a
State tax, but such an action will not
be taken until it is absolutely certain
it cannot be avoided. Senator Read
stated Wednesday that it was by no
means certain that the State tax
would have to be resorted to in order
to meet the emergency, but if there
was no other way out of the difficulty
created by Democratic mismanage-
ment, the Republican majority would
have sufficient courage to accept the
inevitable.
The present distressing financial
condition of the State is due to the
reckless extravaganza of the past
few Democratic administrations. This
fact is set forth in a portion of a
statement given out after a confer
ence this week by the Republican
members of both branches of the leg
islature which reads as follows:
"The indisputable facts, however,
are that the appropriations made a
year ago as compared with the actual
income, resulted in a deficit of ap-
proximately $733, 900. We feel that
the legislature must make some ar
rangement to meet this apparent de-
felt and not shirk the responsibility,
like the legislature of 1914, which
was confronted with an annual ap-
preparation bill of $6,825, 900, and
passed a supplemental bill of $780,
900, which exceeded the estimated
revenue and the $4,000 balance of
funds on hand on October 81, 1918,
by $1,468,000. The problem, there
fore, facing the present legislature is
to raise fully one and one-half million
dollars not now in sight. The first
responsibility, naturally, is to keep
down the appropriations, but no polit-
ical party can evade certain obliga-
tons calling for a proper maintenance
of the States charitable and penal in
situations and business-like manage
ment of the States affairs"
In accordance with the pledges of
the Republican platform, Assembly
man Weart of Mercer County intro
duced a bill Wednesday to econo-
mize in the cost of legislative ses-
sions. The Weart bill provides for a
reduction in salaries for legislative
officers beginning with the clerks of
the two houses and extending all down
the line. A number of minor offices
have been abolished so that a net saw
ing to the State will result of aboat
$1,000 should the bill finally pass.
The bill providing for public mar
kets was passed Monday night in this
House, it having previously met with
the appreciation of the Senate. This
bill fulflls another Republican Party
pledge to provide public markets in
order to reduce the cost of living if
possible.
Senator Mathis bills for the reduc-
ton of salaries of State officials has
been reported out of committee and
is scheduled for final action next
week.
The expected final battle on the
Morris Canal abandonment bills in
PRODUCED by Speaker Godfrey, did not
take place this week. On motion it
was decided to make the Canal bills
the special order of business for next
Monday night at nine o'clock. In the
meantime a conference is to be held
in Newark, at which Speaker God
frey, Governor Fielder and Minority
Leader Martin, of the House, are to
be present.
Senator Hutchinson's Home Rule
amendment passed the Senate on
second reading Tuesday, by a vote
of II to 10. 1t is due for its third
reading next week. There is consid-
cradle opposition to the bill because
it is maintained that it gives munich
palities too great powers. Under it
the Legislature can pass no affirma-
tive laws in relation to municipalities
1t can only pass restraining meas
ures. During the debate Tuesday, it
was pointed out that no restriction
was made in the amendment to the
issuing of bonds by municipalities
and therefore, the passage of the
amendment would at one create a
dangerous condition because the Leg
islature would be powerless to act I'M
til after the harm had been done.
This being the final week for the
introduction of bills in both House
and Senate, the expected happened.
More than 200 bills we're added to the
already long list. making almost 100
bills that have been introduced in the
nine weeks of the session that have
passed into history. Of this number
about $50 are House bills and the bal
ance were launched in the Senate.
Up to the present time the Republi-
can majority has worked steadily and
faithfully TO fulfill its platform
pledges with good result.
Immediately before the session
opened, Senator Read, in an inter
view, stated that there would be no
adjournment until the pledges set
forth in the platform had been full
filed. The record of the session up