The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1915-03-06
REPUBLICANS PASS
ECONOMY MEASURES
Stoutly Opposed by Democrats,
Notwithstanding Latter's Re-
cent Campaign Pledges.

ators performed their part, Monday
night, of ~redeeming the pledge in
their party platform to give to the
people of New Jersey economy and
efficiency in the administration of the
business of the State by passing the
eight measures known as the economy
and efficiency bills.
This was only accomplished after n
of the hardest battles the Senate has
witnessed in years, owing to the Bit
ter opposition of the minority under
the leadership of Senator Hennessy
of Bergen county.
1t should be difficult for the Dem
ocratic Senators to explain to the
people why they opposed the eight
bills when they were all pledged in
their platform to provide economy
and efficiency. There can be no logi-
cal excuse for the bills passed Mon
day night, all good, honest and fair
measures that will insure to the State
a government along strictly business
lines.
With the exception of the bill con-
solidating the labor departments,
each of the other seven bills provide
for a bipartisan advisory board of
eight members to be appointed by the
governor. The advisory boards are
empowered to select the heads of
their respective departments in ac-
cordance with the precedent estab-
lished by all other similar boards in
the State government. In response
to a State wide demand by organized
labor and employers, the present adj
ministration of the labor department
is not disturbed in Senate Bill No. 5
other than to consolidate the depart
ments and save considerable money
in salaries.
In his fight against the economy
and efficiency bills, Senator Hennessy
placed himself in an extremely en-
ba~rrassing position. He objected to
the bipartisan advisory boards of
eight members and offered amend
ments to the bills, making the boards
comprise only five members. Such
an act was entirely a~ntagonistic to
the economy and efficiency plan be-
cause it would have created partisan
boards. The fundamental principle
of economy and efficiency from its in
ception has been the elimination of
politics and the establishment of
business methods.
The Economy and Efficiency Com
dlloStOUs HIiduc up VI SlA bOllOSIdCo
and one Republican, submitted as it's
members on advisory boards, but this
advocating and fighting for a parti-
san board of five members.
The Democratic Senators must also
answer TO organized labor for solid1y
opposing Senate No. 5, after its pas
sage had been asked for by represen-
tatives Of $4,000 w~orkingmen at pub
lie hearings. Senator Hennessy offer
ed as an amendment the original Sen
ate Nos, which was opposed by
organized labor generally and against
which, A~ssemblyman Arthur A. Quinn
a Democratic member of the present
House and President of the State Fed
GRAFTON of Labor spoke at one of the
hearings at the State House.
President Edge surrendered the
chair to Senator Gaunt to lead the
fight for the bills on the floor. In
every argument against the bills as
amended, he COMPOUNDED the opposi-
ton proving conclusively that the
bills in their present form are better
business measures than when orig
inally reported from the Economy and
Efficiency Commission.
Senator Read of Camden as chair
man of the Judiciary Committee, ex-
planned the amendments and why they
were made. Those dealing with the
civil service amendments, he assured
the Senate, were prepared by the Civ
il Service Commission through Gard
ner Colby. They we're not Republi-
can amendments. With regard to
the shifting of the appointing power
from the Governor, Mr.. Read, nam
ing the various boards being merged
challenged the minority to show
wherein the Governor at present
names any executive heads of these
departments or other employments.
He read letters from members of
some of the boards affected, suggest
ing the changes providing for the APP
pointment of executive heads and
other employees by the boards charg-
ed with che management of the de-
partments.
Monday night the Morris Canal
abandonment bills, with amendments,
were reported in the House by AS
semblyman B~arradale, chairman of
the committee on Railroads and
Canals, and Tuesday afternoon the
amendments were made the special
order of business In the House. SO
far as the happenings of this session
are concerned those favoring the God
frey bills were victorious on every
vote taken. The first clash was when.
Minority Leader Martin moved that
the House go into a conference as a
committee of the whole. This plain
W evident attempt to filibuster was
defeated by 33 to %.
The second defeat for the oppon-
ents of the Godfrey measures came
when an amendment to change the
sum to he paid the State by the Lee
high Valley Railroad Company from
$500 900 10 50, 500, 900 and the third
showing of strength by the Godfrey
men was when Mr.. Martins Canal
abandonment bill, offered in slightly
changed form as an amendment, was
lost.
From three o'clock until late in