The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1915-01-30
LEGISLATIVE MILLS
GRINDING RAPIDLY
More Real Progress Made Than
Ever Before so Early in Ses-
sion--Much Work Ahead

Trenton, N. j., January 28.-On
the eve of last falls election it was
announced by the Democratic admin
istration that there was a surplus in
the state treasury at the end of the
fiscal year, October 81. In view of
the fact that the annual report of
the State Comptroller showed a o n
siderable deficit and the further fact
that the Republican leaders and cam
paign orators steadfastly insisted
that the treasury of the State had
been depleted by Democratic extrav-
agances the voters were somewhat at
sea as to the actual condition of the
States finances.
One of the initial moves of the Re-
publican majority in the present ses-
sion of the Legislature was to APP
point a committee to ascertain wheth-
err or not the statement of the Demo-
cratic administration last fall was
misleading and also the true condi-
ton of the treasury at the time the
Republican Party assumed charge of
the affairs of the State. That com
mittee has not made a formal report
as yet, but it is stated on good au-
thority that all Republican conten-
tons as to the existence of a deficit
at the close of the last fiscal year
were correct and that the present
condition of the treasury is such as
to make the financial problem facing
the Republican majority a most SER
ious one.
1t is a matter of general knowledge
around the State Capitol that bills
against the State have not been paid
until long after presentation simply
because there were no funds avail
able with which to meet them. In
addition the salaries of the present
members and officials of the Legisla-
lure were only paid in part instead
of in full as has been the custom in
pass years.
This embarrassing situation is due
entirely to the mismanagement of the
Democratic majorities since the ad-
vent of Wilson as governor. The en-
which have never been enforced,
the States income but added to this
were numerous unnecessary expendi-
lures that have saddled the State
with a burden of debt that now falls
to the lot of the Republican admin
lSCTdIlOl W I'LL. IL Is 6ApeCIeu IlldI
some official report as to finances will
be made soon after which some meth
cd of solving the problem will be
worked out.
In the meantime it will be readily
recognized that the bills that have
been introduced along the line of re-
trenchment have been compelled by
the urgent necessities of the situa-
tion.
This weeks session saw more real
progress made in the work to be ac-
complished than is generally recorded
before the half way point of the Leg
islature has been passed. This is no
more than was to be expected after
witnessing the earnest and business
like opening two weeks ago but it
proves that the whirlwind getaway
vas not a flash in the pan.
The new plan of devoting the Tues
day morning hours to the committee
meetings was inaugurated this week
and to it must be credited the great
amount of business disposed of Tues
day afternoon.
The spectacular feature of the week
was furnished Monday when the
suffrage amendment was given an
airing. The representatives of the
suffragettes and the ants assembled
at the State House in force offering a
considerable display of forensic effort
that appears to be a waste of time in
view of the fact that both parties are
pledged in their respective platforms
to pass an amendment that will place
the matter for decision before the
voters of the State next fall. Appar-
emily the antis are as anxious as their
opponents that the citizens of New
Jersey should be given an o%pportun-
ity to vote on the question as they
did not oppose the amendment at
Mondays hearing.
The expected opposition to the
Economy and Efficiency bill that con-
solidates the Labor Bureau with the
Bureau of Labor statistics developed
this week. Organized labor spoke
against any change in the present
management of the department. 1t
is understood, however, that the chief
concern is that the proposed CONSOLE
dation may bring about the removal
of Colonel Lewis T. Bryant as the
department head. The meeting was
held before a Senate committee and
at its conclusion Senator Read an
nounced that a public hearing on all
Economy and Efficiency bills would
take place next Monday morning
when an opportunity would be given
to every one who desires to speak on
any of the eight measures.
Tuesday afternoon, ~Assemblyman
Quinn presented a memorial inform
ing the Legislature of the stand of
organized labor on all proposals af-
fecting labor. 1t contained protests
against the economy and efficiency
plan to create a new board of labor
and industry, wants the present labor
department retained, is opposed to
the plan to have unpaid advisors, adj
vocates the merger of the bureau of
statistics into the labor department,
requests the creation of a salaried
commission to supervise payment of
damages for injury or death of work
ers, asks for a Standardization of san
~itation requirements in factories, sug-
gests that advertisements for help in
shops where strikes are in progress
shall tell of the strike demands repu-