The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-02-23
The LEGISLATURE.

forms 1 which the bills were lntro-
.uced, but such amendments do not in
any particular interfere with the object
for which the bills were intended. On
the contrary the changes will add to the
efficiency of the administration of the
affairs of the State.
The chief general charge is one that
gives the selection of the heads of the
various departments to the advisory
boards instead of having them appointed
by the governor. The governor, how
ever, will have a vote in case of tie.
In accordance with the wishes of Or
gained labor and employers in all parts
of the State, the labor department will
not be disturbed in so far as its pres ent
policy and direction is concerned. Col.
Bryant will be retained and the bureau
of labor statistics and the labor depart
ment will be consolidated.
The addition of the State Water Supply
Commission to the new conservation de-
partmeut will be postponed for n year
in Difference to the wishes of the citizens
of Paterson, Passaic and other cities in
that section of the State who desire that
the present negotiations for apermanent
water supply be concluded before the old
board was abolished. One year is the
time fixed in which the work must be
completed.
Majority Leader Read of the Senate
made the following statement which In
dicates plainly the determination of the
majority to push its economy and eff
cheney plan to a successful conclusion.
1.-THE judiciary CON mittee could see
no reason why the economy and eficien-
cy bills should not be considered as all
other contemplated acts, that is each on
its W merits. The merging of the
bureau of labor statistics to the well Or
gained department of labor is agreed to
on every side, but the necessity of reor-
ganizing the department oflabor because
of this minor addition is universally con-
demned by members Of all parties, and
the Judiciary committee agrees with
this view and is 30 reporting.
1.-THE general change providing for the
bipartisan advisory board to select the
chief as well as the subchief of the de-
parment, with the Governor voting in
case of tie, is likewise the result of the
universal demand of present non-salaried
boards now serving the State and the
unanimous sentiment brought put al
the hearing. This is in no degree what
ever the slightest hit at the Governors
appointive powers, as under the bill the
latter appoints the entire membership
of the advisory board, and / should
think would be glad to be relieved Of
selecting heads which are not political
appointments, but if they are to be
effective must be professional or scien-
tific men. The one unanswerable crit
cism of the advisory board plan, as pro-
vided in the bill as presented, was that
the boards were expected to be response
Bile and yet have nothing to say as tc
the appointments of their chief executive
officers. The opposite is the present
policy in New Jersey and always has
been.
1.-THE Forest Park Reservation, the
Board of State Geological Survey, Fish
and Game Commission, Harbor Com
mission, only created by the Demo
cratic Legislature last year, are all given
complete power to name their engineers
and directors. All these boards are not
salaried and have done most excellent
constructive work.
"Of course the Republicans in the
Legislature well understand that moth
ing would please some of the Democratic
chieftains better than to see us fail in
the passing of these bills as providing a
good GUS for the failure of two Demo-
cratic Legislatures to make good their
pledges to the people in this regard.
But we don't propose to fall"
By far the most widely discussed topic
at the State Capitol this week has been
the Morris Canal abandonment. PARTS
an political efforts have been made by
Democratic members of the House and
Senate and by the Democratic press to
cloud the issue and to hold up the pas
sage of the Godfrey bills that are based
on the report of a non-partisan commits
sion made up from a representative from
each of the twelve congressional districts
in New Jersey but all of these efforts
have served only to increase the de-
mands that the bills be passed.
Two public hearings have been hello
on the Canal bills during the past week
One at Morristown and the other at
Dover-and at each resolutions were un-
animously passed requesting the Legis-
lature to pass the Godfrey bills as intro
duced-without any change.
Thousands of letters have been receiy.
ed endorsing the plan as provided in the
three bills and protesting against the
changes suggested by certain interests in
City.
If the Godfrey bills are passed the
benefits are stated and definite. The
Lehigh Valley Railroad Company is to
pay the State a sum in cash of at least
81 ,O00, 900. In addition all rights that
the company holds through it's original
or has secured by purchase or in
my other way go to the State and fur
her, all rights that have been disposed
# by the Canal Company must be
back and turned over to the
State.
1t is estimated that the water rights
lone that will come to the State will
lave a minimum value of "a, O00, 600 and
will assure all Of North Jersey a free
water supply indefinitely.
The Godfrey bills also provide for a
state Parkway to be developed in the
ed of the canal and this proposition
as been commented on favorablv bv
he most prominent men in every
ounty in the State.
The Democratic press generally favors
he Jersey City plan which proposes to
onfiscate the canal property under quo
proceedings. In the event of
UGH proceedings being successful what
7ould happen? The burden of operat-
lg the canal would fall upon the State
AN expense of $50, 900 annually-and
he canal must be kent in oDeration or