The Penn's Grove record., 1917-02-16

- A1tSA9AdANO OOhlAAlltCC appoint
ed last year to inquire into alleged vio-
lations and evasions of the civil service
law submitted it's report to the Legisla-
ture yesterday afternoon. The report
is filed with caustic criticism, many vio-
lations of the civil service act being al
legged. Among these violations are mem
toned the appointment of John A.
Smith, Democrat, of Camden. as State
House Custodian, by the Democratic
State House Commission and the "raid
on civil service by State Comptroller
Edward l. Edwards in instigating the
Legislature to pass the acts which per-
mitted the Comptroller to appoint his
auditors and collateral Inheritance tax
collectors without regard to civil SER
vice, but put those appointed under pro-
lection after serving one year.
The Committee finds numerous defects
in the civil service law and recommends
a complete reorganization of the De-
partment. 1t suggests a new Civil Ser
vice Commission of three members, the
president to give all his time to the
duties and draw a salary of $1,000. the
other two members to be paid $4,000.
The present Commission is composed of
four members, two Democrats and two
Republicans. all of whom are paid
$1,000. The committee proposed eleven
bills to carry out its recommendation.
= = = =
The Pennsylvania Railroad has Just
appointed former Assemblyman Oliver
G. Holcombe, of Lambertville, its spec
ial legislative agent, with headquarters
at Trenton. 1t is said his salary will
be $1,000 a year. Mr.. Holcombe is q
former Mayor of Lambertville and rep
resented Hunterdon county in the As
sembly as a Democrat from 1906 to 1908
and from 1912 to 1914, inclusive.
= y y
Governor Edge has received numerous
letters from citizens of New Jersey of
fering him their services in case of war
with Germany. Among those who have
volunteered in this way are: J. A. II.
Hopkins, of Morristown, chairman of
the Progressive State Committee; G. s.
Atkinson, of New Brunswick, secretary
to United States Senator-elect Freling-
huysen; ex-Assemblyman Frank A. La
Point, of Hoboken; several citizens of
Newark who have not been in public
life, and others. They have all been re-
ferred to Adjutant General Barber.
IuG AldgOT ol EuSelWOOu, DtIStn COuu-
ty. has also rendered to the Governor
the services of the Englewood Motor
Battery, consisting of fifteen motorcy-
cles and sixty rifemen.
The Assembly has adopted a resolu-
offered by Mr.. Pancoast, of Camden. ex-
pressing sympathy upon the death of
Brigaiier General Mather, of Camden.
Gen. Mather had been in the National
Guard since 1889 and was commission
ed Brigadier General on February %,
1913. He served in the war with
Spain as a captain in the Third Regi-
ment.
The railroads of the State have mott
fed the clerks. doorkeepers and pages
of the Legislature that hereafter their
passes will not be honored and they will
be required to pay their fare. This
action follows the decision of the Su-
preme Court declaring two passes void.
= =
The Senate has passed the bill enabl-
ing cities of the State to subscribe funds
toward the expense of the fight before
the Interstate Commerce Commission at
Washington against the unjust lighter
age rates in New York Harbor. 1t is
claimed there is discrimination against
the Jersey side of the harbor making
the freight rates higher than they should
be for points in this State.
+ =
A State Board of Motion Picture Cen
sors is created in a bill introduced in the
Board by Mr.. Badgley, of Essex. The
Board is to consist of three citizens of
the State appointed by the Governor for
three years, salary $500.
Governor Edges special prison inves-
t~igation commission has just submitted
its preliminary to the Governor. 1t con-
tains twelve criticisms of the prison and
makes nine recommendations to correct
the evils complained of. The twelve in
dictments include lack of facilities for
proper physical exercise; poorly cooked
food that is unsatisfactory served in
cells and corridors because there is no
dining hall; when first received c~onvicts
are kept in quarantine cells fourteen
days absolutely without exercise: there
is no proper segregation of prisoners
that may have contagious diseases; the
INV pFONlulHS IOI Ou1S pIlsOHCI " d tSlI
is violated; the State Prison school has
been badly neglected although there is
a law expressly providing for a proper
school; the prisoners are not properly
graded and there is no system of re-
wards as an incentive to good conduct;
the contract labor law is violated; under
existing conditions a prisoner committed
to the Prison suffering with tuberculosis,
upon a sentence of ten years or more,
is practically sentenced t death by dis
ease.
The recommendations are along the
line of reforms to meet these criticisms.
y y y =
Following a conference with State
Treasurer Read and State Comptroller
Edwards, Governor Edge announces that
the State House Commission, which is
composed of these three officials, will