Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-01-10
In Message Urges Van Ness Law Repeal
and Of State Police; Tax on Gasoline for Highway Fund

thousand ceres were burned within
W. weeks but emphasize the haz-
ard that we constantly face.
The forest fire service now costs
the state two cents an acre a year,
and gives full value for the outlay,
but falls far short OF complete eff
cheney. For not over four cents an
acre, an organization can be main
tanned that will effectively handle
critical as we'll as ordinary seasons,
put GU two million acres OF forest
on a secure, productive basis, and
raise their assessable value from a
meagre si1: or eight millions t. a pos
sible two hundred millions. And
this takes no account of the value of
forest Fairgrounds to a population
forced to live chiefly in cities. 1t
will take time to accomplish this.
but a beginning is better now than
later.
The appropriations committee, II
seems to me, should take up at once
with the department of conservation
and development. consideration of
to what extent the efforts of that de-
partment towards saving our forests
can be augmented through an in
creased appropriation.
Memorial mt Washington Crossing
The small appropriation made by
the last legislature to acquire the
Mckonkey ferry house and start this
long deferred project has had the
effect of arousing various interests
to the practical value of a worthy
state undertaking. 1t is in every
way desirable thaJ there shall be a
definite legislative determination of
the character and extent of the state
program, and that there shall be a
reasonable appropriation year by
yeac to carry it forward.
State Department of Institutions
and Agencies
There are approximately 10000
residents of our state who are who'll
ly or partly dependent, and who are
wholly or partly disabled and in
competent from the following caus-
es-tuberculosis. feeble mindedness,
insanity, blindness and hayward
less.
The existing state institutions are
incapable of caring for these people.
On the contrary, because of the lack
of the right kind of curative facili-
ties and lack of room, the institu-
tons, are now overcrowded.
Moreover, the increase of crime
among men and ONE is most
disquieting. This situation can be
helped, provided proper facilities
are furnished looking toward the
reforming of this class of young
offender. who has not yet reached
the state prison stage. If such of our
state institutions as Railway Reform
atory, ~Jamesburg School for Boys,
Girls Home at Trenton and if new
training schools for the feeble-mind-
el, unstable and delinquent youth of
the state were provided with proper
facilities for the car and rehabili-
tation of this youthful class of de-
pcndents and delinquents, a large
amount of preventive work can be
done. Similar facilities should be
provided for the prevention. cure
and care of the ~tuberculous and in
sane.
The accomplishments at the state
hospitals during the past few years
have demonstrated beyond question
that there are many of h states
wards who can be returned TO more
or less useful occupations in then
respective communities if adequate
preventive and curative treatment
can be furnished, and who will 9TH
erwise become custodial cases,
which means that the 2tate will be
obliged to care for them until they
die. This would mean a distinct and
certain saving to the state.
The state has always, and does now
lack facilities for preventing crime
end disease, and it is with reference
particularly to this phase of the sit
uation respecting state institutions
and agencies that l desire to call
the attention of our citizens and the
legislature.
The referendum which was sub
to the people at the last gem
eral election, authorizing a bond is
sue for the institutions in which the
wards are housed, was repec-
ted by the people. Nevertheless, the
must make provision for prop
erly housing and caring for those
unfortunates. In view of the eX-
pressed view of the electorate that
there should not be a bond issue,
it now seems to be encumbent upon
the legislature to provide some 9TH
method of raising the necessary
funds, and 1 call this matter to your
so that the appropriation
committee may begin it's considera-
ton of the matter just as soon as it
is organized.
Employers Liability Law
New Jersey was among the first
to adopt a workable compensation
and did 81 during 1911.
The maximum payment was fixed at
that time at $1,000 and the minimum
at $500. During the session of 1919
these payments were increased to a
of $1,000 and a minimum
of $500. When due consideration is
given to the present purchasing
power of a dollar, it is quite appar-
.nt that instead of an increase there
has been to all practical purposes
D. material decrease in the compen-
at present paid to the work
ers in this state.
Several of the provisions of the
law would seem to require change,
the payment for total dis
cases, which now receive
compensation for only 400 weeks.
whereas many progressive states
make payment in such cases for
life. 1t would appear reasonable to
compensation for dependent
children until they reach the age of
eighteen years. or at least sixteen
years, and not limit the payments
as in the case of the New Jersey
900 weeks.
The present limit for medical aid
Of $4,000 for the first % days is
entirely inadequate for the reason
in all cases of serious injuries,
first, either the worker does not re-
the are his condition war
rants. or. second. if such are is fur
him the doctors fee must be
paid by the worker usually from his
compensation payment. or, third, the
doctor does NOT get maid for reason