The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1925-05-28
SAY GOVERNORS
HANDS ARE TIED
Forced to Make Appointments
From Prepared Lists, the Bright
Investigating Committee Is Told.
LIMITED COMPETITION HINT
Information as to Medical and other
Boards Impaired by Witnesses
Detective Trio on Architects Pay
Roll, Committee Informed.

Trenton.-Turning its explorations
into new fields, the Bright Investigat-
ing Committee scrutinized the allied
operations of six State boards whose
function is to license doctors, den
lists, nurses, optometrists. pharma-
cists and undertakers. The major
purpose OF the investigation was to
determine whether the boards were
attempting to create trusts" by max
ing the entrance requirements so
rigid that competition would be kept
to minimum through the exclusion
OF new practitioners.
An important disclosure was the
fact that notwithstanding the Cover
nor is the constitutional appointing
power, his functions are, in effect,
virtually usurped by the dental. phar-
maceutical and kindred associations.
The committee learned to its surprise
that the Governor is compelled to Sc
lect board members from lists sub
mitted to him by these organizations.
It likewise learned that. in many
cases, members of the State boards
have not hesitated to lobby in the
legislative halls for pet bills and
amendments. most of which are de-
signed to make it increasingly diff
ficult for newcomers to get in.
The committee, which resumed its
sessions at the State House, detoured
only once from its examinations of
the officers of the several boards.
That was when it called Charles P.
Messick, secretary of the Civil Ser
Ice Commission, to try to find out the
peculiar duties of Investigator No. 1
and Investigator No. 2, the twin
sleuths of the Department of Insti-
tutions and Agencies.
All the committee was able to find
out was that the private Sherlocks
OF Commissioner Lewis have already
cost the State about $500 and that
William c. Mullin, of Paterson, has
annexed himself to the State payroll
permanently at $4,000 a year as chief
investigator Incidentally, it was dis
closed that Commissioner Lewis is
the only departmental head who
seems to need private detectives.
What he needs them for nobody
seems to know, but the committee
will try to find out and Mr.. Mullin
will be subpoenaed to testify in the
near future.
After the Institutions and Agencies
Department came the undertakers.
John F. Martin, secretary of the I'm
dertakers' and Embalmers' Board,
was called as the main witness be-
fore the committee. He told Of his
boards activities-one OF which seem
ed to be losing examination papers,
with the official answers attached.
Says There Had Been "Slip"
A copy of the examination papers
was produced at the hearing by Sena-
tor Woodruff He exhibited it and
asked Martin how 1t got out of his
possession Mr.. Martin said he did
not know and declared that only the
board members, himself and his
stenographer had access to the docu-
ment He wanted to know where
Senator Woodruff had obtained his
copy and the latter replied that a
man" had given it to him. Mr..
Martin commented that there must
have been a "slip" somewhere and
the committee solemnly agreed with
him.
Mr.. Martin said he would like to
investigate the mystery of the vanish
ing papers and Chairman William H.
Bright intimated that the committee
expected to do that very thing itself.
This leads to a very interesting
situation" remarked Mr.. Bright. "I'm
wondering If there is a possibility of
these questions getting out before
examinations are held"
Mr. Martin said he was at a loss
to understand the matter and init
mated that he had been offered brides
on occasion to part with copies of the
questions and answers used in the
State examinations.
"As much as $5OO?" asked Mr..
Woodruff.
"Oh, yes" responded Martin, "as
much as $1,000"
When pressed by the committee as
to the requirements for prospective
embalmers. Mr. Martin suddenly in
terrupted the interrogation by ex-
claiming:
II don't want you gentlemen to
think that there Is any effort to make
q closed monopoly of embalming."
In order to become an embalmer,
applicants must have a grammar
school education and three years ap-
premiership. Martin explained. in
answer to questioning. that an under
takers license could not issue unless
the candidate was an embalmer One
exception to this rule, however, was
in the case OF an individual who in
corporated and placed at the head OF
his business a duly licensed EN-
balmer
It was brought out during the days
hearing that Adolphus H. Corwin. who
for years was an Official investigator
for the medical and dental boards is
no more. Dr. John G. Forsyth. Of
Trenton. secretary of the State DEN
fol Qoard inforuad fha4 committees