Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/519

NEW JERSEY. is returned to the towns. This is therefore a State tax in form only.

The income of the State Government is derived from taxes on railroads (70 to 75 per cent.) and other corporations (15 per cent.), and fees, licenses, etc. Since 1890 taxes on new corporations, of which so many have been formed in New Jersey, have constituted a large share of the receipts. In 1902 the total receipts of the general State fund were $4,317,846, of which $2,866,363 came from corporation taxes. The expenditures reached $3,924,811, leaving a balance of $393,035. But of the general fund, $883,978 was distributed among the counties for school purposes. Besides, the State collected and redistributed among the counties $1,486,806 as school tax, and $400,784 as a local railroad tax. The school fund amounts to $3,839,692. Though there was no debt, the sinking fund contained $172,550.

. The present Constitution was ratified by the people in 1844, and amended at a special election in 1875. Proposed amendments must receive the approval of a majority of the members elected to both Houses at two consecutively chosen Legislatures, and afterwards the approval of a majority of the qualified electors. But amendments cannot be submitted to the people oftener than once in five years. Voters must be citizens who have resided in the State one year, and in the county five months. An elector is not deprived of his vote by reason of being in the actual military service of the army or navy of the State or United States. The registration of voters is required by law. The capital is Trenton.

. The Legislature, meeting annually, and unlimited as to session, is composed of 21 Senators, one from each county, elected for three years, and of Representatives, not to exceed 60, elected for one year, from the counties on the basis of population, every county being at all times entitled to one member. The salary of a Representative is $500. State elections are held annually on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Revenue bills originate in the Lower House.

. The Governor is elected for three years, and cannot be reëlected until three years shall have elapsed. He can convene extra sessions of the Legislature or of the Senate alone. The Governor's veto of bills or items of appropriation bills is overridden by a majority vote of the whole number elected to each House. In conjunction with the six judges of errors and appeals and the Chancellor, the Governor grants pardons, etc. The president of the Senate and the Speaker of the House respectively succeed to the Governorship in case of a vacancy. The State Treasurer and Controller are appointed for three years by the Senate and General Assembly in joint meeting. The Attorney-General, prosecutors of the pleas, clerk of Supreme Court, clerk of the Court of Chancery, Secretary of State, and keeper of the State prison are appointed for five years—by the Governor and Senate.

. The distinction between courts of law and courts of equity is still maintained in New Jersey. The judges are appointed by the Governor, the judges of the Supreme Court and Chancellor for seven years, others for five years—all subject to confirmation by the Senate. The

first or lower courts are the county courts of common pleas and oyer and terminer, presided over by a single judge; an orphan's court; and court of general quarter sessions of the peace. Next above is the Supreme Court, which makes the circuit of the State, and is composed of a Chief Justice and eight associates. A prerogative court is presided over by the Chancellor alone. The Court of Errors and Appeals in the last resort is composed of the Chancellor, the justices of the Supreme Court, and six judges specially appointed. The Senate acts as a court for the trial of cases of impeachment.

A wife holds property acquired before marriage free from control of her husband or liability for his debts. If living with her husband, she cannot convey her real property without his consent. The legal and only rate of interest is 6 per cent. A State Board of Agriculture was established in 1886, and there are a board of health and bureau of vital statistics. Each city and township is required to have local boards of health.

County sheriffs and coroners are elected by the people for terms of three years, but cannot be their own immediate successors. The counties also elect clerks and surrogates for terms of five years. The townships elect justices of the peace for terms of five years. The affairs of towns and counties are regulated according to general laws, and special laws cannot be passed relating to them.

The State has ten Representatives in the Lower House of Congress.

. The number of men of militia age in the State in 1900 was 422,758. The number of militia in 1901 was 4038.

. The growth of the population is shown by the following figures: 1790, 184,139; 1820, 277,426; 1850, 489,555; 1860, 672,035; 1870, 906,096; 1880, 1,131,116; 1890, 1,444,933; 1900, 1,883,669. From the 9th position in 1790 New Jersey fell to 21st in 1860, but rose again to 16th in 1900. Both the absolute and the proportionate increase have been much greater since 1840 than prior to that year. The absolute increase was greatest from 1890 to 1900, the percentage of increase being 30.4, as compared with 20.7 for the United States, and was exceeded only in one State east of the Mississippi River. The recent rapid growth is due largely to the heavy immigration of foreigners. Of the 431,884 foreign-born, according to the census of 1900, about one-half were German or Irish, the most prominent among the remainder being the English and Italians. In the same year the negroes numbered 69,844. The density of the population—250.3 to the square mile—is exceeded in only two States. The increase from 1890 to 1900 has been almost wholly on the part of the urban population. In 1900 the 49 cities containing over 4000 inhabitants each, together contained 67.5 per cent. of the total population, only three States having as high a percentage of urban population.

. In the State of New Jersey in 1900 the population of the ten largest cities was as follows: Newark, 246,070; Jersey City, 206,433; Paterson, 105,171; Camden, 75,935; Trenton, 73,307; Hoboken, 59,364; Elizabeth, 52,130; Bayonne, 32,722; Atlantic City, 27,838; Passaic, 27,777.

. The Roman Catholics form about 16 per cent. of the total population of the State. 