COMMITTEE ON THE EXECUTIVE, MILITIA AND CIVIL OFFICERS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

STATE OF NEW JERSEY&nbspCONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1947

COMMITTEE ON THE EXECUTIVE, MILITIA&nbspAND CIVIL OFFICERS

Tuesday, July 1, 1947

(Afternoon session)

(Executive session)

(Minutes)

A meeting of the Committee was held at 2:00 P.M. in room 109, Tuesday, July 1, 1947. Members present were: Chairman Van Alstyne, presiding, Barton, Barus, Eggers, Farley, Feller, Hansen, Smith, J. S., Walton and Young.

Smith moved to postpone discussion of the right of the Governor to succeed himself. Motion seconded and carried.

Barus moved that the Committee request the Committee on the Legislative to hold a joint meeting with it in the near future, in order to discuss provisions affecting the work of both Committees. Motion seconded and carried.

The Committee then took up the question of placing a constitutional limit on the number of the principal departments.

Farley moved that no such limitation be included in the Constitution, acting upon the recommendation of Senator Armstrong. Motion seconded.

Discussion brought out the following points: the difficulty of combining the present departments and commissions; pressures on the Legislature which tend to prevent consolidation by law; similar practices in the management of large business corporations; similar provisions in other state constitutions; necessity for legislation to define the functions of the departments; the fact that such limitation on the number of departments would decrease the number of appointments made by the Governor. The motion was withdrawn.

Farley moved that there should be no more than 20 principal departments of the government, with powers and duties to be determined by law. Motion seconded and carried.

During the afternoon session, the Committee moved into the Convention Hall to hear from Commissioner Sanford Bates, who appeared at the request of the Committee to speak on the pardon and parole provisions of the Constitution.1 The minutes here summarize the proceedings, the record of which follows these minutes.

Respectfully submitted,Jane E. Barus, Secretary

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