tributed over the state according to population as apportioned by the congressional district. The number eligible to each class of membership is determined by the fixed ratio of one member to five thousand population. Civic, commercial or agricultural associations of New Jersey may become affiliated in the chamber as federated members. The annual dues of sustaining members are $100 and of associate members $25. Its headquarters are at Newark.

In 1915 the Bureau of State Research was organized as a separate department of the chamber and given primary charge of investigations and the collection of information. It has a director, an advisory committee, a secretary, and a staff of trained investigators.

The work of the bureau has consisted, in the main, of publishing a weekly Legislative Index during the annual session of the legislature, supplying special legislative service, analyzing bills, and conducting legislative investigations throughout the year.

In the preparation of the Legislative Index, expert investigators are in attendance at Trenton and report the procedure of all sessions of the legislature. The reports of these investigators are published each week in the form of brief digests of the contents of each bill introduced, and a record of each step of its progress, and a current subject index of these bills are kept. The Legislative Index also contains each week an analysis of some one or more of the important measures before the legislators. The Legislative Index thus serves as a medium by which citizens can watch legislation.

In addition to the information contained in the weekly Legislative Index, a daily service is furnished to a number of civic organizations and individuals throughout the state, whereby information is given on form cards from day to day of the progress of measures in which the recipients are particularly interested. These cards are marked and mailed to the recipients direct from Trenton by the bureau's investigators in attendance at the meetings of the legislature. In some instances this information is conveyed by telephone.

Investigations are made by the bureau from time to time of as many subjects awaiting study as can be handled. These

investigations are intended to bring out such facts as will establish bases upon which the Chamber of Commerce can make recommendations to the legislature. The regular program of investigations of the bureau is determined each year by the trustees of the Chamber of Commerce.

Since its organization the subjects of investigation by the bureau have been: the state rural police patrol, corporation audits, the state budget, the Torrens system, workmen's compensation, the "full-crew" law, and good roads.

A bill designed to create a state police in New Jersey similar in character to that which has existed in Pennsylvania since 1905 was introducted at the legislative session in 1914 and again in 1915. To supply the information necessary to act intelligently upon this proposed legislation, statistical data were tabulated by the bureau, showing the prevalent crimes in each county and the number of unapprehended criminals, the opinions of the prosecutors of the pleas, the sheriffs and the granges, and a record was made of the causes and extent of forest fires, so that a complete analysis for the entire state could be made of the existing need, if any, for a rural patrol.

In view of proposed legislation designed to protect investors in the securities of New Jersey corporations by requiring the regular examination of the books of all corporations by certified public accountants, to be elected by the stockholders, a study was made by the bureau of this entire subject, and it was found that any legislation of this character would conflict at so many points with the existing statutes that it would be advisable to make a complete investigation of the present control and regulation of New Jersey corporations before introducing any new elements of uncertainty into an already complicated situation.

To facilitate the practical operation of the budget system which was provided for by law in 1915, and to eliminate many evils of the old system, the bureau has tabulated the itemized appropriations of 1914, 1915, and 1916 in order to show the variations which occur from year to year in the distribution of the state's revenue. The State Chamber, by calling attention to New Jersey's antiquated fiscal procedure through its publications and the daily press, has been instrumental in

creating a state-wide sentiment for this advanced piece of financial legislation.

At the request of the Real Estate Board and the BuildingLoan League the bureau made an analysis of a bill which would allow any New Jersey owner the option of registering his title under a Torrens law. This analysis was accompanied by a brief history of the Torrens Acts and a resumé of the decisions of the courts on their constitutionality in the several states.

The matter of workmen's compensation had the attention of the state of New Jersey for several years, and the State Chamber gathered facts pertinent to a complete and unbiased consideration of the question.

The State Chamber has conducted a thorough investigation of the operation of the "full-crew" legislation, with particular reference to the law in New Jersey.

The State Chamber is endeavoring to find out the exact road conditions brought about by modern conditions in order to recommend to the legislature an efficient road policy.

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce issues a weekly bulletin, a feature of which is the Legislative Index above mentioned. It has issued several printed reports of investigations and pamphlets and folders explaining its work.

No. 4.

No. 5.

No. I. The administration of the full-crew law, etc., 1917.

131 P.

The state police problem in America. 1917. 210 p.
The New York state troopers. Oct. 1917.

The operation of the New Jersey budget law. Oct.

No. 6.

The Pennsylvania state police. Nov. 1917.

No. 8.

No. 9.
No. 10.

Why New Jersey needs a state police. Dec. 1917. Teachers' retirement systems in New Jersey, their fallacies and evolution. Introduction and part I. Feb. 1918.

No. II. Police, firemen's and other local employees' pension systems in New Jersey. Feb. 1918.

Report of the pension and retirement fund commission.
Dec. 1917.

Legislative and investigative work completed and planned, 1916. A state highway system versus old laws and good roads. July, 1916. 16 p.

Maryland: Commission on Economy and Efficiency. The Maryland Commission on Economy and Efficiency was of a unique character due to the unusual circumstances under which it was created. Both the Democratic and Republican parties in their campaign of 1915 pledged themselves to support the introduction of a budget system for the state. The Democratic Convention, however, went further than this, and provided for the creation of a Commission on Economy and Efficiency which should have as its special work the devising of a specific proposal for the accomplishment of this reform. This commission was duly constituted with President Frank J. Goodnow of the Johns Hopkins University as its chairman.

This commission made a brief but exceptionally able report which the Democratic Governor, Emerson C. Harrington, transmitted to the Senate, recommending favorable action upon its recommendations. The report though emanating from a private body was thus published as a public document. This report led to the adoption by Maryland of an amendment to the state constitution providing for the introduction of a budget system.

PUBLICATIONS

Report of the Commission on economy and efficiency on a budget system. Jan. 28, 1916. (In Baltimore. Dept. of legislative reference. The Maryland budget amendment. 1917. p. 7-13.) Reprinted from the Maryland Senate Journal, Jan. 28, 1916, p. 129-34.

Other States. The foregoing it is believed represent all agencies which have been created by private effort having for their principal purpose the study of the problem of state administration with a view to the promotion of measures of reform. Other privately organized bodies, however, give more or less attention to this subject. Among these special mention, by way of illustration, might be made of the Taxpayers Associations of California and New Mexico.

CHAPTER V

AGENCIES FOR INVESTIGATING THE STATE AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATION OF PARTICULAR STATES: UNOFFICIAL

In two states-Ohio and Maryland-unofficial agencies have been created for the study of both the administration of state and local affairs in those states. This type of unofficial organization is of especial interest in that no official agency of the same scope has been established by any state; although as will be set forth in a subsequent section official reference services covering both the state and municipal field have been established in several states.

Ohio: Institute for Public Efficiency. The Ohio Institute for Public Efficiency was incorporated in 1913 and began operations in January, 1914. The governing body of the institute is a board of nine trustees. Its headquarters are at Columbus.

The work done for state administration and legislation is supported by contributions of public-spirited citizens and organizations; work done for counties, municipalities and school districts is paid for by local authorities, organizations or individuals. The purpose of the organization, as stated in its articles of incorporation, is: "To advance public welfare (1) by promoting the efficiency and adequacy of government, through the ascertainment and application of scientific standards and principles and otherwise; (2) by continually and systematically informing public opinion upon public affairs; (3) by promoting the coöperation, coördination and efficiency of civil, social, and charitable organizations; (4) by educating persons in the theory and practice of public efficiency and preparing them for efficient public service; and by any other means that may be deemed proper and necessary."