Bridgeton pioneer., 1890-09-25
BRDGEToN, N. ], THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 $780,
THE SPECIAL ELECTION,
WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE TO
VOTE FOR.

VOTE FOR.
Tine People Should Vote ssNo."
There is no Need Of Special
Legislation.
Article 4, section Z, of the State Con-
stitution, contains the.following pro-
vision:
The Legislature shall not pass pri-
vate, local or special laws regulating
the internal affairs of towns and
counties.
Two years ago an amendment strik-
ing out tnis clause was proposed, and
has since been endorsed by two success
sive Legislatures. This is the amend
ment which the people must adopt or
reject on Sept. 3Oth.
Various motives have been attrib
uted to those who suggested the
change and secured the approval of
plant legislators who either did not
know or did not care what evils might
grow out of their action. 1t has been
said by some that syndicates desirous
OF supplying cities and towns with
water at exhorbitant rates are most
Interested; by others, that individuals
who have found the present law a
block in the way of municipal jobbery,
are particularly anxious to have it re-
moved, and SO on Gd aofnatuna. Any
one or all these surmises may be cor
rect, but one fact is certain: Under
the provisions of the Constitution no
other amendment can be submitte to
the people for five years. This is a
matter of peculiar interest to certain
high State officials, who are getting
rich go fast under the fee system that
they live in constant fear of it's abolish
ment by constitutional amendment.
But the source of the proposal mat.
ters little. 1t is the idea itself with
which we have to deal. Aud a very
bad idea it is. Ves,ing in the Legisle-
ture the power to enact specific laws
for individual counties and towns vi
tiates the principal of home rule. It
practically centralizes all local govern
ments in Trenton, enabling unwise or
corrupt legislators to make ''deals"
the greatest possible advantage to
themselves and of the most dangerous
character imaginable to the people.
The statement that cities and towns
cannot now obtain such legislation as
they require because of the objection
of some other cities or towns which
may be affected is pure buncomb.
What is good for one is good for all,
and nobody will object to the enact
ment of laws which confer distinct
benefit upon the public.
| New Jersey has had all the expert
ence with special legislation privileges
she requires or desires. The miserable
system uot only practically ruined sew
eral thriving towns by placing them at
the mercy of jobbers, but from it
sprang the first ring which seized Jer:
sey City by the throat and came so
near strangling her that she has not
yet been able to lift her head above
the burden of debt and the slime of
political corruption. 1t was to make
such work as nearly impossible as it
could be made that the existing pro-
vision was adopted at the request of
an alarmed and indignant people.
The full significance of the special
election on Sept. 30th does not seem to
be understood. But its real meaning
is clear enough. Shall our cities and
towns again be turned over to the job
bers and rascals? That is the question
in blunt English. Now let all good
citizens follow the lead of Gov. Albeit
and Chief-Justice Beasley and arouse
the people to the necessity of making
the answer an emphatic No.
Only two short weeks are left.
------------ - >------