Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-01-10

No assiss . NJ the6 paFsy ncess = =
ere. Z. eppoaiis The ~ = h4iv'asaA
n purity Of a election dspssAs - nnsh
upon IN honest count - spoa . heasse eel'
Iot. During timss Of grsas polttiea1 ezcite-
msnt, Individual members q pnktteD eono-
Tine distrust each other. Ths canvAssipg
and counting Of the votss % election dAy
should b such ~ to inspire The grsatsss public
confidence, and remove I'll cansss Of suspicioa.
he several polIticai parties shoald - rspes-
sented e such count and whatevee may
nscsssary 10 accomplish this Desired purpees
! submit 20 your favorable action.
] rrcommend the repsai Of sscs,on %
ixins the divi I'm Of towns Of moro than 600
Inhabitants and wards Of citiss into separate
and several polling plAces. and the appoint
ment Of additional wardsns and clsrks 70 pr.
form the duties Of prssiding of,osrs In such
detached voting prectncta eoms Of its pro.
visions are Of doubtful constitutionality, and
the practical operation Of the rsmAining por.
tion of the statute. ct the Last state election,
demonstrated that this section 70 entirely I'M
necessary.
with our large and diversified interests,
soms private and special legislation will b
found necessary. but trust you Will guard Il
with vigilant hand and connne u 70 its APP
propriate limits. An amendment 70 our con.
stituiIon. adopted BY the popular vote Of the
PEOPLE I'm is7a required the Legislature In pro-
Vide, as far As prscticabie. By general laws, for
all matters usually aprsrtainine 70 special or
private legislation. The Legislature. from
time 20 time, has exercised this power Inn
po<ed upon Il by the constitution. but u has
wisely retained iis authority over the organic
alton Of some corporations exercising Inn
portant franchises.
A careful examination ut the laws Of 1851.
1859 and 1891. discloses the fact that moro than
go pages in each volume are devoted to priv.
ate and special legislation. and large portion
81 such legislation relates TO business corpora
lions. for the Incorporation of which ample
provision existed under the general laws of
ths state at the time of granting such chart
crs. The constitution clearly and unmistak.
ably prohibits the creation Of corporations by
.peciai acts Of the legislature, except for
municipal purposes, II the objects can be At
tained under the general Law. We should all
constantly bear in mind this plain constitu-
tionai provision. and upon all applications for
special charters. first consider and dstermine
whether the objects desired can b attained
under the general laws OF the state.
should not be consumed In their oonsldera-
lion. nor should the general public b sub
jected 90 the constantly Increasing expense at.
tending legislation of this character. II the
objects desired cannot be attained under the
general law. and are subjects Of SPECIAL iegis-
iation, II will be your pleasure 20 give the
measures full consideration. Proposed legis-
lstion of this nature should, before final
action thereon. have the careful examination
Of the law officer Of the state, and the attend.
ance Of the attorney general upon the legisla-
ture at stated times during the session 10 de-
sirable and recommended.
In granting charters conveying special
privileges, and On some Instances authoriz
the taking Of private property for public uses.
the greatest care should be exercised BY The
legislature In protecting public interests, and
ample provision should be made TO fully COM
fensate all who suffer damage by reason Of
the powers granted. Special franc hises should
not be granted unless the legislature IL fully
satisfied that those upon whom these special
privileges are conferred actually intend 10 en-
ter upon and prosecute the business included
their charter. These great privileges Are
not granted by the Legislature 70 DO held In
allegiance, or 10 prevent Others from prosecute
ing the business intende ! nor are they granted
IN be bartered away. The law contempatcs
that the public interests shall be subseryed,
that the people shall be moro than compen-
sstea by the resulting benefits.
recommend that existing laws be 20 modi-
fcd that all acts Of incorporati' m hereafter
granted. carrying special privileges and
franchises, shall become void In two years
from the time when the kame take effect, un.
less such corporations shall have organized
and actually commenced the business con.
templsted under their charters These char
tered rights involve he interests OF the people
and frequently relate to public improvements
within the limits of our cities and towns. IL
no progress Is made by those enjoying these
privileges within the time suggested, the pub
JIG welfare requires that they shall no longer
be permitted to enjoy this special favor OF the
state and obstruct the public improvements
that other enterprislng citizens might be WILL
Ing 20 undertake.
and Il Is for the government 10 Judge In what
manner and upon what subjects the authority
shall b. exercised. The fundamental idea Il
taxation Is that all property, movable and Inn
movable, visible and invisible. shall bear Its
fair AMI equal proportion Of the public bur-
dens. II contemplates o uniformity OF rate,
and that the valuation Of the dinerent classes
Of property shall be uniform. Taxes are the
enforced proportional contribution Of persons
and property. levied by the authority Of the
state for the support OF government and Tor
all public needs"
Our constitution provides that "all taxes
upon real and personal estate, assessed by
authority Of this state. shall DO appor,ioned
and assessed equally, according to the Just
value thereof" The exercise OF this Import.
ant power 10 subject to your discretion and
control, and Il Is for you to determine upon
what subject matter taxation shall be Inn
posed, having reference, however, TO proper
exercise Of the authority granted under the
constitution.
II Is important that this power shall be
wisely exercised. relieving any inequalities
that rest upon the people. You cannot expect
to attain absolute equality; you cannot hope
In dealing with que tion Of this magnitude,
affecting the varied interests Of the people, 10
command In your action unanimous approval.
Your purpose should 10 20 pursue policy that
shall result In placing this public charge 80
tina, that, I, will bear as nearly possible equally
The greatest elements In the progress Of our
state lie In the prosperity Of Its agricultural
and Industrial interestA Property VI this
character Is 20 situated that Il cannot escape
the eysctions Of the tax gatherer. Though II
may not 10 over valued. the tar 10 dispropor.
tionaie and unequal II other property Ia not
contributing Its Just pruportlon OF the public
reven ic. There Il no subject to which you
will more willingly give careful attention
than 10 these great interests that have con.
tributsd 20 much to the progress, growth and
dignity Of our state and In unfolding Its insti.
tutions.
The manifest dissatisfaction expressed during
the past few years that the railroad Interests
ofihe state. the Wild lands. the telegraph, tele-
phone and some other corporate bodies, To-
gether with large amounts Of personal prop
erty. were not bearing their equal proportion
of the public assessments, IL not without
foundation. An advance was made In the
creation Of q state board Of assessors, but NJ
far as many of the corporate interests are In.
volved. that board IL without power.
The rate oftaxation on railroai corporations
and ON all corporal ons, companies or persons
doing telegraph or telephone business within
the state, Il fixed by existing law. Under the
present statute, the state tar against the rail-.
roads II In the form OF an excise for the privi-
lege Of exercising their franchises within the
state. There ID M direct levy upon the actual
revenue, but the gross transportation receipts
Of each company constitute the means OF -.
certaining the value Of the privileges exsr-
cised and form the basls Of the state tai.
The building. OF every railroad company.
whether within or without the located right
Of way. and u, lands and fixtures outside OF
It's located right OF way. are subject 10 taxa
tion In the cities and towns where the same
are situated. The taxes levied under the FORE
going provisions preclude all further taxation
upon the railroad. its property ann the capital
stock.
We are not insensible 10 the great advan.
tages resulting 10 our people from the excel.
lent railr,ad facilities extending from our
western borders through the various sections
- - NJ