The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-09

GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Salient Features of the Doc
ument Submitted to the
Legislature Today.
BALLOT REFORM PLAN
An Elaborate System Outlined
State Water Supply--Racs
Track Repeal.

70 the Legislature today. was released fof
publication late this afternoon. Following
IS the full text of its u%tterances on the mos'
Important subjects discussed
The financial condition of the State, as OK
hibited by the current reports of the Comp
.roller and Treasurer, is of the most crafty.
ing character.
The receipts from all sources fer the fiscal
year ending october 81, 1898, including
balance in bank, November J., 1892, were S25S2,OD q
The disbursements during the same period
Balance in Bank october 81. lsss.......... ssa4.oss Il
The balance above appearing is the largest
ever shown in the history of the State. Fol
specific information as to the particulars OF
the receipts and disbursements above stated
Respectfully refer you to the report OF SAID
officials, wherein full details win be found.
There is no apparent necessity OF any
taxation of the citizen or OF Increased TAXA
lion upon corporations for State purposes.
1t is probable that owing TO the financial de
preston prevailing there will be a
falling off in the receipts of the
present fiscal year, as compared with
those of the year ending October 81, 1875.
For that reason, and in view OF the extra
ordinary expenses that may be incurred for
additional prison accommodations, armory
construction and contingencies at present
unforeseen, it win be unwise to cut off or cur
tail any source of State income now exist
ing.
Local taxation may in a measure be less
ened, should the Legislature see fit to re
move, either partially or wholly, the exenp,,
lions allowed on corporate property taxed
under the act of 1884 for local purposes, SO
that the taxes paid by the owners OF such
property may be equalized, or more nearly
90, to those paid by individuals.
BALLOT F
The necessity of reform in the methods OF
conducting primary elections is conceded.
How that reform shall be effected is engag-
ing the attention of many writers and think
ers on political problems.
In nv inaugural address, | made alluslon
to the subject as follows:
ballot reform has, in recent years, &C
complished much in the direction OF honest
elections. It would seem that the enactment
of a law, applying the same principles Z
methods to the caucus OF primary, would
prove equally efficacious."
Further reflection has produced conviction
that the plan suggested affords a wise and
effective remedy. In explanation and illus
tration of the scheme proposed | i have with
ont any intention of encroaching upon the
legislative ~prerogativel appended hereto the
draft OF a legislative act, drawn upon the
lines of our ballot reform law, and III CON
formity with the recent decision OF the Su-
preme Court, that A~ssembly1nen be elected
upon a general ticket.
Under the system embodied in the pro-
posed law, nominating elections for the
nomination of candidates would be held four
weeks preceding the regular elections, except
in cities and certain municipalities for the
election of municipal officers, where the
nominating elections would precede the
regular elections three weeks.
To the possible objection that the plan IN
IT, tho oncrUor. ic fhat no Sfshornp
can be formulated, that will not be attended
wita some outlay. The plan proposed is
really not more expensive than any other
likely to be adopted. If the matter of neces-
ssry expense is to be an insuperable bar, all
idea of ~reformatory legislation in the dlrec-
ton indicated may as well be abandoned.
The nominating elections are liked for the
day on which the Boards of Registry now
begin the house-to-house canvass. As those
officers are to hold the Nominating elections,
a change is thur necessltated II
the Ballot Reform law changing
the date of the house-to-house canvass.
That could be made to begin one week carl
Ter and the meetings of the boards of regis
try, for the registers and the personal regis
tration of voters, could then be fixed for fouI
weeks preceding the election, instead of three
weeks as now provided. The nominating
elections and the day for personal registra-
tion, would thus fall together, and be con-
Quoted for one and the same expense already
existing. In practice, such an arrangement
would probably remove any objection now
made to any plan of registration providing
tor personal registration only, and thus
enable the large expense of the
house to house canvass to be largely
decreased, and ultimately dispensed with
altogether. The booths and other fixtures
required for the nominating elections are
how generally ON hand, ready for use, so
that the greatest extra expense attending
such elections would be the cost of the official
ballots to be used thereat; and that charge
could be largely, and, perhaps, entirely Off
set. by savings effected in other directions.
Should it be urged that the pro
posed law provides for too frequent
elections, such objection should have little
weight, because the nominating elections, are
but substitutes, for the already established
system of election OF nomination.. by caucus
or primary. 1t is of no consequence, whether
she mode of nominating candidates be called
caucus, a primary, or a nominating cleo
lion, but it is of great Importance, that the
node adopted, impartially and honestly re
cord and express the voters will. That re-
suit seems impossible under the existing sys-
tenn, and Except in the matter of public
Expense above alluded toy there can be nc
objection made to a nominating election
held four weeks preceding a regular election
that does not apply in much greater degree
w a LII VI
same date.
Should the proposed act become operative
It will probably be found, that the mterva
between the nominating election and the
regular election can be materially decreased
if that be desirablel without
impairing the efficiency of the law
as has been the case under the Ballo'
Reform act; but in the first instance, it j:
only prudent that sufficient time be allowed
to insure the experiment a fair and homes
trial, leaving to experience the suggestion OF
such changes as may be necessary or adj
visabie.
It IS proper that each political party,
whether already existing or newly formed
should nominate its own candidates by vote!
of its own members. The proposed law re
cognizes that right and enforces it. Under
the plan adopted, members OF one party ma
sometimes, Notwithstanding the risi
thereby incurred, vote to nominate
the candidates of another party: but
such instances will about counterbalanc
each other and will not be of such frequen
occurrence as now. The penalties provided
apainst any such action will prove sufficien
30 deter the average voter from any infrac
ton of the law in that respect. The pro
visions that the use of the official ballot
shall be confined to the polling room, tina
the voter shall be registered, that III voting
at the nominating election he shall makt
known and receive the party ticket he DE
sires to vote, and that only, and be restricted
in the designation of candidates to TIN
names printed upon his party. ballot, arr
necessary and proper, not only to the purity
OF theselection, but to enable each party &c
nominate its candidates by votes O
its own members. Such provisions ar.
no invasion of the voters rights. inasmncl
as it is entirely competent to provide Utrt
uaaa 1zo4;nu of priu1arv elections. and thu