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

publication late this afternoon. Following
IS the full text of its utterances on the most
important subjects discussed
The financial condition of the State, as OK.
hibitsd.h by the current reports of the Comp
ing character.
the receipts from all sources for the hsca,
year ending October 81, 1898, including
balance in bank, November /, 1892, We're 81 5S2,0D 81
The disbursements during the same period
-"
Balance in Bank October 81, lsss.-........ s72i.Gs /.
The balance above appearing is the largest
ever shown in the history of the State. For
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 will be found.
There is no apparent necessity of any
taxation of the citizen or of increased taxa
ton 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
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 will 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 exemp-
tions 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
30, to those paid by individuals.
BALLOT REFORM.
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 man writers and think
ers on political problems.
x In my inaugural address, l made alllsion
% the subject as follows:
"Ballot reform has, in recent years, ac-
compIished much in the direction of honest
elections. 1t would seem that the enactment
of a law, applying the same principles and
methods to the caucus or 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 L have with
out any intention of encroaching upon the
legislative ~prerogative) appended hereto the
draft of a legislative act, drawn upon the
lines of our ballot reform law, and IN CON
formity with the recent decision OF the SUI
preme Court, that Assemblymen 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
wolves expense, the answer is, that no scheme
can be formulated, that will not be attended
with some outlay. Tn plan proposed IS
H. 4l.A.
likely to be adopted. If the matter of neces-
sary expense is to be an insuperable bar, all
idea of reformatory legislation in the direc-
ton indicated may as well be abandoned.
The nominating elections are fixed 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 necessitated in
the Ballot Reform law changing
the date of the house-to-house canvass.
That could be made to begin one week earl
der and the meetings of the boards of regis
try, for the registers and the personal regis
tration of voters, could then be fixed for four
weeks preceding the election, instead OF three
weeks as now provided. The nominating
elections and the day for personal registra-
3ion, 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
for 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
sob by G n usnur aPfootad in otbnr. dil.oofiouS -
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 or nomination. by caucus
Or primary. 1t is of no consequence, whether
the mode of nominating candidates be called
4 caucus, a primary, or a nominating cleo
zion, but it is of great Importance, that the
mode 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 to- there can be no
objection made to a nominating election,
held four weeks preceding a regular election,
that does not apply in much greater degree,
10 a primary or caucus election held on the
came date.
Should the proposed act become operative,
1t will probably be found, that the interval
between the nominating election and the
regular election can be materially decreased
If that be desirable) without
impairing the efficiency of the law,
as has been the case under the Ballot
Reform act; but in the first instance, it IS
only prudent that sufficient time be allowed
to insure the experiment a fair and honest
trial, leaving to experience the suggestion of
such changes as may be necessary or adj
visable.
It is proper that each political party,
whether already existing or newly formed,
should nominate its own candidates by votes
of its own members. The proposed law re-
cognizes that right and ~enforces it. Under
the plan adopted, members of one party may
sometimes, notwithstanding the risk
thereby incurred, vote to nominate
the candidates of another party: but
such instances will about counterbalance
each other and viii not be of such frequent
occurrence as now. The penalties provided
against any such action will prove sufficient
10 deter the average voter from Il lnfrac-
ton of the law in that respect. The pro
visions that the use of the official ballots
shall be confined to the polling ROOM, that
the voter shall be registered, that in voting
at the nominating election he shall make
known ard receive the party ticket he de-
sires TO vote, aud that only, and be restricted
in the designation of candidates to the
names printed upon his party ballot, are
necessary and proper. not only to the purity
of the election, but to enable each party to
nominate its candidates by votes of
its own members. Such provisions are
no invasion of the voters rights,