The evening world., 1894-01-02

bes, mean. OF reaching this evil. More stringent
biiding laws have been suggested. as has also me
stIuted local ofhcera II has also been brought 10
my attention that part OF the recent increase ~
hre lussea 10 attributed to the improper WIRING Oh
buildings where electricity is to be used for ligh,
power, and the suggestion has been made ,hil
persons installing electric equipments IN pu,unu"sn
their fitness for the WORK and Issued by colnpe-
tent beard Of control very much In the same man man
ner that steam boiler inspection and certlhcatlnn
are nov required. 49,,
I commend this subject 10 your attention and
trust hat some proper measure Of legislation MAJ
receive your favorable consideration Certainly y
IN not gratifying rejection that In the clV OF
New York there ape four times ihe number %,
fires that there are In the principal cities ot Eu.
rope. and more than four times the destruction o,
property. Yet this comparative statement Is S'ia
10 he Hccurate.
AMENDMENTS TO THE BANKING LAW.
The conservative management OF our state
banks was abundnnty demonstrated during ihs
financial panic of last year. The propor,lon ui
banks under State supervision which shspenn.n
was very small There were instances OF tsck'
less management. however, and the question is
presented whether the present banking law can.
rot b" strengthened 70 as 10 compel even greater
conservatism In methods and more rigid inspec-
tion by the Banking Department
Two suggestions In this direction are partcn-
larry submitted 10 your attention. One Is that
no Oficer or employee Of any bank or other insti
tuition subject TO the banking laws should be al
loved TO borrow directly or Indirectly any OF itS
funds without nrst making application to the
Board Of Directors and obtaining the consent OF
gestion is that banks should be obliged TO set
oside a certain proportion, say 10 per cent OF
until such surplus equals 20 per cent. OF the
capital stock.
FISH PROPAGATION
The Legislature Of 1909 passed bills providing
for two new nsh hnteherie, one IN sn'SIa i,
would he unwisc. however, in my opinion. for
tho state to establish any more trout hatcheries'
We have enough Of these already. Trout Ia par.
ticulRrly a game nsh. and public money should
rather he used for the propagation OF food hsh.
such M pike perch and white fish from the boun-
to the people Of the State. As | said In my last
annual message merely to conserve spor,smen
| for FISH cultivation from tho public treasury.
The measure OF opportunity is much wider than
| In prescribed by any such narrow field.
There are i 800 square miles OF water within
tho area OF our state, capable OF producing an
unlimited supply Of nsh toO6 thu" ehtspenns ZAP IN
| creating additional employment and adding to the
States wealth"
In the direction OF applying this policy It Is
worthy OF note that Of the so. 900 oOo young fish
| raised In tho State hatcherics during the last
year the Larger DIopGr'SI oDG .AI
million vhitensh were planted in Lake Ontario.
- The Commissioners should be permitted
continue the work until the lake Is thoroughly
stocked
for the registration OF nets and their use through
out the State under proper supervision Th
| mesh Of these nets should he large enough u
permit the escape Of small fsh not vet old enough
| 10 breed and the net should no' be used nt NJ
| during the spawning season. Their use shoul'
not he permitted in trout streams. nor In lake
way food hsh could he taken where desirable ant
yet the game fishes he protected.
,nd for the permit to use In order to pay tn
expense OF this work. and the registration woul
| give the Commissioners accurate knowledge o
The location OF every net In the State. togethe
with the name Of Its owner and would enabl
them In great measure In prevent Improper us
This system has worked very successfully In Can
ada.
NATIONAL GUARD AND NAVAL MILITIA.
The necessity Of military fore" is rccosnze
by the laws ~ the state. lts value ;epends en- en-
cipline and instruction has been prescribed an
for the most part maintained, and while con
may be ,ad that both these establishments ar
In an eminenty satisfactory condition, and worth
OF the fostering care Of the people The ,rn nsrn
appropriations the National Guard will soon b
thoroughly equipped for any service It may b
called upon to perform.
HOME RULE IN CITIES.
I reitcrate previous recommendatio ions relauve t
the government Of cities Under our present sys
tenn Of conveying municipal powers bv leEislaiiy
both the extent OF those powers and their nature
Any change In these respects must come ny char
ter amendment or by. special statuts-but y mus
come through the Legislature. some charter
confer greater powers upon municipalities ina
Others. Tut all spring from the same source an
any chances soPd or bad must come from IN
This system throws great responsibility upon tn
sTHss Home mp ss Rse s %
principle which the people rightly cherish Tn
@Stinction however, Is not alSays drawn "a a
Il should he, between municipal legislation lr
volvinE The question OF Home Rule and that ~
voiving tho question Of lsssiativ. rroprie,y'
II an Invasion OF tho principle OF Home Rule. an
the spirit OF the Constitution, when the LcEisls
turc assumes to deprive municipalities OF IN
right to choose-either by election or by APRON,
mcnt at the hands Of some elective omrer
otrcers-ther own local officers for the ADMINS
trRtiun of local Rnsirs. ,
II is not however n violation Of the princir
Of Home Rule when tn" Legislature transfers, b
charter amendment or otherwise, certain power
or duties from one local ofnccr to another, or fro
one set Of local officers to anoher-'his is uue'
tIon Of propriey not Of Home Rule. The ohanF
may may not hc wise. hut II Is within the con
plot" province Of the Legislature and violates .
principle OF Home Rule. for It takes away I
measure OF local authority ,,.,,.
Thesr Illustrations serve to indicate d'stln
tion which should always be drawn in Consideri
municipal legislation
1t is contrary TO sound principles o. ieSlslatic
: to diminish the powers NJ municipalities, or
foist them by LEGISLATION local officers
whose selection they have no voice, direct or i
direct AMI against such legislation most good cit
7 zens are generally united Many charter amen'
l. mentP however, and much local legislation col
> slst in extending existing municipal powers or
rrdistributing municipal powers and duties, ar
the propriety NJ the proposed changes Is large
a matter of legislative discretion. to be exercise
legislation. As a general rule. II may
> said that local legislation passed In response
the efforts Of the members from a locality shou
he considered as representing the prevailing sent
ment OF that locality, although experience hi
shown that this ls not safe rule alWavs TO IA
low. The aim Of the Legislature and the Exec
tive should he In cnacting local legislation,
ascertain as accurately as possible, and In eycl
way possible what the prevailing sentiment Of Il
locality is. and. when ascertained. to follow
hut above all the law-making power should n
violate the principle Of Home Rule nv destroyir
or usurpins legitimate municipal powers
CONCLUSION
Although the Legislature and the Executi'
represent different political convictions and pa
ties the greater part ot their responsibilities az
p duties involves political questions interest
/ hu, has TO do with giving the people wis
= economical and business'like State government
, Permit me to express the hope that may Joint
and harmoniously endcavor to accomplish tn
object. The great majority Of people care no,hir
for political advantage which Is secured by reso
/ to petty legislative or administrative polite
/ manoeuvrirg but Judge public officers bv the
honest discharge Of duty and their faithful AZ
herenre to the trusts which the people have co
nded to them. Let us stand upon this high plai
OF ofiical effort ROSWELL =. FLOWER
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