The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-11-04
LEON ALBEIT,


From the Newark Sunday Call of De-
cember 8, 1880.
The desire for one parting fling at
Leon Albeit could not await the SEX
toms task. Rather be it our task to
to show wherein the man served his
State.
When Leon Albeit came to the Gov
errors chair, more than a decade ago,
he was claimed as the private property
of the great railroad corporation which
had SO long dominated both parties in
New Jersey, and still asserts it's owner
ship of the Republican organization.
Governor Albeit found the State in
great need of funds for the maintenance
of Government. It was necessary to
provide additional income, and at the
same time spare the people greater bur-
dens. 1t had been pointed out by the
Sunday Gail and by Governor Abbett's
predecessor, Governor Ludlow, that one
class of property escaped its just share
of taxation, that held by the railroads
and other corporations. Governor Alb
bett saw his opportunity, the States
duty and the peoples necessity. Reform
in corporate taxation and additional re-
FGHue cOu1Q De ODIdlueu at OIe dow,
and he made it his task to secure the
change. He indicated his independence
forthwith. 1t is no ~derogation to others
who helped make that fight to say that
to Governor Albeit the chief credit un-
questionably belonged. The laws of 1894
did not give the State an equal tax sys-
tenn, and the advantages over other tax
payers which the power of the railroad
ao1 ofLor - o~a +forc IN tho Iohhxr no
tanned, after desperate struggles, still
show the incompleteness of the victory;
but the history of no State in the Union
shows a more gallant struggle for popu-
lar rights, nor one which was more sue
cesful when the vast power and the
tenacity of the interests assailed are con
sidered. New Jersey has not since had
a State tax, and the revenue has been
ample. The taxes paid by the corpora
ions were more than doubled, and the
companies were made amenable to the
laws as they had never been before. When
the complete reform is attempted, as il.
will be soon, the pathway will be found
cleared of Instructions, which a few
years az o made the corporations of New
Jersey greater thar the State. This
clearance was Leon Abbett's work., and
it has never been equaled in it's prac-.
teal value by any executive of the
State.
In compelling the Morris and Essex
railroad to pay the State its tremen-
dous tax debt another signal service was
rendered the streasury and in other laws
regulating other corporations there were
positive advantages gained which will
be long remembered with gratitude.
The practical benefits gained were, how
ever, not the greatest of Governor Alb
belts services in this regard. Few now
remember or comprehend the corporate
tyranny which he overthrow. Those
who denounce political boss rule have
our hearty sympathy and Ia always
command our aid; but the bosses were
but petty imitators of the autocratic
rulers, Who, by corporation tyranny,
controlled all things in New Jersey.
There was no legislation without their
consent, no officials named without their
approval, no governmental policy
adopted except after consultation with
their representatives. And not until
the political bosses combined with the
corporations, in race tracks and coal
schemes, did the bosses excite public
condemnation. The outrageous tyranny
maintained by the corporations, chiefly
the railroads., was challenged by Cover
nor ALBEIT when he took the executive
chair. He fought and he conquered.
The tyrants were overthrown, and as
the end of his first term approached he
had them firmly under foot. His policy
had elected a Democratic Governor n
a Democratic Legislature, although the
districts were then gerTymandered in
favor of the Republicans. 1t was his
ambition to be Senator and so far as the
people could decide, he had been chos-
en-. He was ultimately defeated by the
combination of personal enemies and
% the railroads. The corporations took
their revenge, using the. Republican
dcnt to the place held by the defeated
and politically ~outgeneraled SeweIl. But
the personal appointment Of Gov.
felt by men who had chafed under the
railroad tyranny, and had seen the once
s 8s%iaddtu Ra itraeisfs might fSape etiil bug sg L eee
isIatures, but the a~utocracy once un-
challenged had. disappeared. 1t is re-
markGble that on the eve CT q struggle
to re-establish the railroad tyranny, the
David OF his time should have passed
away.
How much stronger the man was with
he people than the enemies he made in
the great corporations, was shown at
every test after he had made his record
as Governor in his first term. He Sc
cured the election Of a Democratic Leg
islature over Sewel1: he was elected Gov
e-nof q Seco1d tiniE by twice his first
majority: he was u3qnestionably the pop
uiar choice in both the Senatorial con
tests succeeding his first defeat; he was
confirmed Justice Of the Supreme Court
him. ard there was never a public gath
ering in New Jersey whore he could net
command first place i'll the applause and
consideration of his auditors. These DEM
onstratiops OF public approval are not
won by men who are rs Governor Alb.
bett's enemies painted him. The people
81 New Jersey are not gllls nor fools.
We are glad to remember that whicn
State. and those who have failed to see
why even death should foil assaults upon
him are asked to poirt ont the men who
have done more in the last decade Cor
Kew Jerseys welfare.
From a Recent Number of the State
Gazette.
If q composite photograph OF the men
most active in the management Of Nc
Gi1Fs car1palg71 we're takea, 1t would
STRONGLY, rezer.bIe Leon Albeit