New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-22

NEW-JERsEY'S REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR
OUTLINES HIS POLICY.
HE FAvoRs ELEVATION OF RAILROAD TRACKS
AND PROTECTION AGAINST TROLLEY AcCI-
DENTs-ADvOCATEs THE ADOPTION OF
SALARIES INSTEAD OF THE FEE
SYsTEM-WANTs RIVER pol
LUTON STOPPED.

LUTON STOPPED
Trenton Jan p (SpeciaD-The inaugural address
Of Governor Griggs terse yet comprehensive
simple yet entertaining and the frequency of the
applause showed that it contained the right stun
II was as follows:
Gentlemen OF the Senate and General Assembly:
With these brief and simple ceremonies the exec
utve administration OF the State passes from my
is behtting the nature OF republic. where the I'M
Pos1a e' Of hs & bGt the oca nves
of the power Of pubic service upon me selected
be il cannot be too often repeated that the public
officer s merely the trustee OF the Commonwealth
and owes TO the people the duty superior TO al
other considerations of loyal and unselfish service
IT would be an aiectaton We're 10 leave pn aSsr
citizen that this event Implies the passing OF tne
executive control Of New,Jersey out Of the hands
OF a party that has held 1t for nine successive
The valuable function OF political parties in r.
publican government is too well estaolisneg 10 y
questioned and too universal 10 be ignored IN el7
in mind the truth that they themselves but
agencies. whereby the people are enabled 10 oDls,aa
State-that is. good government FOR the whoe peo-
Pile. When the popular voice dismisses the repre-
POSITION into office. it is not for the purpose Of
enabling the ircumbents to wreak venf eance
their own organization; it is to improve W the
quality OF service heretofore rendered. an cure
fare. In so far | may this occasl 18th
proprIety. address the representatives of .rv
that now assumes control. | would com hem
not to initiate. but to avoid the mistake hsr
potca. opponents where they have "e az
let us be strong; where they have unduly Ls- lea
let us be bold; where they have been excess.y let
us be moderate; If they have been selfish ! Us
Commonwealth with eye single only t ier
sGy ns a ana ps25s Of e Ss
tnguish the line across which partisan con- -
rendering H aid C Of The most important kind 10
party il he will govern his conduct by the
motive OF true public service.
Is 70 fka W. v.
OF legislator in our State tha, furnish the ..
to give to each matter your Independent, sis
judgment and TO share with your polite 40
1t is scarcely my proper function at thi 70
call your attention 70 particular topics ~ ,
wifi hereafter by special MESA age col ~ lts
to you such matters may reed especi Ill. % "
brought 10 your notice.
RESTRICT THE AMOUNT OF LEGISLATION
consider 1t most important. however. t.as you
should at once take into consi .eraton he object
OF restriction In the volume OF legislation The mass
OF statute Jaws has now become so mr that
It may be said to be almost beyond tn yer OF
the legal mind TO acquire 1t, or the judi ind 10
interpret II. 1t intended by the .u'nfnts
TO the Constitution adopted in 1919 to y % ,ne
quantity OF statute law by the dboltAp ~ psv.'
legislation upon several subjects. Lotao.s gov
eminent OF counties and municipal eps. fa'iI,s;;
Such decrease was for several ycaIs ete., J. prs
senuity the draushtsmen OF statutes came to know
how TO draw up laws. which. VALE pSsses,sns ,aS
a.. the substance OF special application 10 the ce-
sired locality without becoming fastel)d 10 any uh.
willing municipality. 1t was the in 5ouSted Oojset
OF the constitutional amendments referred 10 10
provide "A uniform system OF laws for all the coun'
les cities townships and other political subdivisicns
Of the State: a system not merely Applicable 10 all
but to be compulsorly applied ~ all. that al
cities. all countless all townships. of the same class
should be governed by the same uniform systems
Unfortunately. our courts have held that this con.
by It's terms II is applicable 10 az the members OF
class, although as matter " fact II may be prsc.
tical.y applied TO only one OF the class. In otnet
words the courts hold that II only necessary INA.
all members OF a class may take the benefit OF
statute. but that the law need not be compuiso"
all
So it has become easy by means of different forms
OF local option. such as popular elections for OF
against the adoption OF ANY act. TO pass laws ~
form Of the most perfsct universally which Ia
effect are special charters for single city. on ac-
count Of this unfortunate Interpretation OF the CON
to cities have become multltudnous. They Ill over
250 pages In the new volume OF General Statutes
and the laws under the title OF Municipal Corpora
lions Will NIL as mahy more This condition OF ies,a
lation to cities might not have been unexpsetsI
In view OF the fact that when the constitutions.
amendments requiring general legislation were
passed all the cities OF the State already In e4
istence under different special charters.
BOROUGH LAWS AN EXAMPLE.
But more striking instance OF manifold egiss'
ton exists In the laws relating to boroughs IheSe
forms Of local government did not exist untii TO-
Gently. They all created under so-caled gem
era' laws The spirit and letter OF the Constitution
required that they should be governed by un'losns
system. Yet We find three different genera ~