The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-25
GR|GGS' RECORD.
scathing Review of the
Career of a Governor
for Party Only.
FOOL OF THE CORPORATIONS
Promises of Economy and Re-
form Realized in a State
Treasury Deficit.
TRAMpLING ON THE CONSTITUTION
Grossest Legal BIunder in the
History Of the state-The
Jersey City Steal.
LOBBYISTS PLACED IN OFFICE
The Appointments of Bettle and
Armstrong Dam
InfamY
eFrom the "rrue American

John William Griggs of Passaic county
will within the next few days retire from
the executive chair of New Jersey, after
presiding over the affairs OF state for just
two years. Notwithstanding that be was
elected as a reformer he leaves behlnd
record unprecedented for its unredeemed
pledges and insincerity. That Griggs was
and is a pretender '4The True American
has always maintained. A brief resume
:. of the actions of Griggs since he came
rfnto public life will bear out this eonten-
'Json He was defeated in 1878 for re-elee-
aoon to the House of Assembly, in Passaic
spunty. In 1882, receiving the nomination
S9Ir the State Senate, the corporate inter-
hssssss to his back elected him, and he was
'nflch am obedient servant that in 1854 ne
apAas reelected.
1t was while serving in the State Senate
that Griggs first gained notoriety ana
made himself solid with the railroads ana
other corporations The question OF the
EQUITABLE taxation of railroads and corpor-
ations had for many years been subject
of agitation and had been pressed upon
the Legislature by Governor Ludlow IN his
messages of 1882. 'S3 and 'S4 In the latter
year Governor Albeit was inaugurated,
and he at once set about to have some
[llnR done Dy way VI ili&hLiG tiAS AeNAA-
roads pay just share of taxes. Governor
Ludlow had called attention to the 1act
that the railroad property was not as
sessed at full and true value and Gov
ernor Albeit took the work up, devoted
all his energy to the matter, and perfected
a bill for the equal taxation of the rail
road property.
Here was Griggs' opportunity, and here
it was the hypocrisy that has since been
so manifest was destined to do its first
effective work Senator Griggs introduced
resolution for the appointment OF
Joint committee on corporate taxation,
and managed to have himself made chair
man The railroads had realized that
something must be done on their part to
appease the people of the State and they
decided to take care of the matter them
selves. So, through Griggs they had
presented to the Legislature bill known
as the joint committees equal taxation
scheme They were not altogether salts
fed with the BILL but they felt it was the
pest they could do. 1t provided special
mode of assessing railroads by a special
board of assessors. 1t levied upon the
different classes of railroad property,
special and variant taxes, and so brought
he act under the condemnation of the SUI
preme court. The tax law of 1884 was
concession to the railroads on the part OF
he Senate
Governor Abbett's genuine equal taxa
ion measure had previously been intro
, luced in the House, and was passed by
/ hat legislative body. The Senate refused
2 % accept the Governors scheme and sent
4 % the House Griggs' bill. For long
i lime the House refused to pass it, but
anally the Inevitable had TO be accepted.
It was on the strength of the passage of
this bill that Griggs held himself up as a
champion of the people as against the
nonopolstic greed Of the railroads in the
State. His actions since he became Gov
.rnor, however, prove beyond any question
hat he was only masquerading.
When he came into power. in 1896, he
proclaimed that he was the trustee of the
commonwealth and he owed to the people
,evond all other considerations loyalty
md unselfish service In his inaugural
.ddress he said that the calling of a Re
publican to the highest Office in the state
was to Improve upon the quality of SER
zice Heretofore rendered in that Office
ind to secure greater efficiency and devo-
ion to the public welfare Speaking to
he Republicans present at his Inaugural
ion he Sa1Q<-1f OUT oppOHtEtS nave
3een selfish. let us devote ourselves en-
irely to the interests of the common
wealth with an eye single only to her
rlory and the prosperity of her people"
And. with egotism, he continued the
aIr-minded and patriotic official can read
iv distinguish the line across which par
isan considerations should not co.
Concluding his inaugural address. he
.aid:-sIf have learned anything of the
entiments of our people, it is that they
Iesire the very highest, purest and best