The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-01-17
VOORHEES,
INAUGURAL
It Makes Fair Promises Of
an Administration For
the People.
And HINTS AT SOME REFORMS
One is Commission to Frame
a General Municipal
Act.
ASHY AT PLElHORlC TRUSTS
Governor Thinks Some Leg
isIation is Needed to
Curb Them.
BOTHERED ABOUT THE SURPLUS
Suggests It May Be Well To
Help Cities Pay Taxes.


gurated AT Trenton this morning. His in
augural address, which is given below.
reads we'll He promises. as did Governor
Griggs, 10 administer his Office primarily
for the best interests of the whole people,
and not for his party. and makes some
suggestions as to necessary legislation.
Chief among the topics is the government
of municipalities, for which he thinks a
uniform law should be framed by COM
mission. He also finds an imminent dam
ger in the overgrown profits of corpora
tions and thinks that some measure
should be devised to give the people the
part of the benefits accruing from public
franchises.
Gentlemen of the Senate and General
Assembly
The. duties of the Office upon which 1
am about to enter are assumed with a
osep sense of all that is implied in the
words of the oath just taken. I shall
strive. to observe it both in letter and
in spirit.
Although chosen through the favor of
my fellow-cftizens, as representing one
OF the great political parties of the State
I am not unmindful of the obligation TO
devote my services to the common good
OF alt have no apology to offer for
being q partisan. Under republican
form OF government parties viii of
necessity arise. a people. free to learn
and free to tAink themselves, can only
find in organization the instrument TO
enforce their wishes respecting govern
ment. Political parties are not to be
considered as unmixed evils. Their exist
ence is an evidence of active interest in
Dublic affairs. Their adherents are
Quick to assert their Individual rights ano
to exact d full and faithful performance
of every. public duty. Through their
agency the ends OF government are best
to be secured. But governments do not
exist merely for the sake of parties
With public power comes the duty to
80. H. XIX 4
allae from selfish standpoint. tar point Believe that
they best serve party who, in the con-
duct of their Office pay heed to the in
terests of the. greatest number. Their
duty is especially imposed upon the
executive by the oath of office which he
takes. In his acts he is not to seek
mote the peace and prosperity OF the
State and maintain its lawful rights. ne
is to see that its laws. civil and criminal,
are enforced alike for all and against
all. He is to secure equal protection to
rich and poor. ViolatorS of the law are
tn be punished without distinction. He
must demand honesty and economy, and
oblige public servants to render a faith
full and efficient service. Personal pre-
judice or passionate partisanship have no
place in the discharge of his duties. On
the contrary, everything which will pro-
mote the honor, the happiness and the
common welfare of the State are TO be
the objects of his solicitude and care.
Such. in belief, are the views ! enter
tain of the Office which 1 now assume
Al all times and under all clrcums tances
l SHALL to the best of my ability, act
in accordance with these views, indulg-
ing the hope that to the commonwealth
which I serve there may. come no HARM
and that its happiness and prosperity may
be advanced.
The limitation which custom has put
upon an address of this character pre-
vents me from making more than a brief
reference to policies or measures Wnlen l
think should especially engage legislatlve
attention. AS occasion may arise, 1t Will
I.a n.y. ropi m
legislature special recommendations upon
those subjects which l may deem worthy
ri is fortunate for the interests of the
State that there are no subjects OF
purely partisan character likely to pre-
sent themselves Matters can be con-
sidered dispassionately and without party
bias and all can claim an equal share
in the credit and responsibility for Wnat
may be done.
years have removed many subjects which
formerly called for and received leglsla-
The policy, so recently begun, of manag-
ing our State institutions upon nom
partisan basis, has, during the short time
those who favored it. It has received the
emphatic approval of the public and can
not now be abandoned without injury to
terence with local self government is con-
frary to the spirit of our institutions, ana
the fate of those who have offended IN
this regard III the past val iiS us q, ,e.A1i,,e
future violations of our duty, N N
these days. when independence OF
thought characterizes the average voter,
when yarty allegiance is quickly shifted,
when those who prefer good government
to success Of party can, by tner acllon, :u,
affect the results of an election. nigher l:ae
considerations than those purely partlsasn
must influence the law maker II ne
would win prolic confidence and favor lor
himself and lose whom he represents;
Except ii. a few notable instances lne
Legislature will have to deal WITH mat
ters mainly local in character ano WITH
out political significance.
The recommenda ton OF the dlstln-
guished Governor who Immediately pre-
ceded me that Legislative action should
he restricted, has been wisely followed,
It is known and observed by all that IN e
volume of laws has notably decreased
without prejudice TO the interests OF the
general public For the most part such
measures only have been enacted as We're
demanded by some pressing and general
necessity The reform thus auspiciously
begun in our own State, and so urgently
recommended in others, has the approVal
Of ALT. Irrespective of party. trust that
fhe same Spirit may continue to prevail.
and that favorable action will be limited
10 those measures only which are worthy
az assuming the form of positive enact
n1erlt. Let us abandon the notion that
iii some form Of Law it is desirable to ind
means to remove every fFncied evil or.
steYnnnrarv inconvenience and to provide
for every imaginary method Of conduct
# Is better that the laws should be fewer.
n number, and comprehend. within their
scope objects of moment, than tnaf n!i-
merous enactments when are hnntea Inn l.st 81 II
4 nee should find place on the statute
hook. The evil effects and fneonyenience
reslllting from legislation OF the last meu-