The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-01-18
NEW JERSEY OUT OF DEBT
The Legislature Convenes and E,o4
ccives the Governors Message.
In Spite of Unusual Disbursements, tho
State Has the Greatest Cash
Balance in It's History.

TRENTON. n. }. (SpeciaD.-The Cne Hum
dred and Twenty fourth New Jersey Legis7
lature convened at o'clock Tuesday,
afternoon. The corridors, galleries and
floors o, both Houses were crowded. and
ther, was profuse floral display. The
two Houses organized by the election of
the officers recently decided upon by the
Republican caucauses. Senator Johnson1
OF Bergen, taking the chair In the Upper
House, mnde short speech thanking thei
members for the honor. Assemblyman,
Jones, OF Essex, Speaker OF the Assembly,
also thanked the members OF that body.
After the two houses had been organized
the annual message OF Governor Foster NJ
voorhees, was read. Governor Voorhees,
calls attention to the fact that the State
was out OF debt, and had, Notwithstanding
extraordinary disbursements, the greatest
cash balance on hand in its history. This
state ofaffairs is believed to be partly dneI
to the many interpretations in the State In
the Inst fiscal year.
In discussing the protection OF the oyster
beds, the Governor says the annual value
OF the oyster crop o: the State is nearly
S2060, 900, q sum equal to the value OF the
yearly wheat production. The industry
gives direct employment to about 600 boats
and over 5000 men.
He calls attention to the fruitless Joint
efforts OF New York and New Jersey to In
terest the Federal Government in the
preservation OF the Palisades OF the Hud-
son from DETACHMENT and depreciation, but
expresses the belief that the two States
will succeed in acquiring the necessary
land to insure the inclusion Of the Pali-
sades In public park scheme.
The Governor devo.es considerable spacel
to the attacks on the management OF the
State Industrial School for Girls, which he
declares were unjust. On this subject hel
says, in part:
"This school has, during the last year,
gained m unpleasant and unfortunate no.
toriety. Exaggerated and sensational ac-
counts spread broadcast over the country,
have created deeply erroneous impress
sion as to the purposes OF the school, the
methods OF its management and the resultsl
there attained.
"At no time has the claim been madel
that the school has reached the full meas
ure OF perfection, but under tho managed
nent OF the trustees, aided by the intelli-i
gent and suggestive help Of the Board of
Women Visitors and OF the officers, decldedI
and, under the circumstances, astonishingI
reforms and advances have been made"
The Governor has, in regard to the tax
alton OF franchises, the following to say:
"The question pressing upon your atten-j
tion and demanding answer IS, Do thel
franchises Of corporations OF quasi pub
lie nature, enjoying special privileges I'M
the use Of public property, possess value
which should be the subject OF taxation.i
and. II so, are the laws defective In notl
subjecting them to such taxation?
II fully realize the Importance OF dealingl
with this matter in q conservative spirit,
The prosperity OF State depends largely
upon the security which 1t affords to in1
vested capital. Those who have been, and
who still are, willing to take the risks in-
volved in such enterprises, hazardous and
uncertain in the beginning, are entitled to
encouragement and considerate treatment.
"In my judgment, the fairest and most
practical way to deal with the problem Isl
to classify by legislative enactment these
special franchises for the purpose OF taxa-l
tion by one ofthe State boards.
This subject Is probably the most Inn,
portant that will engage your attention.
during the present session, and l suggest
that it be taken up for consideration as
ea-ly as practicable, to the end that some-}
thing definite and satisfactory, may be ac-l
compllshed before adjournment"
After the reading OF the Governors mes
sage the presiding officers OF both housesl
announced their committee appointments,