New-York tribune., 1900-03-27
NEW JERSEY NEWS.
THE LEGISLATURES WORK.
GOVERNOR VOORHEES, SAYS IT WAS
CLEAN AND WELL CONSIDERED.
CARE SHOWN IN THE APPROPRIATIONS
SCHOOL SYSTEM TO BE IMPROVED
EQUITY OF THE FRANCHISE
LAW

EQUITY OF THE FRANCHISE
TAX LAW
In an interview yesterday the nature and
character of the legislation OF the session Of the
New-Jersey Legislature Just closed Governor
Voorhees, said to a Tribune reporter:
The character of the legislation clean and
well considered The character OF the members 3ssT
comprising the Senate was such as 70 % insure d taIs
lutely needless legislation, for OF the five hundred
hundred were enacted into laws. One hundred and
ninetyeight bills received executive approval and
Assembly was married. with deiiberation ana care
and there was very gratifying absence of scandal
The attention Of the public win first be attracted
by the appropriation bills. About soOoo represents
the difference between the appropriations for the
present year and those of the year preceding
They were somewhat larger than usual last year
because of the expenses. and the extraOrd-
nary expenses for the present are for objects
Legislature is TO Be commended for the judgment
and care with which they made their approprta
o,Is me pubic can peter understand the dlr-
ncuitles with which the Appropriations Committee
tons made for extraordinary expenditures
asgregattng over S250.O0o while about one-third of
at the end Of the current fiscal year the balance
large as that At the close Of ihe last Ssea year
and this Notwithstanding the fact that the perna-
than 100000, which is remitted to the various
on ~ IN the state and their burdens of taxa
10 5eeIasys BY IN the political party in power
sne @ legislation was marked by freedom from partt-
Some very important measures were enacred
Wa I'm IN point OF importance and public interest
little difficulty may be experienced in fbs nraSt{n
operation OF the new law for the first wear and
some objections may De urged against its enact
new new system Is inaugurated and the people have be-
criticism will disappear and the wise provisions cf
thoroUghness of our public school system one OF
Of & ggea9eS' DIRECTIONS net with in the enactment
best method of selecting the boards Of education
@ ms was overcome by leaving il optional with the
various IocaHties The experience OF other States
the opinion and think that the Legislature
wisely left il TO the various localities TO make
such selections as they. deemed best. Ny own per-
portionment scheme recommended by the Commits
Another important measure of public interest
was the state Sewerage bill In view OF the recent
the rights Of municipalities use the streams Of
nS 9taIe I0T sewage purposes the necessity for
restrictions. and with wide general powers was
cessity and the Importance Of prompt action wise
ly adopted a measure which created such a COM
mission. s with carefully guarded powers and with
a due Que regard for the interests Of the various 10
In response TO widespread sentiment the Legis-
lature authorized the creation of the Palisades
Commission TO secure all Of the land that was was
aeaiy neGessafy TO preserve the scenic beauty and
to lands whose value is represented by millions.
the unanimous vote Of the Senate and the Assem-
bly, was the Franchise Tax bill This measure
was not so far reaching drastic some would
nave mad II In It's enactment, however. the
new principle in this State, namely, the taxation
of franchises OF corporations using public
and viii be far more easV e1Forca5 NAV nGI
be perfect measure but I doubt that II will re-
quire much amendment in the future. except pos
sbly the rates imposed. one OF the features
which especially commends the measure is its
simplicity. The local Board of Assessors value the
property real and personal. OF the corporations
which may be found in their taxing districts. The
h streets is cered To- 5 the sate ee BoaId 5oanq " T am
SCISSORS. 10 enable them 10 make apportiOnment.
nualy TO make returns on December q OF their
gross receipts. The law fixes 2 per cent Of this
is apportioned TO the various localities, according
streets. The tax is properly made payable TO the
localities in which the franchises are enjoyed in
relation to the franchise tax heretofore imposed.
these contracts are not disturbed 1t is only when
excess amount to be paid Many agree that this
mend II than that system which bases the amount
subject TO wide fluctuations and gamblers manipu-
lations Criticism has been urged against the
so high as that provided for in The contracts with
agreement found themselves una BILE TO comply with
In the aid Of Others fmrIher answer is to be
found in the fact that where an effort was made
rates, the amount received would exceed. II II
equaed. the sum TO be paid according 10 the pro-
visions Of the law recently enacted.
There were some other measures OF less general
interest but of considerably Importance. namely
the various codication bills relating 20 the courts
the National Guard. 20 evidence condemnation pro
the result of the laborous and panstaking efforts
of the different who have generously given
their the work. there Is prospect that
when the new revision Is published II Will not De
about hundred words each. and made up or
mass OF conflicting doubtful. and IN many cases
ucomprehensible statutes. II for no other reason
than that the members OF the Senate and the
House prevented the enactments OF many laws.
they would be entitled credit and ought TO re-
ceve the thanks OF the people OF the state
When Governor Voorhees, asked II he had
any objection giving his reasons for vetoing
Senate bill No 159. which was known as an act
corporations with special franchises TO
extend their charters he replied. emphaticaily:
Certainly not, That bill not signed because
II broad and general in its provisions II
authorized any company having a special charter
upon fling certificate. 70 extend its charter nfty
beyond the time OF the expiration or us eN-
istiug charter the adoption OF the general
corporation it has been the policy OF the state
and il a wise 70 grant any special IN
new Constitution expressly prohibits the granting
of such charters The effect OF Senate bill NO, los,
n il had received executive approval would have
been 10 extend the charters OF companies avfnS
special immunities and privileges not accorded 70
and corporations organized under the
general law This I think. would have been unwtse
and unfair and therefore | declined 10 approve the
bill
PLAI,FTELD DOCTOR WITH H4C4BEBES.
PlainfeId Marcn % (SpeciaD.-vord has Just
been received from Or. NJ 5 Simpson, formerly OF