Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-10-03

{ was a 'gs .-neer, that he hsld the
hrottle OF S-Eepublee IN locomotive dur
ng the last two gubernatorial campaigns so
successfully. The figure of speech was
very pretty, but most unfortunate. Most
people of the state knew that Mr.. Murphy
regulated the quantity Of power that he
thought was necessary to properly run the
machine, but there really seemed no good
reason for making the fact SO very promi-
nent and public.
SOMETHING NEW.
''This is the first time in the history of
in our state that the governor
ship has been openly offered as reward to
a partisan worker for party services, and !
question if the good people OF our little
state are ready to establish this as pre-
cedent.
Candidate Murphy says in his speech of
acceptance that the only issue before the
people this fall is prosperity What he
means by that do not understand but
do know that the citizens of the state say
there are real issues to be met.
s'That there are broken pledges and
promises to explain, that more vicious and
partisan legislation has been placed upon
the books during the last six years than
ever before in like space of time IN the
states history.
tiThe people charge that new Offices have
been created and salaries increased without
reason, and a reckless extravaganza seems
to grow annually in geometric ratio.
1The Democracy in convention assembled
say that the present prosperous condition OF
the state treasury is due to laws passed by
them, that the Democrats planted and the
Republicans are but reaping the harvest OF
such legislation.
s"The Democrats further declare that the
present financial prosperity of the state is
due, not to the Republican management,
but to the fearlessness, craftsmanship, WIS
dom and far-seeing policy OF Leon Albeit
more than to any other cause or influence.
"The Republican party, in their platform
of 1913 pledged the people if given power
again they would abolish the fee system
in state and county. They claimed that
they had practically done this in the state
and larger counties, and only required
another lease to perfect their work.
''This, the people say, they have not
done. The Democracy pledged the party
at the same time, to the enactment OF laws
that will abolish the fee system in the
state, county and city and l have no doubt
will renew that pledge.
REPUBLICANS SILENT.
s'The Republican platform is silent upon
this point. The fee system gives greater
opportunity for the legalized robbery OF the
taxpayer than any other law upon the
books.
"What taxpayer can tell with any degree
of accuracy the amount received annually
by the sheriff, clerk, prosecutor or surrogate
of his county? If these large fees were
made public it would create at once a
revolution among the people. They are
purposely kept in ignorance. have nc
hesitancy in saying that if this system is
changed in counties of the second class
there would be an annual saving in each OF
$25, 900.
IA change to reasonable and compe-
tent salary system would be tremendous
help to the taxpayers.
s'Can you trust the Republican legis-
lature to effect this reform?
''In 1901 they did pass bill, fixing the
salary of prosecutors of certain counties,
but the law was sham and fraud and
its efficacy destroyed by a proviso that il
should not be operative without the consent
of the official affected Fancy prosecutor
receiving $1,000 or.$8, 900 in fees annually,
consenting voluntarily to take salary OF
So, 500 for the same work.
PRACTICAL LEGISLATION WANTED.
"What the people want is practical legis
lation that will affect the individual ta1
rate. The abolishing of the fee system
will show this result at once.
''The taxpayers want a dividend from
that plethoric state treasury; not 5000, 0OC
sent out annually to the discussing agents
of the various counties to be squandered Oh
pilfered by them-but million dollars
specifically appropriated either for the pay
ment of county bonds or for the building
of county roads-with no power OF thu
disbursers to devote it to any other purpose
''The state is receiving prodigious sums
for the incorporation of foreign and domes
tic corporations this money should &C
directly to the reduction of the tax rate
and the lifting of burdens from the people
This would be practical legislation for the
agricultural interests and our farmers
would understand 49, - n - sgiS;
i ton bo-.suiSERzrA1 VA.