Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-01-23
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Recommendations of Governor MUIR
ply to the Legislature.

Gentlemen of the Senate and General
Assembly, have just taken the oath
required by the constitution of the
state of every one chosen to fill the
high office of governor. 1 have taken
it without any reservation, and, to the
best of my ability, propose to be
faithful to it.
The provision of the constitution
which postpoues the Inauguration of a
new governor until after the assem-
bling of the legislature enables the out
going governor, from his larger knowl-
edge and experience, to discuss in his
annual message those matters which
he regards as important to the state.
The exceptional experience of my dis
tinguished predecessor and his famil-
iarity with the legislation and the in
stitutions of the state have caused this
to be done recently with signal ability
and fullness. Later on l shall doubt
less have occasion to communicate
with you on special subjects, but at
present it does not seem advisable to
do more than to call your attention to
a few matters whose Importance has
already caused them to be a subject Of
public discussion and upon some Of
which opinions have already been ex-
pressed.
Pollution of the Passaic.
The most important subject to which
l can call your attention at this time
is the pollution of the Passaic river
from the adjacent population, which
has destroyed the use and beauty of a
noble stream and gravely injured man.
ufacturing and property interests on its
banks. To remedy this condition is
merely to pay the penalty of crowding
population. The situation which per-
mits this violation of natural condi-
tons must be replaced by wise legisla-
ton. The states responsibilities extend
to all it's branches of government, and
in this case the fact that political divi-
sions do not conform to natural drain
age makes it necessary for the state to
provide for common action in sewer
age by methods different from those
which prevail in other functions of gov
eminent. The regulation is partly pro-
yided for by the state sewerage COM
mission act, and much preliminary
work has been done. Legislation for
carrying out the work is asked at the
hands of the legislature. Six years
have elapsed since the legislature first
considered this question, and it is high
time for final decision and immediate
action. The fact that great injury has
been done is made the more apparent
by threatened suits for damages
against cities discharging sewage into
the river Evidently a delay in legis-
lati6n would cause litigation of an ex-
pensive and injurious character. The
general method of.state supervision on
sewerage which has been. adopted
meets with approval. Each local COM
munity should be required to so regu-
late it's sewerage as to avoid nuisance
to adjoining communities, and the reg
ulation of this subject through proper
authority is the sole means of prevent
ing disaster to the public health and of
obtaining the best results for each.
strongly urge prompt action.
Changes In Election Law.
The state of New Jersey has an cleo
ton law which has produced, upon the
whole, excellent results. Theoretically
and practically, if the voter so desires,
it secures a secret ballot; it enables a
voter to deposit his ballot with abso-
lutte independence One hundred feet
from the ballot box extraneous infu-
ence comes to an end; the citizen en-
tiers the polling place alone; he enters
the booth; he selects and prepares his
ballot without assistance or supervi-
sion; he knows, unless he so desires,
that no one can know how he votes;
his ballot may be the expression of his
own conclusions and wishes.
But, however excellent the law may
be- and | think it is admitted by all
who are competent to judge that it is
great improvement upon former laws,
1t is still possible to make it better.
have said the ballot is theoretically Sc
cret Experience has demonstrated
that it may be so only in theory and
that the ingenuity of the wicked is
quite equal to the task of destroying its
secrecy. The law now allows ballots
practically without number to be in
possession of all parties outside the
polls, and it is not difficult to so mark
these ballots that when finally counted
they may be known. So long as ballots
are allowed outside the polling places
so long will the use of money at the
polls for the purchase of votes be likely
to continue.
do not need to take nor will take
your time in discoursing upon the i'm
portance of keeping the ballot pure.
The necessity of doing so is recognized
by every thoughtful citizen, and the
dangers and evil results of corrupt
ballot have been shown by a long line
of sad and unfortunate experiences. 1t
is in the interest of good government
to make corruption at the polls impos-
sible. 1t does not answer to make it
diffcult Human nature is weak It
should be made impossible. 1t is easy
so long as ballots are allowed outside
the polls.
Two Plans For Improvement.
Two ways Of improvement suggest
themselves.
The first is by amending the present
law so that no ballots shall be obtain
able by the voter except from the cleo.
ton officer, and if the law should be
so amended I suggest the Massachu-
setts form of ballot as perhaps the best
form yet devised
The second is the use of the voting
machine In place Of the ballot I am
Informed that this machine has been
60 perfected that it is entirely prac-
Heal and in those cities where it has
been used it has given results that
have been altogether satisfactory. The