Gloucester County Democrat., 1903-01-15


way to or from the train, and his habit
of life has of necessity been lacking in
comfort and dignity. 1t is desirable
also that the governor should have
house where he may entertain visitors
from abroad as well as to have suita-
Bile gathering place for important occa-
sions in the current life of the state. II
the state were poor, the question Of ex
pense might be raised, but the staEe is
rich. The present salary paid the gov
ernor is generous, think sufficient for
his needs living in an executive man
sion provided by the state.
l suggest that the two questions be
considered separately. One can be stat.
ed as the extension of the statehouse
grounds, in conformity with the bill of
last winter, but without any provision
for an executive mansion, the other to
provide for the purchase or erection OF
an executive mansion either on the
statehouse grounds or elsewhere, as
may be thought best by those to whom
the work shall be intrusted, SO that if
the legislature should conclude that it
is not advisable to provide the mansion
referred to they may at least provide
for an extension of the grounds, a mat
ter which has been received with very
general favor throughout the state.
Changes In Judicial System.
The last legislature passed certain
amendments to the constitution which
provide for certain changes in our judi
cial system The overcrowded condition
of the courts emphasizes the urgent
need of the final adoption of these
amendments which, it is expected, will
give the relief desired. 1 urge the i'm
portance of prompt and favorable ac-
tion by the present legislature upon
these amendments and the providing of
the necessary machinery to carry them
into effect in case the people should
ratify them at the polls.
Relation of New Jersey to the Trust
Question.
There has been so much discussion of
late on the subject of trusts, and New
Jersey is SO largely interested in the
matter by reason of the large number
of corporations organized under her
laws, that deem it advisable to refer
to it. The relations of our state to the
interests involved are so intimate and
the public mind has from many points
of view been so misdirected that !
think frank discussion of the position
of New Jersey to the general question
is desirable at this time, and if / have
left for the close of my message what
have to say on this question it is not
because think it last in Importance.
The legislation of this state for the
past thirty years has been so wise and
has so won the confidence of the public
that corporations to the number OF
many thousands have taken advantage
of it's laws to incorporate under them.
1t is the impression of some who are
ignorant of the facts that the corpora
tion laws of New Jersey are especially
liberal and that corporations organized
dnder them have unusual and perhaps
unwise powers. This is not so. The
New Jersey law recognizes the right of
property to protection. 1t recognizes as
w Cll tAC IlSlll VI tuG DCOPlC IL C4uQ1
protection. 1t allows no oppression of
the people by the corporation. 1t al
lows no unjust assault upon the corpo-
ration by the people to be effective. 1t
carefully and justly guards the interest
of both. Most of it's features have been
passed upon by the courts, than whom
none stand higher in the land for pro.
bity and learning. And, quite as impor
tant as the law and the courts, there is
back of both and supporting both a
sturdy and vigorous public sentiment
throughout the state that would quick
ly call to account any legislature that
should infringe upon the rights of Ell
ther. Corporations that want to do a
dishonest business have a hard time of
it under the New Jersey law. Corpora
tions that desire to conduct their bust
ness as honest men conduct theirs are
protected as fully and completely as is
any individual in the state, but not
more. New Jersey has justly won the
confidence of the country because its
laws protect alike and with equal JUS
tiee the rights of the people and the
rights of property. The result of this
confidence has been that so great a
number of corporations have organized
under her laws that the fees and taxes
from this source are sufficient to Day
the annual expenses of the state to pay
a large proportion of the cost of our
public education and to leave a hand
some surplus besides. Other states, en-
vious of our prosperity, have copied our
laws, reduced our fees and solicited
our business. Their success has not
been important. Our revenues from
this source continue to increase. The
inference is fair that it is because of
the greater confidence the country has
in that public sentiment back of our
laws that makes our laws secure
Few Real Trusts.
AS a matter of fact, there are few if
any real trusts, and the name is given
promiscuously to large corporations of
all kinds. especially if composed of a
combination of a number of smaller
concerns. 1t is wrong use Of the term,
and it carries an unjust inference, but
it has come into common use
Whether with just reason or not,
what is generally known as the trust
question has become the absorbing
question of the time. The sensational
press enlarges upon it, and public
speakers of intelligence and character
discuss it as if it was some huge and
monstrous apparition whose presence
endangered the rights of the people if
not indeed ultimately the very life of
the nation. The discussion has reached
such condition and the public mind is
interested to such degree that feel
ing of apprehension exists. What are
are facts?
We are contented and prosperous
people-never SO contented, never SO
prosperous. We have increased in pop
ulation, in intelligence, in wealth and in
power, and to such an extent that the
figures that tell the story are beyond
our power to grasp. Labor was never
so fully employed. Wages were never
so high. The savings bank deposits
were never so large. In the develop
ment of our prosperity small concerns
have grown to large ones and those
already large have grown larger. As
their capital has increased competition