The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-01-16

for Passaic Sew err Salaries Instead
of Fees for County Officers
Liberal Appropriations for State
Hospital for Cons ump.ives.
The first annual message of Governor
Murphy, which was sent to The L-gis-
ature as soon as tuat body co1s seneu,
Was given the unusual honor of being
read in both Senate and Hoase. 1t tol-
lows i'll lull:
Gentlemen Of the Senate and General
Assembly;
The condition of our state continues
to be one of continued prosperity. The
| farmer the merchant the manufactui-
er, the professional man and the wage
Garner are busy in the peaceful pur-
suits of prosperous and happy time.
In addition to this the poor, the feeble
minded and the insane are cared for in
institutions governed by enlightened
administration, the hayward are sent
to reformatories, from which the ma
| iority return as law abiding citizens
and the usual proportion of the wicked
are punished as of old. This is the stu
alton at the present time in our state.
for which we have occasion to thank
an overruling Providence.
l commend to your consideration the
reports of the state officials and the
boards which administer the various
institutions of the state. These exhibit
in detail the information which 1t is
important for the legislature to have
and which it is unnecessary for me to
repeat in this message.
Passaic River Sewerage.
This important subject, which has
been before the legislature several
years, will come up again and, hope,
finally in the report of the commission
| appointed under the law of last winter.
/ The commission has given much time
and thought to this most important
matter, and their Investigations, p9r-
sued along independent lines, lead
them to the same conclusion as that
reached by the state sewerage commits
sion in their report, that the only prac-
! tical solution of the trouble is by Il
| trunk sewer from Paterson to Newark
! bay. / hope the report will be read by
every member of the legislature and
that legislation providing for the con-
struction of the sewer will be passed.
The expense will be considerable, and
question has arisen II it Is not prop
er case for state aid. Much may be
said from that point of view. My own
opinion is sufficiently favorable to al
low me to say that If the legislature
should SO regard it l would approve
their action. But in any case urge
strongly prompt action.
Primary Election Law.
The last legislature authorized the
! appointment of commission to consid
er an amendment to the election law
which should provide for the regulation
of primary elections. That commission
was appointed. They have given much
| study to the question, and as result
| of their investigation they have pre-
pared a bill which | commend to the
favorable consideration of the legisla-
ture.
/ cannot too strongly state my own
views as to the Importance of thii
measure. The primary election is at the
beginning of our political life BY its
means the people express their opinion
MS to measures and men. Every pains
should be taken to have that expression
registered in free and untrammeled
manner No single act will conduce
more fully to the confidence and Salts
faction of the people in our form of
at,ff tho tro Of a uty
providing for the regulation of primary
elections. The present condition is bad.
1t might possibly be worse, but in some
counties of our state not very much
worse. 1t should be improved and that
without delay. 1t is of the highest i'm
portance that means should be provid-
ed by which the voter can express his
individual opinion without undue intlu-
ence from any one. / believe the bill,
prepared with great care by the able
and experienced commission, provides
the way, and l earnestly commend it
for prompt and favorable action.
The Voting Machine.
/ Second only to the Importance of a
: proper primary election. perhaps in ey.
cry way its equal in Importance, is the
necessity of providing means for cor
, rectly registering the win of the people
at the final election. The present law
is good, but it is not without its de-
fects. The last legislature provided for
the appointment of a commission to
, investigate the desirability of v0
machine to replace the ordinary ba l-,
That commission has done its work
and made its report, which commend
to your favorable consideration.
i The only serious objection tlHt ap-
pears against the adoption OF the ma
chine in place of the ballot is its cost.
and under ordinary conditions that
. would be serious indeed. | think il
t may be. assumed that if a law were
passed giving the various counties OF
municipalities in the state the privilege
/. of using the machine, but requiring
q them to bear the expense, it would be a
long time before the machine would be
generally adopted If it is what is
claimed for it, it should be put in use
at once, and If it is good for one local.
lty it is good for all. l suggest that il
+. the report of the commission is ia.
= : vored by the legislature the state
should provide the first machines to the
people, with the understanding that re-
pairs and additional machines be pro-
yided by the counties. 1t is true this