Gloucester County Democrat., 1903-01-15
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

Gentlemen of the Senate and General
Assembly:
The condition of our state continues
to be one of continued prosperity. The
farmer, the merchant, the manufacture
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 wayward are sent
TO reforlnatorieS, from which the ma
jority 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.
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 it 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, pur-
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
a question has arisen if 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 l urge
strongly prompt action.
Primary Election Law.
The last legislature authorized the
appointment of a 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 a result
of their investigation they have pre-
pared a bill which l commend to the
favorable consideration of the legisla-
ture.
l cannot too strongly state my own
views as to the Importance of this
measure. The primary election is at the
beginning of our political life. By its
means the people express their opinion
as to measures and men. Every pains
should be taken to have that expression
registered in a free and untrammeled
manner. No single act will conduce
more fully to the confidence and salts
faction of the people in our form of
government than the passage of law
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 inn
portance that means should be provid-
ed by which the voter can express his
Individual opinion without undue infiu-
ence from any one. l 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 4
proper primary election. perhaps in ev-
cry way its equal in Importance, is the
necessity of providing means for COR
rectly registering the will Of the people
at the final election. The present law
is good, but it is not without it's de-
fects. The last legislature provided for
the appointment of a commission to
investigate the desirability of voting
machine TO replace the ordinary ballot.
That commission has done its work
and made its report, which commend
to your favorable consideration.
The only serious objection that 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 it
may be assumed that if a law were
rrixy
municipalities in the state the privilege
of using the machine, but requiring
them to bear the expense, it would be
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
ity 1t is good for ALL l suggest that if
the report of the commission is fa-
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-
vided by the counties. 1t is true this
will require large appropriation, per-
haps 100000. But how can the money
of the state be SO well used as in pro-
viding a means by which the corrup-
ton of the ballot is made impossible?
And for what does money count when
compared with so desirable result?
Perhaps might say in this place that,
owing to the efficient action of the at
toEney general, the state is likely to
receive from the general government
for interest on money advanced by the
state during the civil war a sum that
viii more than sufficient to pay for
the voting machines.
To Abolish Fee System.
/ recommend that law be passed
abolishing the fee system in payment
Of various county officials throughout
the state and fixing their compensation
n a suitable salary. The laborer is
worthy OF his hire, but one laborer is
not worthy the hire Of two or three. In