New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-02
REFORM THE KEYNOTE.
FORECAST OF MESSAGE.
Governor Stokes VII Discuss Equal
Taration and Election Problems.

trenton, Dec. (SpeciaD. inter
,st is shown in the probable contents OF Gov
.-nor Stokes's message TO the legislature. There
hsve been all kinds Of speculation regarding it
o,5 generous forecasting, but most of it has
hoen unauthorized guesswork- The Governor
ill devote considerable time to the large ques-
+,ons Of state interest, but will not attempt to
s,c.ste what the legislature shall or shall not
- At the last session of the legislature many
. the bills which came to the Governor were
,rnerfect in their titles and several Of them in
consistent in prraseology, a defect due to the
sct that there is not sufficient legislative debate
- ,nouiry into the character and contents Of
their makeup.
Recent disclosures in business circles have
weakened the public conscience to higher
onnreciation OF the morals of business and
,oI;+ical life These evils. he believes. are
-elInigh impossible of correction unless reform
horir,s al the fountain head. So long as corrup-
inn exists at the polls and bribery is per-
,oItted abuses will creep in and continue as
,oricaI consequence. The Governor will certain
~ discuss at some length the question OF the
corrupt Practices act, with a view Of preventing
the corrupt use of moneys He was chairman Oh
she commission that framed the primary re-
so-r, law. which partly remedied the abuses
ubicb prior TO that time existed in the prl-
r,aries and which enabled the people to have
fpu and free voice in the selection Of their can
ddates.
He now viii 90 a step further and suggest
that reform legislation be passed so that the
elections may be free from suspicion and cor
rnn+ influence. The Governor was always OPP
nosed Is the law merging the fall and spring cleo
lions and contended against it in party caucus
st the tine it was passed. He has not changed
his 3pinion as to the wisdom of keeping the
municipal and State elections separate anu -
3scrss this matter in his message
The question of taxation VIII be discussed az
length with view to obtaining unl1orhllty any! ~
equality The growing increase of taxation is
incoming ne has declared. source OF burden &c
enterprise and thrift. The question or now 10
tighten this burden is the most important eco
lon7ic problem of the day. The Governor. In his
Inaugural address, spoke of the increase OF Ilu-
-jci3aI 1axation and will probably have some
hing further TO say of it in his message me
settlement of the question OF the taxation oA
railroads. which was begun at the last session.
should be completed at this session. Inc ines
sage will be clear and explicit on this point, ana
the issues will be discussed fully Various
methods of readjuSting taxation of the mann
stem Of the railroad viii probably be presented
The Governor it is predicted by his conhdants'
Win Irge that this matter be settled IN a way
50 that there will be doubt that the rallroaos
will bear equally with all other properly tnelr
share of the burdens of taxation
The question of the franchises OF pubic It'I-
ties is one which strongly appeals to the pubic
mind No one outside of the franchise holdefS
questions the advisability of limiting these
g-arts There may be some discussion in the
legislature as to the ways and means TO TINS emo
The question will be presented in the Governor s
message predcated upon the assumption lhaL
limited franchises will be the policy OF the SIale
in the future The question of the taxation OF
these franchises will be discussed with care ana
The legislature recommended to pass such meas
,Ir4s as will cause these franchises to bear such
share Of the public burden in the way Of taxes
as their valuation warrants