, 1905-01-18

Most of the riparian grants of our
state have been disposed of in fee sim
pie and are no longer state assets. Ri
parian rights yet in our possession are
worth perhaps 5000 900. These rights,
especially such as are located along the
Hudson river, will grow in value with
the growth of the country. Nature has
fixed their limit. They cannot be multi
piled and the business demands upon
them are continually growing. If in the
past the state had not parted with her
rights in this respect. she would now
have an immensely valuable asset and
one that would be a source of perpetual
revenue. If the policy of the past has
been a mistaken one, let us at once cor
rect II. The legislature can provide that
riparian lands shall no longer be dispos-
ed of in fee simple, but shall be leased
on rentals which at proper periods
shall be r~eadjusted on a fair basis of
increased value Such readjustments
could be determined. in cases of dispute.
by a representative of the state and a
representative of the lessee, which would
insure fairness to both parties.
One riparian grant made twenty years
ago is now assessed at a sum five times
larger than was paid for it. another made
ten years ago at $50 a front foot is now
valued at 1000 a front foot. and still an
other made less than five years ago is
now held at many times its cost to the
grantee. There are many similar in
stances. | submit that is an unwise policy
for our state to part with this valuable
source of income.
The preservation and development of
the resources and interests of our COM
monwealth are the legitimate functions of
government. God has bountifully blessed
our state In the years that are gone. Let
us prove worthy of his mercies In the
years to come. righteousness exalteth
a nation" and patriotism rather than par
tisanship should mark the administration
of government. Such a policy tends to
the public good, develops "a spirit of civic
pride and make every citizen of the
state feel that he has n direct and per-
sonal interest in the successful admins
tration of her affairs. Good government
is not only the desire of the people, but
a just obligation imposed upon their OFF,
Gals. 1t demands that useless offices be
abolished; that state boards unneces-
sarily large be reduced; that public off,
Gals render full services for the compen-
sation they receive: that the system of
abolishing fees in public office, so auspici-
ously begun, be extended throughout the
state. and that a spirit of wise economy
pervade our councils. The cry that the
state Is rich, even if true, does not justify
the unwise or needless expenditure of n
single dollar. The surplus in the treasury
is not dangerous, nor, indeed, has it yet
exceeded the proportions of a safe and
necessary working balance; but, whatever
its amount, it belongs to the people and
should be prudently employed. The state
of New Jersey will not be rich until it
has sufficient money to provide school
accommodations for every child in the
state, to care properly for every state
dependent, to complete the system of
good roads, to pay necessary expenses of
government and to relieve the people from
the burdens of excessive taxation. To
these ends and to the good of the peo-
pie of this commonwealth / pledge my
best energy and service.
Centuries ago. when the Roman empire
was in the height of its glory, embassies
from all the Roman provinces presented
themselves before the emperor to pledge
loyalty and allegiance. Gifts of various
kinds they brought him-costly orna-
ments wrought from the ores of the rich
est mines, products of the fields and for
ests and rich devices of industry and
skill. The emperor thanked the embas-
sizes and expressed his qualification at the
evidence their gifts afforded of the vast
resources of their mighty empire. But
he added, Il would that instead of these
offerings you could have brought the
hearts of your people, that with them
we might build a nation bound together
by the ties of love" Imperial rule is
passing away. In our land no divine
right marks the insignia of office. NO
hereditary line claims preferment. No re-
gal hand guides the destinies of state. The
people themselves choose their officials as
agents to execute their will. But their
obligations end not with the choice.
Every citizen has his just responsibility
in the work of good government and IN
the faithful execution of the law. No ad-
ministration can succeed without popu-
lar sympathy and support, and so in the
years to come, as | tread the wine press
of duty, | shall want and need as comfort
and solace and cheer the loyal, loving
hearts of the people Of this common
wealth.