The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-09-11
The Platform Of 1904.

pul0uSly fulfilled. The state govern.
ment had reformed the primary law,
provided for tuberculosis hospital,
created the tenement house commits
sion; it had enriched the state by three
quarters of a million obtained on old
and doubtful claims against the federal
government: it had compelled the pay
ment of interest amounting to over
$4,000 annually on state deposits; it
was distributing about $2,000,000
among the municipalities; it had in
creased the state surplus to $2,940,
918.9S despite liberal appropriations
to the state Institutions for construc-
ton and betterments; it had reformed
and systematized the labor laws.
The legislature of 1904 provided for
state commission to examine into
railroad taxation, with a view to. the
enactment of an equal tax law. The
platform declared that equal taxation
is not only just, but an obligation i'm
posed upon the legislature by the con
stitution." The platform declared EN-
phatically for the taxation of all second
class railroad property at the full local
rate. As for changes to be made in
the taxation Of the main stem, the plat
form pointed out the complex and far
reaching questions involved and re-
ferred the subject to state commission
inquiry with this solemn pledge:
Upon the presentation of this report
to the Legislature we pledge the Re-
publican party, its candidate for gov
ernor and its members Of the legisla-
ture to fearless and thorough consid-
Grafton Of this subject, to the end that
If any lack Of uniformity or any in
equaIities are shown to exist they will
be removed, SO that all property. cor
porate or individual, except that used
for religious, educational and chari-
table purposes, shall bear its full, equal
and just burden Of taxation without
discrimination, and we pledge to the
people Of the state the enactment Of all
just laws to that end.s
FuIfiIIment Of Party Pledges.
How well that pledge to the people
has been fulfilled the naked facts of
the record Of legislation for two years
prove. They also show that, through
recommendations in the annual mes
sage of Governor Stokes last January
and by the patient, faithful and un-
wearying work of the legislature in a
prolonged session this year, the meas
ure Of benefits abundantly exceeded
the promise of the party platform,
making an extraordinary body Of new
remedial laws without precedent in
this state and unequaled in the legis-
Iative annals Of any other state. The
last two years Of New Jerseys IegisIa-
tive history constitute an era. The
legislation this year was epochaI.
Twelve Years Of Progressive Govern
rnent.
The effect of Republican. legislation
began to manifest itself in 1895 in an
increasing income and in expenditures
diverted from the useless Offices abol-
ished by the legislature to the state
institutions In 1895 the states income
was $2,175,031. .SS, and the treasury
balance 1898, 747. .SS. The public schools
received 100000 out of the riparian
fund. The state expenditures We're
So, ,269, ,03986. The income from the
taxes on miscellaneous corporations
was S698, ,292.36, or $161, ,6S0.10 more
than the income in 1893, when the Dem
ocrats were In control of legislation.
State Income Increased by $2,422, 1882.
Last year the comptroller's report
showed these comparative figures
State treasury income, $4,59S, ,075. .75
an increase of $2,422, 1882. The state
treasury balance was $2,858. .S9S. .13.
There was paid directly to the public
schools $1,215. .S02.31, while the princi-
pal OF the riparian fund was increased
by $937, ,939.35, although the annual ap-
preparation out Of the fund to the
schools had been doubled. The vastly
increased state revenue, which more
than doubled the income Of 1895, justi-
fed and necessitated large expendi-
lures for necessary state purposes.
Last year they amounted in the gross
to $3,664, ,794.29, Of which 1854. .729.30
was extraordinary, the ordinary ex-
penditures being $2.9T0, ,066.90, or ST.
28,O08.S5 less than the income for the
year. The annual appropriation OF ST.
O15, ,sO2.31 to the counties to pay 80 per
cent of their school taxes Is not an ex-
penditure and is not included in these
figures. The increase In the annual In
come of the state since 1895 is greater
by $3.50, ,212.09 than was the entire
state revenue in 1895. In ten years the
states income has been Increased by
So, ,422, 1892 and the states expendi-
tures by $1,S95, ,654.4S, exclusive of the
school appropriation, a difference Of
81, 1906, ,654.43 on the credit side Of the
state ledger. From 1895 to 1905 inclu-
sive the miscellaneous corporations
paid total Of $15,S17, ,O29.41 in fran
chise taxes and several millions in reg
lstratlon fees. In the previous period
of ten years the aggregate Of income
from these franchise taxes was $780,
T50.07, and the fees were less than
half million. The war debt has been
wholly wiped out.
Rich BENEFITS For the People.
TO public education the state has
been most provident. From 1896 to
1905 inclusive there was paid $3s47s.-
47012 to public school objects in addi-
tion to the annual appropriation Of
about a million toward the county
school taxes, making a total to date
Of nearly $6,000,000 The total paid in
1893, the last year or Democratic rule.
to public school purposes was $751;