The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1906-09-13


rhe state administration had given
splendid aid to the national govern
ment in the prosecution of the war
I with Spain. The treasury surplus on
Oct. 81, 1901, was increased to 81
851. 63S.17, although the policy OF
liberal support of state institutions for
The care of dependents was continued.
The state relieved the counties of the
payment of the salaries of county SUI
perintendents.
The Platform of 1904.
In the Republican state platform of
| 1904. upon which Governor Stokes was
elected. were embodied the promises
and pledges that have since been scru-
iDulously 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; 1t
was distributing about $2000.000
among the municipalities; it had in
creased the state surplus to $2,940.-
j91S9S despite liberal appropriations
1 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 view to the
enactment of an equal tax law. The
platform declared that equal taxation
is not only just, but an obligation inn
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 a fearless and thorough consid
Grafton of this subject, to the end that
if any lack of uniformity or any in
CAPABILITIES are shown to exist they will
be removed. so that all property, cor
porate or individual, except that used
for religious. educational and chart
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
4 FulfiIIment 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 I'M
wearying work of the legislature in
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-
latve annals of any other state. The
last two years of New Jerseys legisla-
tive history constitute an era. The
legislation this year was epochal
Twelve Years of Progressive Govern
ment.
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 ,931S3. and the treasury
balance 1898. 747.S The public schools
received 100000 out of the riparian
fund The state expenditures were
50. 2G9, O39.S6 The income from the
taxes on miscellaneous corporations
was S69S, 292 SO. or $161, 6S0.10 more
than the income in 1898, when the Dem
ocrats were in control of legislation.
State Income Increased by S2,422, 1882.
Last year the comptroller's report
showed these comparative figures:
State treasury income, 81, sos, 075.75.
an increase of S2,422. 1882. The state
treasury balance was $2,S5S. 1893 10.
There was paid directly to the public
schools S1,215,S02.31, while the princi-
pal of the riparian fund was increased
by $937 .939.35s although the annual APP
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 necesstated large expendi-
lures for necessary state purposes.
Last year they amounted in the gross
to 1864. 1920. of which 1864, 729. 80
was extraordinary, the ordinary eX-
penditures being $2,970,066.90, or ST.
62S. 00S.S5 less than the income for the
year. The annual appropriation of ST.
015,S02.31 to the counties to pay 50 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 S266 21209 than was the entire
state revenue in 1895 In ten years the
states income has been increased by
81, 422. 1882 and the states expendi