The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-05-29
Rzorsr meetings in this county having

RzoENT meetings in this county having
for their end the formation of Colby
party" have given rise to the inquiry
what 1t all means, who is to be benefited,
what win the people at large gain. etc.
To answer every question that has been
put would take up much time and space,
but we will give little of each this week
to that purpose. One of the first things
to do is to take cognizance of the person
mel Of those who are largely interested in
this movement and to discover what par
ticular motive causes them to cast their
lot with it. 1t might be well to bear
in mind, also, that several whose names
have been published as being at the
meetings have not been near them. At
the last gathering lengthy set of
resolutions were adopted and a few
of these will be discussed here
In the first place, they denounce the or
ganization because party nominations
for county and state offices and state
Legislature are dictated by representatives
of corporations" Any man has right
to be dissatisfied with his party organiza-
ton If he sees fit, he has no right how
ever to make assertions that are not borne
out by fact. Without attempting to de-
fend the nominations In this county, aud
the editor Of this paper sometimes disa-
grees with them, 1t must be admitted that
these nominations are entirely in the hands
of the people themselves Under the
primary law passed under Governor
Murphy's administration, prepared by a
Commission of which Governor Stokes
was chairman. every man can go to the
primary. cast his vote free and untram-
meled and be sure that 1t is properly
counted. 1t was that primary act that en-
sbled Senator Colby to win his fight in
Essex.
That public franchises belonging to
the people worth millions of dollars, have
been given away to enrich many million
aires and machine politicians, is an asser-
ton that Is utterly unwarranted. What
ever franchises have been granted, have
been given by the municipalities them
selves through their local representatives
and not through the State. This is mat
ter that has had some discussion and con-
sideratiou Of late and was taken up by
the Republican party at the last session.
Under the recommendation of Governor
Stokes limited franchise act was passed
which prohibits the granting of franchises
for 9 period longer than twenty years,
except when. by a vote of the people
themselvss. franchises are extended to
forty years. Further than that, the
Governor. in his message. suggested the
appointment Of Commission to investi-
gate the subject of division of profits as
between the municipalities granting the
franchises and the public utility corpora
tions. A resolution embody ing that sug-
gestion was passed and signed by the
Governor, and the Commission will be ap.
pointed to that end. This will bear upon
the subject Of municipal ownership and
will doubtless result In giving to the peo-
pie whatever returns they may Justly
claim in this connection. The suggestion
of the Colby and Record movement in
this county therefore has been already an
ticipated by the State administration.
The demand for equalization Of corpor-
ate property with personal and all other
property has already been complied with
1t was advocated during Governor Stokes
campaign ; 1t was insugurated at the first
session Of the Legislature after his induc-
ton into ONCE and was carried out this
year by the enactment of law that will
probably wipe out our State school tax
and leave surplus for the reduction of To-
cal taxation, besides placing in the local
taxing districts the assessment and taxa
ton Of all second class railroad property,
which includes sidings, stations and every
thing outside of the bare stem, which ia
taxed at an average rate for school pur-
poses.
The demand for the enactment of laws
providing for an honest and impartial Sc
lection of jurors subject to the right of the
Court to reject for cause, is q proposition
which was advocated by the Governor in
his message this year, and was made law
which will doubtless be strengthened at
the next session Of the Legislature If found
defective In any respect. Governor Stokes
has always been an advocate of jury re-
form and insisted upon legislation to that
end.
The demand for thorough and COM
plete investigation Of ell insurance COM
panies was in the party platform of this
county last year, and Committee of In
vestigation was appointed by Republican
Legislature, with Senator Hillery at the
head, which Committee has organized for
that purpose.
The demand for the appointment of a
Committee at the next session OF the Legis-
lature to investigate and report what stocks
and bonds have been given for franchises,
would doubtless be welcomed by those
Republicans who would view with delight
an opportunity to investigate the financial
condition Of Jersey City, and show up to
the world the condition of affairs there that