The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-07-13
Executive Thinks the Con-
stitution Should Be
Amended Before the Re-
districting Plan Gould Be
Adopted
NO COMMENT ON OPINION
G yERNoR's STATEMENT
DEALS WHOLLY WITH THE
MERITS OF THE METHODS OF
ELECTING AsSEMBLYMEN
Especial to ..rhe Jersey city News.")

cision of the Court of Errors and Ap-
peals on the redistricting act, die
tated statement in which he took oc-
casion to condemn the system and stated
that he is just as firm believer as ever
in the districting scheme, and that the
next recourse would be to constitu-
tional amendment. He added that in all
probability, he would recommend to the
next Legislature that that body submit
the matter to the people.
The Governors statement is as fol
lows:
/ shall not discuss the legal aspect of
the question of Assembly districts. Any
comment thereon, on my part would be
highly improper. The highest court in
the State has decided the question from
constitutional point of view, and their
tionably respected by every loyal Jersey
man.
II have not, however, changed my
opinion as to the merits of the system
itself The assembly district system is
representative in character and accords
with the principles of our government.
1t secures more independence of thought
and action in the Legislature than does
the county system.
Each assemblyman then represents a
constituency to whom he is alone re-
sponsible and can act without the infu-
ence Of the oyershadowing control of a
county organization. So long as the
county system prevails the delegation
from the counties, especially of the larger
counties, will always be controlled by
some strong and dominating personality.
Call him boss, leader or whatever you
will, all bosses look alike to me-
.'Under the county system the assem-
blymen might all come from one ward or
from one section of the county and leave
the rest of the county unrepresented.
Under it the members are necessarily
nominated by large convention and by
delegates with whose constituency they
are not necessarily in close touch and
contact.
"Such delegations in the Legislature
receive their nominations at the hands
of the county powers, whoever they may
be, and naturally feel responsible to them
for their legislative action. In my opin-
ion this is very serious defect in repre-
sentative governments since it leads to
the few rather than its distribution
among assembly units to the promotion
of Independence of thought and action
among the legislators.
II recommended this system in my
message and suggested that there were
two ways in which it might be accom-
plished, one by constitutional amend
ment, which last year was impossible
under our constitution. which requires
that no amendment to the constitution
can be submitted to the people except
once every five years.
sThe other possible way was to T1ss
an act creating assembly districts for
the purpose of bringing it before the
Court of Errors and Appeals for final re-
view. This is necessary in view of the
previous decision of the Supreme Court
declaring a similar act unconstitutional.
ssIn my message clearly set forth
that the object of this act was to get
an ultimate decision on the question, and
that was we'll known in advance by the
people of the State and thoroughly dis
cussed. The decision of the court has
Seltfeui the quSSliol 50 IOuS as our COLI
stitution remains as It is.
Il think that a very large majority of
the county organizations throughout the
state prefer the county system. Indeed,
personally know that to be the case
with but few exceptions. This is very
natural, as it concentrates the power. To
this / am strongly opposed as policy
Of government, and. indeed, as politi-
cal policy. for | think the best govern
mental policy is the best political policy.
II shall, in all probability, in my next
annual message discuss the question, and
recommend the submission to the people
of an amendment to the constitution,
providing for an assembly district system
with the proper constitutional safe
guards against gerryunander. Next year
| the constitutional time limitation will
have SO run that constitutional amend.
ment can be considered by the Legisn-
ture.'