Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-04-26
THE LEGISLATURES CLOSE.

| No Legislature in recent years has at
tracted so much attention, or held the pubs
| lie interest so closely as that which came to
close early Friday morning. Few Legis-
latures have had so many important meas
ures before them. and few have so pronoun-
cedly put the interests Of the party above
the interests Of the people.
| While Governor Stokes, with fare Of
trumpets, proclaimed reform in the interest
Of all she people, there have been few re-
form measures passed which were what they
were alleged to be- All Of them were
clustered about the central thought SO we'll
/ put by Cosimir Perier, tine eminent French
statesman, fall power is a permanent con-
spiracy," and if the Republican machine
would hold on to the fastnings it has al
ready secured, it must subyert the peoples
demand for larger voice in public affairs
by pretending to yield, while in fact the
chains Of steel are strengthened and in
creased.
| The Perkins bill, providing for the tax
alton Of main stem railroad property at the
average tax rate, was given in response to
the demand for equal taxation. By it the
party in power retains its grip Of the State
treasury. enlarges the pile in shat treasury
and brings into subsection the municipali-
ties that plead for portion Of that Of which,
by rape Of the Constitution, they have been
deprived.
The county tax board bill is designed to
give to the party in power in the State the
opportunity to lessen the burdens of the
railroads in proportion to the kindly acts
those corporations may perform for continu-
ing that party's rule.
The limited franchise bill deprives the
municipalities Of the right to use such
means for their own developments as they
may see fit.
The Bishops bills'' were mutilated
beyond recognition and subverted so as to
rip out the Jersey City excise board, and
enable the Governor to employ that branch
Of that oisy's municipal government for the
strengthening of the State machine.
The automobile legislation is freekish
and farcical. new and expensive bureau
is created, with the idea of deceiying the
farmers into the belief that their prayers
have been answered, and for the sole pur
pose of increasing the number Of depend
ants on the bosses.
The bill to permit trolleys to carry freight
is one of the few bright spots in record a
dark as southern negro's complexion.
The Morris canal has once more escaped
the clutches of It's despoilers, but only be-
cause Of timely decision by the United
States Supreme Court.
Municipal ownership has been treated to a
variety of propositions, none of which were
based on fundamentals: none Of which pre-
tended to do more than meet superficial
conditions prevailing in various localities.
The bill to clear the State House Of the
foul brood that has feed off political corrup-
tion for generation or more, went down to
defeat The majority in the House seemed
pleased with the putridity that has sur
rounded it so thoroughly. The lobby has
not all been swept away, and is only
waiting for more favorable opportunity to
make itself known.
Capitalization has been the keynote of
the machines program. Strip the people
of their liberties, and give them to u.s., has
been proclaimed in both houses and by the
executive.
What the sequel Of this all will be re-
mains to be seen. Forecasts Of this char
acter are improbable. True American.