Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1907-10-05
In His First Speech Of the Campaign
John Franklin Fort Says He Will Be
a Constitutional Governor.
TO ABIDE BY POPULAR WILL.
If the People Choose to Elect a Legis-
|ature that Will Enact Local Option
Laws He Will Uphold Them.

property should be finally and firmly
settled by the courts before further or
other legislation on the subject shall
be enacted. If after the final decision
shall come other legislation is neces-
sary to secure equality of taxation be-
tween railroad property and other pro-
perty the republican party can be
trusted to meet the situation.
A franchise granted to corporation
by the state is property, and 1t should
be taxed. This class of property is a
class of itself and may be taxed under
our decisions in such distinct and defin-
ite way as the Legislature may deter
mine. Just what is the best methSd to
tax franchises is still an open question
with thinking men. By statute our
state has determined to try the gross
receipts method. 1t has the merit of
certainty in results and easy ascer-
tainment of basis of valuation for tax
alton. 1t does not seem wise to open
this question further at this time and
until the results to flow from the act
may be ascertained and fair trial had
under it,
New Jersey is the home of corpora
tons One of the chief defects in our
law is the matter of overcapitaliZation.
There are no restrictions on the capital
stock which may be issued and no au-
thority for fixing the reasonable value
of corporate property for which stock
for property purchased" may be is
sued. The result is that much of the
so-called property purchased stock is
mere water without any actual value.
This stock gets into the market and
leads to loss by the ignorant or unin-
formed. What our state should have is
a department of corporations. with full
authority and charged with the respon-
sibility of issuing certificates of incor-
poration, with ample power as to capt.
talization and with some supervisory
control.
The sentiment of the country is
strongly against professional lobbying
at state capitol during a legislative
session. There is no honest purpose
in such men being about the state
house. OF course legitimate enterprises
having need to advocate or oppose pro-
posed legislation must be given every
opportunity to publicly discuss these
measures, but the secret manipulation
of legislatures-the man who works in
the dark and in devious ways-is the
man the people propose to be rid of
and it is high time that they were. If
elected | will endeavor to find some
way to end the lobby practice, and one
thing you may rest sure of. the eXecu-
tive chamber will never be open to re-
ceive any of that class of people either
publicly or privately.
The governor should be given specific
powers as to the state penal and charlt-
able institutions and the right to in
Quire at all times into their manage
ment and control. A law should be en-
acted comforting on the governor pow
err alone or with others, to investigate
with full authority to take evidence
| He should also have the power to re-
move for cause after hearing any offic-
| ial of any institution in the state, or
| any other state official. appointed under
| any statute, who has been dcrcl1ct III
| the performance of duty or guilty OF
| any illegal or corrupt conduct in office.
| If am elected by the people OF this
state to the office of governor ] will
/ insist upon the removal of all officials
shown by any investigation to have
| been guilty of wrongdoing. Not only
that, but if any one is shown to be
! guilty of offense of criminal nature
| he shall be prosecuted
| Mr. Fort spoke at length about court
reorganization and jury reform saylha
! that it was subject with when he mao
! some knowledge from experience aho
| mentioning incidentally that the oehi
! ocratic platform says nothing on tnis
subject After telling OF the iai,ui,
| of the people few years ago 10 adop'
!
! court changes he said:
Jury reform in some counties Is neeu
ed Today it all rests with the sherlfl
| what sort of men you nave upon lh'
| jury, and it is true that in some cases
| in too many, l fear-the best men are
not selected to do jury duty. Speaking
after some ten years experience VIII
jury trials, I can say truthfuiiy )thal
cannot recall half a dozen cases Wner'
l thought the jury acted from pre!uuic'
| or were wrong because of lnaplllty u
| grasp the case. Nor would remoN'
| from the sheriffs of the state all rlgh
to any voice in selecting jurors. IRON
time immemorial the sherlff mas ha'
the right as one of the functions
his honorable office, and many OF thei'
have exhibited the very highest ideal
in the performance of this duty others
it is true, have not. | would ada other
with the sheriff in selecting jurors, an
I would define definitely by law hov
they are to be selected. All the allege
difficulties in the grand and petit jur
system can be easily remed1ed by
clear statute on the subject.
In his concluding summary MI For
said: Nothing has been asked OF m
by any one and no promise has bee
made"