Gloucester County Democrat., 1907-10-03
Democratic State Platform.

voice by the State convention today,
reads as follows
Virtue in State government depends
upon and is measured by the integrity
| of its servants. The reprehensible
1 practices of State officials retaining
and applying public funds to their per
sonal advantage and to the detriment
of the State persistent and chronic
failure to discharge official duties,
1 commonly called absenteeism, occu-
pying dual positions carrying double
emoluments, but involving no in
creased labors, nepotism, the constant
multiplication of commissions to dis
charge similar public functions, the
extravaganza and wastefulness of the
State House Commission in the con
struction of public buildings the nom
feasance and gross nismanag cement of
the managers Of State institutions
warrant. unqualified condemnation and
demand immediate correction, and to
this end we favor and bind ourselves
to the enactment of laws whereby:
Public funds shall be paid to and
disbursed directly by the Treasurer OF
the State. "One State and one purse.
Public moneys shall be interest.
/ bearing In all cases.
Public officials shall give daily at
/ tention to the discharge of their duties.
and shall be permitted to hold but one
office
Public contracts shall be made and
supplies purchased upon competitive
| bidding after due advertisement.
4 The numerous commissions now
having charge of the public water sup
1 ply, sewage and other matters pertain
ing to public health shall be abolished
and their powers and duties vested in a
recognized State board.
State boards and commissions exer-
4 cising kindred functions shall be CON
/ solidated.
We reiterate the demands of the
Democratic platforms for many years
past for the equal taxation of all prop
erty not used for religious, charitable
or educational purposes.
We declare for the taxation of the
tangible property of railroads and
canal companies where located, and
the taxation of their franchises by the
State, and we insist that the legisla-
tion on taxation enacted since the as
cendaney of the Republican party in
this State has been the result of Demo-
cratic initiative, but has not measured
i up to the constitutional requirement of
i equal taxation
/ We declare for the taxation at local
rates of the value of the franchises of
public utilities companies in place of
the inadequate taxation under the
Voorhees, law
We favor the establishment of a
commission with ample powers for
the proper regulation of steam and
trolley railroads, electric light, gas,
water, telegraph and telephone COM
panies, and all other public utility corr
porations.
I In recognition of the constitutional
doctrine that all political power is in
herent in the people, we favor the en-
actment of laws, and where necessary
constitutional amendments, providing
for:
The selection of United States Sena-
tors by popular suffrage
The election of Assemblymen by dis
tricts.
The nominating Of candidates for
public Office By direct primary vote,
or conventions.
The election by the people of the
! principal State and county officials
In order to secure the true express
sion of the will of the voter we favor:
Municipal elections distinct from
State and national elections.
The passage of stringent laws
against bribery and corruption in all
elections, primary and general
The vesting of summary jurisdiction
in the Courts to settle disputes grow
ing out of primary elections, with am
pie power to order recounts.
/ The abolition of the voting sma-
chimes.
We favor the acquisition by our
! State and sister States of all toll
bridges crossing interstate boundaries,
in order that the same may be made
free to interstate traffic.
We favor the greatest extension of
4 the principle Of home rule in munich
pal government, securing to each
municipality the absolute control of
all matters requiring local administra-
tion, without undue interference by
/ the Legislature.
anti-monopoly laws.
We ask the support of all citizens
lfayoring these principles.
We call attention to the constantly
increasing cost Of the State Govern
fment under Republican rule, the year
lly expenses having been increased
from s1,S57, ,9S2 under the last Demo
cratic administration. to s4.S27, ,579 for
the present year, and demand that
rigid economy be exercised in future
expenditures to the end that surplus
revenues may be applied to the les
sening of the burden of taxation upon
our citizens.
We favor the establishment of an
leleetive Civil Service Commission by
an act which will take the employ
ment of subordinate public officials out
of politics.