The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-02-04
IN SPECIAL
MESSAGE SCORES
BIG EXPENDITURES
$4,000 Law CodificatiOn I'M
warranted, Declares the
Governor.
URGES THOROUGH REVISION
OF THE ELECTION STATUTE
Wants Primary Laws to Include
Selection of National Con-
ventiOn Delegates.
rFrom a STAFF Correspondent

lFr0n q StaI correspondent
TRENTON, Feb. 4-Governor John
Franklin Fort sent a brief message
to the Legislature last night, in which
he recommended the thorough revision
of the primary election laws. with a
direct primary for the choice of dele
gates to the national convention. He
also wants q curtailment of expendi-
lures for the c~odification of general
laws, which 1t is pointed out, promise
tc entail an expenditure of $780, 900
without doing any great material
good"
1.-THE extension of the primary laws
to the election ONT delegates to con-
ventions for the selection of delegates
TO the national conventions of h
great political parties, should be
made" the Governor declares. For
myself, I prefer a direct vote for dele
gates to the national convention, with
the right of each voter in each party
TO express his choice for President
and Vice-President of the republic
on his ballot"
lit iNCoSd6C 10 "S AChC"P'
The laws relating to elections and
primaries, adopted prior to and at the
session of 1907, are in a very confused
state, and should be thoroughly revised,
Chapters 179 and 277 of the laws of 1907,
relating to primaries, are in conflict on
many points. and chapter 2S1, of the
same year, relating to the question of
popular expression as to the choice OF
the people for United States Senator'S,
is a most unsatisfactory law. If there
is to be any expression as to the selec-
ton of Senator's, as a guide for he &C.
lion the repr' entatives of the pee
pie IN the Legislator, it should be
clearly provided for in some simple
and effective a
Delegates to Conventions.
primary recount is necessary. The
extension of the Urinary laws to ths
election of delegates to conventions FOR
the selection of delegates to the ma
tional conventions of the great political
parties should be made. For myself, l
prefer a direct vote for delegates TO a
national convention, with the right oil
each voter in each party to express his
choice for President and Vice-President
of the republic on his ballot. Under the
call of the national m OF the
Republican party for the convention to
be held in June, 1908, it is doubtful about
the right to select delegates to the ma
tiono.l convention by direct vote. The
call issued by the Democratic commit
tee is not before me, but probably it Is
of the same nature.
eff in your wisdom you approve this
suggestion and will authorize the APP
pointment of such a commission by n
concurrent resolution a full revision OF
these laws can be ready for your action
at the present session.
To Codify General Laws.
"Another subject matter needing i'm
mediate attention is the pending re-
vision Of the general statutes of this
state as authorized by IN act, approved
March 30. 1904, entitled An act pro-
viding for a new publication of the
public acts OF the Legislature of this
State
"A commission was appointed in 1904
under this act. 1t has therefore been
in existence about four years.
"By the first section of the act Of
1904 it is provided that there shall be
issued a work to be known as Revised
Statutes of New Jersey to contain all
the public acts of the State in the gen.
eral statutes of 1895 and the session
laws since adopted. The work is to be
in three volumes and is to be prac-
tically a republication of three volumes
similar to the three volumes of general
statutes of 1895.
Scores Expenditure.
ITO practically republish the -enata.
statutes of 1895. together with the addi
ton of the session laws passed since
that time. is, to my mind, an eXpendi-
ture of the public funds without justi.
fication. 1t now looks as if the cost Il
the State for contracts for printing, FOL
the services of the commissioners anC
their assistants n the volume which
the State has agreed to take d tht
act { 1904, may reach the sum CT 500,
900 before the matter is concluded. F1
this expenditure | am utterly at a los
to S , any advantage to the State. TIT
bar is not demanding it, the courts 1r'
not demanding 1t, n the people vii
get no benefit from il.
81 recommend, therefore. that the &C
of 1904 be at once repealed; hat this
Governor, Comptroller and Treasures
be authorized TO adjust m expenses
heretofore incurred under that act, anC
report to the Legislature such pay
lnents as should be made for service
heretofore rendered or on contracts O
engagements already entered into.
ITO this end, therefore, 1 recommend
the passage of an act similar to tn
act found in the pamphlet laws .
1871. page 6S. and the appointment o
such a commission as therein provide,
for to revise the general statutes of til
State. They should be able, with con
slant attention to this work. to com
pIete this revision ready to be actei
upon by the mex session of the Legis
iature.
Il recommend the authorization Q
the appointment of such a commission
DEMOCRATS FIGHT FORTS