The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-01-14

AT three o'clock this afternoon there
will be made public the last address to the
Legislature by Governor Edward Caspar
Stokes. While his successor does not take
possession of the Office until next Tues
day, Governor Stokes has practically laid
aside his pen and has affixed his last off,
cial signature. The message sent to the
Legislature to-day will be one OF as great
interest and Importance as the first one
read by him three years ago. His utter
ances, as Governor or Legislator, have al
WAYS commanded attention. Governor
Stokes will be one of the few executives
who have gone from the State House as
popular as when he entered 1t. In all his
official acts he has conducted himself in
manner that at once disarms criticism.
Perfection is not claimed for him-that
would be foolish. In some of his ap-
pointments he may have made mistakes,
but that is the fate of all who have had
the power of appointment, and there is
less dissatisfaction on this point than has
been heard in many years. Whatever the
result there cannot be any charge of dis
honorable or Interior motives in any act
performed by the retiring Governor. No
official ever gave more of his time and at
tention or devoted himself more closely
to the affairs Of this state than did Ed
ward G. Stokes. No higher compliment
can be paid him than the compilation of
some Of the Governors acts as published
in the New York Herald. 1t says:
''But no Governor In this generation has
accomplished 30 much for good govern
ment and the public welfare as Edward
G. Stokes His administration has marked
an era in the history of the state. During
the three years of bis term and largely as
a result of his effort, the long cherished
dream of equal taxation has been made
reality, the states income from corpora
tions has been more than doubled, the
states contribution to the public school
fund has been trebled. the Child Labor law
has been enacted, fixing the maximum
age of fourteen years at which children
may be employed in workshops and mills;
the appropriations for improved roads
have been greatly increased, the system of
paying county officials has been abolish
ed and an an act limiting the life of pub
lie utility franchises was passed, laws to
purify elections were enacted, the jury
system has been reformed, the Depart
ment of Charities and Corrections has
been created, comprehensive and up to
date automobile law was passed, the bar
barous gallows has been abolished, the
Delaware river boundary dispute has been
settled, the Passaic valley sewerage
he
been conformed to the Dick law, and q
teachers pension act, maximum tax
rate law, railroad commission, potable
water commission, forest park reserva-
tons, uniform divorce law, the Bishops
law. and numerous other important enact
ments passed. These are all feathers i'm
Governor Stokes cap"
Governor Stokes will 60 out of the office
he had SO satisfactorily filed for three
years with the best wishes of all of our
people. To think for one moment that he
will sink into oblivion is nonsensical
Long before he became Governor he was
a powerful factor in the affairs of the
state. His counsel had been sought and
his advice has been needed. As a legis-
lator he was responsible for many acts Of
benefit to our citizens. His future will
not be of insignificance. 1t has been sug
gested recently by some of the newspaper
correspondents that provisions should be
made for retiring Governors. but that will
not be necessary in this case; the people will
see that Governor Stokes is not forgotten.
His name will always be held in esteem
and reverence by those who have been
benefited by his acts. and his field for USE
fulness will not be contracted.