The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-01-12
GOVERNORS
MESSAGE
Names Needs Of the State to
the Legislature. Asks
Power Of Removal.
MANY SUGGESTIONS OFFERED

WAlS CUuVEOAlUNO VI TENEU
Trenton, N. J.,sJan. 12.-The annua
message of the governor, John Frank
lin Fort, to the senate and genera
assembly says:
Gentlemen of the Senate and Genera
Assembly,.
By the express terms of the constitu
tion of our state, adopted in 1874, it il
made the duty of the governor ''tc
communicate by message to the leg
islature at the opening of each session
the condition of the state ano
recommend such measures as he may
deem expedient'
Our constitution has few, If any
serious faults, and these can be RENE.
died in the way pointed out in thai
instrument for its amendment.
, Constitutional Amendments.
Four amendments were referred by
the last legislature for your concur.
renee.
The first increases the salaries of the
senators and assemblymen to $1,000
per year, which should be done.
The second would make the term OF
the governor and the senators fouI
years and the assemblymen two years
The third authorizes the districtine
of counties for the election of mem.
.bers of the general assembly, and the
fourth relates to the reorganization OF
the judiciary.
Concurrence in the amendments is
earnestly urged During the vigorous
political campaign through which we
have just passed they were not criti
cised by any one.
Power of Removal Of Officials.
In my annual address / earnestly
urged the enactment of law giving tc
Z the governor the power of removal OF
public officials, not under the constitu.
tion protected from removal, except by
impeachment l repeat that recon-.
mendation.
If the objection is to giving this pow
er to the governor, then give it to the
courts or to the senate or to commits
sion consisting of the governor, the
president of the senate and the speaker
of the house or some other body which
may commend itself to your Judgment
The power. should be somewhere.
If there be fear that the power will
be abused, limit it to the following
causes:
First Malfeasance in Office.
-
misdemeanors by statute
Third -Misappropriation Of public
funds.
Fourth Conviction of crime.
Surely there can be, no objection tc
such a power as this for such causes
as these.
The governor and other constitu
tional officers may be impeached and
removed from office. A senator OF
member of the general assembly may
be expelled and his office vacated by
his associates, but there is no way
now, except he resign to get statu-
tory official out of Office, even after
conviction of crime.
Surely this cannot be thought to be
right by any reasonable person.
County Boards of Taxation.
So far as / know, no reasonable eX-
cuse exists for the further continuance
of the county boards for the equaliza-
tion Of taxes. They cost the taxpay
ers of the state and counties about
$4,000 per year If they ever had
any useful purpose, which 1 doubt,
they have served it, and their further
continuance can only be justified
upon the low and absolutely indefensi-
BILE ground that places are provided
for eighty-four persons to draw sal
aries from the public treasury which
are not earned. If these county boards
are abolished provision can be made
for board or body in each county with
power to fix the tax rate and to equal
ize taxes by a simple method of proce
dure and at small expense. All the
other duties of a county board can be
cast upon the state board for the
equalization of taxes.
Department of Corporations.
The creation of the department OF
corporations, in accordance with the
recommendation Of the commission on
the revision of the corporation laws in
its report Of last winter, is strongly
urged
New Jersey should continue and, if
possible, broaden her past policy as to
the organization of corporations. They
came to us because of the conservative,
settled character Of our Judiciary and
the fairness of our past legislative
treatment. Criticism of our corpora
tion laws by citizens of other states
has about ceased except as to a few
unreasoning and unreasonable persons.
Motor Vehicle Department.
What was said as to the creation Of
motor vehicle department in my in
augural address last year is especially
commended to the legislature This
department is constantly growing It'll
is sure to become one Of the largest
and most Important departments in theI
state, with revenue which is certain
to reach a quarter Of a million of dol
lars per year within the next nv
years. 1t demands the constant an(
undivided attention of distinct head
with the requisite inspectors and othe.
officers to enforce the law All sucf
power should be exclusively in tht
hands Of this department. Arrest anC
bail might be allowed by local consta
bles or police for alleged violation o.
the law, but further procedure as IL