Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-10-25
Special to the EVENING NEWS.

So. = - =. 49,.
Special to the EVENING NEWS
Jersey City, Oct. 25:-In reply to
the letter sent by George l.. Record
to Woodrow Wilson, following the
suggestion of Mr.. Wilson that the
proposed debate between the two
men be carried on through the mail,
Woodrow Wilson sent the following
letter to Mr. Record answering the
questions asked by Mr. Record and
making several important state
ments that will interest every voter.
Mr. Wilson's letter is as follows:
Princeton, New Jersey,
October "a, 1910.
Hon. George L. Record,
My Dear Mr.. Record I am sin
cerely sorry that have been obliged
to wait so long before replying to
your letter of the 18th. The delay
has been due entirely to the fact of
my necessary absorption In the ac-
tual engagements of the campaign.
In order to reply as clearly as
possible to your questions, will
quote them and append the an
swers:
1-"That the public utilities COM
mission should have full power to
fix just and reasonable rates to be
charged by all public service corpor-
ations. Do you favor this?" Yes.
2-"That the physical property of
each public utility corporation which
is devoted to a public use should be
valued by the state. Do you favor
this?" Yes.
3-''That such physical valuation
should be taken as the assessment
upon which such corporations shall
pay local taxes. Do you favor this7'
Yes.
"That such valuation should
be used as basis for. fixing rates to
be charged by these corporations
and that such rates should be so
limited as to allow them to earn not
exceeding six per cent. upon this
valuation. Do you favor this?"
No. l think that such valuation
should form very important part
of the basis upon which rates should
be fixed, but not the whole basis. All
the financial, physical and economic
circumstances of the business should
be taken into consideration. The
percentage of profit should be deter
mined by the commission after full
inquiry, and not by statute,
81 That the present primary law
should be extended to the selection
of candidates for party nominations
for governor, congressman and dele
gates to national conventions. Do
you favor this?" Yes, though I
should wish better primary law
than the present.
6-"That United States senators
should be elected by popular ,ote.
Do you favor this?" Yes.
ITO apply this principle, IA
vor law compelling all candidates
for nomination to the legislature to
file a pledge to vote for that candi-
date of their party for United States
senator who shall receive the high
est number OF votes under the pres
ent primary law Do you favor
that a law compelling this would
be unconstitutional. Surely the
voters can exact this pledge. and
have the matter in their own hands.
A better primary law than the pres
ent would facilitate this exaction on
the part of the voters by ob&iging
LnG IOI the 5ldlS IC6iStd-
ture to state his intention In this
matter when accepting his own nom
ination.
S-"That the names of all candi-
dates at elections should be printed
on blanket ballot, and that all bal
lots shall be distributed to the voter
by mail at public expense, or con-
fined to the polling place. Do you
favor this?" ] believe that the bal
lots should be given out only at the
polling places and only by the cleo
ton officers; and that, while the
blanket ballot is the best form yet
devised, experience has proved that
1t is best to put some indication Of
the source of the nomination after
each name. A mere alphabetical list
results usually In the election of the
top of the alphabet; and there are
actually cases on record Of would-be
candidates who have had their
names changed to begin with the
first letter of the alphabet In order
to increase their chances of election.
Amidst multitude of names on our
long ballot, the ordinary voter needs
some guidance.
9-'That primary and election Of
ficers should be appointed by some
impartial agency, like court. Do
you favor this?" Yes.
10-"There should be a drastic
corrupt practices act, forbidding all
political expenditures except for the
objects named in the act, with dras-
tic penalties for the violation Of the
act; prohibiting the employment OF
more than two workers or watchers
at the polls on primary day or cleo