The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-10-18

ers the existence Of an efficient, econo-
mical and progressive government that
has been run for fifteen years without
dollar Of direct tax upon the people and
state that today has not a dollar of
debt, either bonded or floating, and which
has in its treasury a free balance OF a
million dollars.
We are proud of our report You, as
Jerseymen, have right to be proud of
your state. Don't you think we ought to
have a verdict of approval at your hands?
But thoroughly as we believe we have
served you faithfully in the past, we
recognize that we also have to deal with
the future. The Republican party is
again before you with the suggestion that
It is for your real benefit that you again
intrust your state government to its
hands. The party has made me its nomi-
nee for governor, and / stand here to-
night to tell you frankly and honestly
what attitude shall take If elected. upon
the questions which have by common
consent been put to the front as of most
Importance in this campaign.
For Rate Regulation.
OF course. having accepted nomination
at the hands of my party heartily ap-
prove the platform adopted by the Repub-
lican state convention and pledge myself
that il elected 1 will, to the best Of my
ability, see that the pledges made In IL
are carried out.
A Republican legislature has hereto
fore established a public utility commits
sion and clothed 1t with certain powers
of supervision over public service corpora
tons. The act seems to meet with popu-
lar approval but there is a real demand
that the further power of control and
supervision of rates charged by these cor
porations shall be given to this commits
sion. The Republican party has met
this demand and promised, II continued
In power, to pass an act increasing the
power of the public utility commission to
this extent. I am in favor of such action,
and proper and effective measure of
this kind will receive my hearty support
do not believe such power would ever be
used by the commission in any way but
what would be just and equitable alike
to the corporation and the public
We have had in effect for some time a
method of nominating county and local
officers by direct vote of the people In
my opinion 1t is popular with our citi-
gems. and I believe in its continued use
1t seems to me that in matters of this
Kind the people can clearly indicate
through their elected representatives in
the legislature their desire. If, therefore,
as l have said on a previous occasion,
after the trial that has been had by the
people. they desire that the direct primary
system be extended to apply to the NOM
ination of congressman and governor and
a bill be passed for that purpose 1t will,
II 1 am governor, receive my approval.
The direct primary has undoubtedly, so
far as 1t has been tried In New Jersey,
stimulated the interest Of the people In
political affairs, and this is healthy civic
condition.
Railroad Retaliation.
Railroad taxation has been for years a
subject of contention. 1t was felt for
years that the railroads were not bearing
q just share Of the burdens of taxation.
Several years ago a Republican legisla-
ture enacted that these corporations should
be taxed at the average tax rate OF the
state, and this seems to have appeared
satisfactory to the people. 1t has, how
ever, been claimed by many people that
the valuation placed upon railroad prop
erty is too low, and the railroads dispute
that claim. In order to settle that point
one way or the other an expert revalua-
ton of such property is now being made.
l favor the completion Of this work as
rapidly and economically as possible. in
order that we may be fully informed Of
the actual conditions.
A subject of considerable interest has
lately been receiving attention. Under our
method of conducting elections any one
may order in advance official ballots for
use outside the polls. It has become Gus
tomary for persons interested to distrib-
ute ballots by mall to the voters, and this
is one Of the heavy expenses Of political
campaign. 1t has been suggested that. the
election boards cause official ballots to be
mailed to each Of the voters at public ex-
pense. As long as ballots are used outside
of ha I 0h1aCft0n
this proposition except the added expense.
II the legislature should make such pro-
vision I, II governor, shall favor 1t.
In a republican government, where
those charged with the conduct Of the
government are selected at the polls, IL
is, Of course, vital that the election
should be conducted with honesty and
fairness, to the end that the will Of the
people may be correctly recorded. am
in favor Of stringent corrupt practice acts
that will effectively reach and punish
crime against the purity of the ballot.
In addition am in favor of any improve
ment in the form of our ballot that may
De considered to more carefully guard the
secrecy of the vote and afford wider OPP
portunity for thoughtful and discriminate
ing exercise OF the right Of suffrage.
Executive Must Be Worker.
Few people realize the immense amount
Of work involved In the conduct Of the
ordinary business affairs of the state
The collection Of the great revenues of
New Jersey and their careful and eco
nomical expenditure require from the
governor the most thorough and intelli-
gent supervision. 1t is work which is lit
tie commented upon in the public prints,
but IL the business affairs of your gov
eminent are to be successfully admin
istered the governor must give as much
time at his desk as the ordinary business
man does. end he should possess a ia
miliartty with the state institutions and
the laws controlling them or he will be
entirely at the mercy of those who sur
round him. May / say without immodesty
that the duties of the executive office are
somewhat familiar to me and the work
OF the state departments and the state
institutions known to me? II you see At
TO designate me to watch over your in
terests 1 shall enter upon the work with
industry and desire to, above all things,
win for my administration a reputation
for business efficiency and economy.
1t has been my endeavor to make known
to you tonight in the most plain and d.
rect language at my command my posi-
ton upon some of the important issues
before the people. have avoided ANUS
ing stories and epigrams that please the
ear l have not INDUCED in dissertations
upon the theory of government 1t has
peen my purpose to be frank, open and
sincere with you, and II you approve my
attitude l hope to receive your SURFACES
II elected your governor I promise to
surrender the office to your hands three