The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1910-10-14

taxes have been largely increased by laws
passed Ky Republican legislatures and ap-
proved by Republican governors, and mil
lions have been collected from these
sources and appropriated to the support
of the public schools, while under previ-
GUS Democratic administrations not one
penny was thus obtained and appropri-
ated.
In the matter of good roads every one
can see for himself what has been ac-
complished in the last fifteen years. The
state is crossed and recrossed by mag
nificent highways, built with the aid OF
large appropriations from the state treas
ury. Substantially nothing Of this sort
was ever done or attempted to be done
under the rule of our opponents
The public health has been the subject
of careful legislative attention, and the
wise sanitary laws passed have been care
fully executed. A new state board OF
health has been organized, combining the
old board with the state sewerage COM
mission, securing greater economy ana
efficiency. Thorough and wide Inspections
have been made. Numerous nuisances
have been removed. Potable water sources
have been protected. and the milk supply
of the state improved as the result OF
numerous prosecutions. The death rate
in New Jersey In 1909 was the lowest, with
one exception, In thirty years.
Real Conservation.
While other states have been talking
New Jersey has been doing, and she has
been in the van with laws looking to the
conservation of our natural resources.
The efficient work of the forest commits
sion In controlling forest fires has result
ed In tremendously increasing the value
Of woodlands property, as will be seen
from an examination of the assessors
lists and the comparison Of the prices OBJ
Tot cola of In nd
erty with those prevailing before the for
est commission began its activities. In
addition to its work in controlling forest
fires the forest commission has acquired
on behalf Of the people 1900 acres OF
woodland. which 1t holds and administers
as a practical demonstration in forestry.
A potable water commission has been
established and given important powers
over the waters of the state that are
suitable for domestic use. Thus this
great problem has received the attention
Il demands.
Our courts have been maintained at the
high standard they have earned In the
past. and Jersey Justice Is term adj
mirably used from coast to coast
All these activities have been carried on
under Republican rule without the slight
est breath Of scandal It has not even
been charged that a dollar has been mis-
appropriated, nor has a dollar been en-
bezzled and today the Republican party.
as managers of the peoples great corpo-
ration-the state-report to the stockhold-
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 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
1t 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 I stand here to-
night to tell you frankly and honestly
what attitude shall take, II 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 If elected 1 will. to the best Of my
ability. see that the pledges made in it
are carried out.
A Republican legislature has hereto
fore established a public utility commits
sion and clothed it 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
method Of nominating county and local
officers by direct vote of the people. In
my opinion 1t Is popular with our citi-
zens. and 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. II, therefore,
as / 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-
nation Of congressman and governor and
a bill be passed for that purpose 1t will,
II l 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
a 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.
favor the completion of this work as
rapidly and economically as possible. in