Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-01-17
THE GOVERNORS INAUGURAL.

NJ OVERNOR WILSON'S inaugural address is altogether diff
W.T. ferent from the inaugural of his predecessor. 1t differs es
sentary in character from the inaugurals of all former gov
errors Of this State. Governor Fort, in addressing the Legislature
upon assuming Office, INDUCED in a preamble of a few words and
then dwe1t specifically upon eighteen different subjects of State af-
fairs. And he made as many important recommendations. showing
their necessity. Among the subjects discussed were those relating
to a public utilities bill. better State control of corporations, State
taxation, abolition of useless boards and reform of the primary and
election laws. Governor Forts inaugural showed a practical
knowledge of the whole official machinery of the State government
and a clear idea of the needs of the State. Governor Wilson'S in
augural discusses no particular question specifically and is couched
in general terms. In his Introductory the Governor takes a general
view of the field of politics as he sees il and halls the dawn of a
new dispensation. Hundreds of thousands of people have lifted
their eyes TO look about them, 10 see things they never saw before,
to comprehend things that once seemed vague and elusive" Public
opinion is at last wideawake It lis watchful, insistent, ss-
piciouso There is IAN imperative obligation as well as "a great
opportunity" from which the Legislature and the Governor cannot
escape. All things are not plain to US, but some things are plain
enough, and upon these we can act' Governor Wilson then pro
ceeds to generaliZe upon the relations of the employer and EN-
ployee, the regulations of which at present are both Anticipated and
impossible" He points out that the employer is now generally a
large corporation, with whom the employee can have no personal
relation, but the workngman is still an individual when dealing
with his employer. Necessarily. he is the weaker vessel and is
under heavy disabilities in every contractual relationship. Hence
the necessity for a law to give protection to the workman. This
subject leads to that of corporations. 1t is known far and wide
that the corporation laws of New Jersey are extremely liberal. For
that reason trusts have organized under these laws and found shell
ter in the State. The New Jersey laws have been criticised at
home and abroad for years. and, therefore. Governor Wilson does
not state anything new when he says that New Jersey is too free
with grants of charters to corporations and that the laws should be
amended to prevent the abuse of charters. We believe that the
common sentiment of the State favors reform in that direction, but
at the same time the people are aware of the fact that the expenses
of the State government are very largely paid ont of the receipts
from taxes of the corporations. The amount received last year was.
~$2.593652. The great bulk Of these taxes is paid by the class Of
corporations which any drastic change in the law would drive out
Of the State. There are other States where the Incorporation laws.
are as elastic as those of New Jersey. A point to be considered,
therefore, is the loss of State revenue annually and the necessity
of shifting the tax burden to property in the State. In all such
questions. naturally, the economic consideration is not lost sight of
Governor Wilson makes some general observations on the subject
of taxation, a long mooted one in this State. 1t has been the bur
den of talk for many years. There are glaring inequalities i'll our
system and always have been. The problem is how to adjust them.
Governor Wilson thinks that conservation of the water supply is
part of the subject of taxation. II is very certain that if the Stahe
had an intelligent and comprehensive conservation policy it would
not only be for the general good of the people, but would furnish a
source of important revenue FOR the State. At present there is no
conservation policy. In relation to elections aud nominations Gov
ernor Wilson favors the system of the State of Oregon, the effect
Of which, he says, has been to bring government back to the people.
The direct primary should be extended to every elective Office.
Governor Wilson makes a sequence of the subjects thus briefly gen
eralized upon. He would establish a thorough ballot reform,
coupled with an effective corrupt practises act. incidentally. the
address refers to State economies and State regulation of the cold
storage Of food supplies. Nearly all the important reform bills Of
the session were introduced before the Inauguration, the most i'm
portant being sponsored by the Democratic State Committee. in
accordance with the pledges of the State platform, so that any
specific recommendations the Governor might have made in his
inaugural were anticipated by the State party leaders.