Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-18
WILSON SUGGESTS REFORMS
New Governor Of New Jersey Says
Many New Laws Are Needed.
CHARTERS ARE TOO EASY TO GET
We Advises Restriction Of ENIstinR
Corporations, En,pioyers' Liabii-
ity Law and Popular EIec-
tfon Of Senators.

tty Law and Popular Elec-
tIon Of Senators.
TRENTON. y. J.. Ian. 17.-Governor /
Woodrow Wilson TODAY assumed the duties
Of chief executive Of New Jersey and de-
hvered his inaugural address
Sweeping reforms In legislation. mot The
foolish ardor OF too sanguine or too radi-
cal reform the governor says. but merely
the tasks that are evident and pressing
are urged. chief among them are the
enactment Of an employers liability law
providing for compensation TO injured and
disabled workmen. the perfection and the
extension Of the direct primary law TO all
elective offices, and 70 party nominations
law restricting the issuance OF charters
10 corporations and providing for close
scrutiny and regulation Of existing cor
porations; the enactment Of a conservation
Law and revision OF the existing method Of
taxation. He said in part:
-. THE opportunity OF our day in the field
Of politics no man can mistake who can
read any, even the most superficial signs
OF the times. We have never seen q day
when duty was more plain, the task to be
performed more obvious. the way in which
TO accomplish Il more easy TO determine.
The whole world has changed within the
lifetime Of men not yet In their thirties.
the world of business and. therefore the
world Of society and the world OF politics.
The organization and movement OF bust
ness are new, and upon a novel scale.
Business has changed so rapidly that for
a long time we were confused, alarmed
bewiidered in sort OF terror Of the things
we had ourselves raised up.
But corporations are no longer hob
Eoblns which have sprung at us out of
some mysterious ambush. nor yet unhoy
inventions OF rsscsly rich men, nor yet
the puzzling devices by which ingenious
lawyers build up huge rights out of a
multitude OF small wrongs; but merely
organizations Of a perfectly Ineligible sort
which the law has licensed for the con-
venience OF extensive business; organiza-
lions which have proved very useful but
which have for the time being slipped out
Of the control Of the very law that gave
them leave to be and that can make or
unmake them at pleasure We have now
to set ourselves to control them. soberiy
but effectively and to bring them thor
ouEhIy within the regulation Of the law
EmpIoyeFs' Liability Law.
In the first place. 1t is plain that our
laws with regard to the relations OF en-
= ploye and employe are in many respects
WnOlly hhuQuhleu anu lAlpohhlpie 4hey
were framed for another age. which no
body now living remembers which lie, in
deed so remote from our life that It would
be difficult for many Of as to understand
It ~ n were described to us --
I'VE call these questions of employers
liability and workingmen's compensation
but these terms do not suggest quite the
whole matter. There Is something very
new. very big and very complex about
these new relations OF capital and labor
new economic society has sprung up
and we must effect a new set of adjust
ments We must not pit power against
weakness. The employer 10 generally, IN
our day, a powerful group OF individuals
and the workingman is still. under our ex.
listing law, an individual when dealing with
his employer, in case Of accident, for ex
ample. or OF loss or of illness, as well a
In every oontractual relationship. w,
must have q workingman's compensation
act which will not put upon him tn
burden Of fighting powerful composite EN-
pIoyers TO obtain his rights, but which viii
give his rights without suit. directly. ant
without contest, by automatic operation o
law. as II OF law OF insurance.
This 10 the first adjustment needed be
, cause # affects the rights. the happiness
1.-The lives and fortunes Of the creates
number, and because It IL the adjustmen
for which justice cries loudest.
I'VE are much too free with grants O
charters to corporations in New Jersey.
corporation exists only by license OF Law
and the law is responsible for what
creates II can never rightly authors
any kind Of fraud OF imposition. 1t can
not righteously allow the setting up Q
a business which has no sound basis O
which follows methods which in any wa
outrage justice or fair dealing or IN
principles of honest industry. The la
cannot give It's license 20 things OF this
kind. II thereby authenticates what
ought to forbid
Il would urge the imperative obligatio
Of public policy and public honesty we al
under to effect such changes in the la
of the state ss will henceforth effectuall
prevent the abuse of the privilege OF n
corporation which has In recent year
brought discredit upon state. II wi
be necessary 10 regulate and restrict n
issue OF securities. enforce regulations wit
regard 70 bona fide capital, examine ven
vigorously the basis Of capitalization AT
TO prescribe methods by which the publ
may be safeguarded against fraud, dece
ton. extortion and every abuse OF its CO.
fidence.
Such scrutiny and regulation ought n
TO be confined to corporations seekiI
charters. They ought also to be extend
TO corporations already operating under Z
license and authority OF the state"
The power 20 originate and conduct
yestigations OF public service corporation
49, regulate me rates and adjust the servi
OF such corporations should be bestow
upon the New Jersey Public Utilities col
mission, the governor declares. Were I
commission clothed with such power. {
governor says. their rulings would ser
to establish definitely debatable valu
upon which many questions Of taxati
turn. The whole system OF taxation
Governor Wilson asserts. lis no system
ALL and needs overhauling from top TO b.
tom"