New-York tribune., 1911-01-30
TO HAND OUT MANY Jobs
New Jersey Governor to Send In
First Appointments To-day.
TAXATION NEXT PROBLEM
Scramble for Davis's Place in
Hudson County - MARITIME
Happy Man These Days.

TFrorn the Regular Correspondent Of The Tribune] }
Trenton, y. j.. Jan. Ex-Governor Wilson
viii send 10 the legislature tomorrow the
first Of his appointments. and there is a
lot Of interest shown throughout the state
as to their makeup. The most important
rlace that the new Governor has to ill just
now is that OF State Road Commissioner,
the term of Frederick X. Gilkyson. the in
cumbent having expired yesterday.
While those who know the Governor well
are confident that political considerations
Will be secondary matter. there is, never
thcless. some anxiety lest the Governor
make the mistake OF naming as his first
appointee some one whose claims 10 recog-
milton are based more on his political fol-
lowing than his fitness for office
The state road commissionership IS an
important office. and during the recent
campaign Mr. Wilson pointed out that he
did not think II wise TO give the immense
power Of that oftce-which consists in the
awarding Of 100000 or SO of contracts
yearly-to one man. SO he may endeavor
10 have a law enacted creating a commits
sion for the work Of the Road Department
II is not thought, however. that he will go
to this extreme. for II is pointed out by
persons familiar WITH governmental affairs
that divided responsibility is not to he en-
courageJ and that Il the right kind OF
man is placed at the head Of the State
Road Department il does not matter how
large are the contracts 10 he awarded. The
Governor said the other day that he had
no less than fifty applications for the place
of Road Commissioner.
With the SenatoTShip out Of the way the
Legislature can now get down 20 the work
Of legislation. and q merry time is ahead
Of il. The one hundred or more bills intro
duced in the Assembly cover pretty nearly
every subject from the regulation Of public
utilities corporations 10 reciprocity for
automobile owners Among these bills are
measures wiping out county tax boafds ana
a bill creating a state tax court.
The tax question has been the subject of
considerable discussion in New Jersey for
the last few years and il figured largely in
the recent campaign, and 10 those familiar
with the subject the passage of any OF the
bills affecting taxation now before the
Legislature will serve to make even more
chaotic the present system.
II is pointed out that in order 10 place
taxation I'm New Jersey on a fair and equi-
table basis il will be necessary to begin az
the bottom-that Is. at the assessor him
seif-and not at the top. SO far as county
tax boards are concerned, il is explained,
they should he retained and given more
power. unless something better is found 10
take place. for no one--in the large cities.
at least--wants 10 90 back 10 the old
methods.
Charles Hansel. the expert in charge Of
the rcappraisal of the railroad and canal
property OF the state. has come in contact,
through one Of his special assistants. with
many vsgaries Of taxation. and IL is not at
all improbable that his report 90 the Gov
crnor will make interesting reading.
Perhaps the happest man i'm New. Jersey
st the present time Is James L. MARITIME,
who will take Senator Kean's place. on
March T. After twenty-five years Of pa
tient waiting he has been chosen TO the
highest Office in the gift Of the state, and
those who know him well say that If hon
esty and integrity are the essentials for
success at Washington Jim Marine is
going TO make good
It Is regarded as probable however. that
Mr. Marines course will be directed by
Governor Wilson, the new leader Of the
Democracy Of New Jersey. In fact. II is
pretty well understood shat before the new
Governor issued his first letter demanding
tho selection Of the Farmer orator q
thorough understanding had been reached
letweon the two tho dag before the letter
was made public.
There j. one point about Mr.. Marines
selection. However. which is going to have
big effect i'm the future politics Of the
state. and that is that it set in motion the
machinery for the direct election Of United
States Senators. and il Is safe prediction
Than when the term Of Frank .. Briggs eX-
pireS. two Years from nov, his successor
viii be chosen by the votes Of his party
direct at inc primaries