The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-10
WILSON SENDS HIS
 FIRST MESSAGE Deals Almost Exclusively
 With Economy TO REFORM JURIES Number of State Boards Are Confus- ing-Dairy Business Must Be
 Sharply Supervised-To
 Inspect Factories
TO REFORM JURIES

Trenton, January 9,--Woodrow Wilson, governor of New Jersey, sent his first an- nna message to the legislature today He deals almost exclusively with economy and the necessity of co-ordinating and simplifying the state government. Such matters, says the governor, admit of no partisan bias, and whatever differences of judgment may arise with regard to them, they need have no feeling of party flavor. We can get at the heart of things if we choose, and we could not render the state greater service than by so do- ing. Wastefulness and inefficiency are themselves virtually forms of graft. They afford fruitful opportunities for every kind of abuse.
 Tt is to the question of efficiency and economy, therefore. that I first invite your serious attention
 State Boards Confusing
 The governor points out that the num- Der of state boards is confusing, and rec ommends the appointment of a commis, sion "to take into consideration the whole question of simplifying. and co-ordinatine the administrative agencies of the state" with the request that the commission act promptly and harmoniously, and report to the legislature as soon as possible.
 He adds that the commissions inquiry ought to take in the question of equitably adjusting assessment and taxation and should include a "very thorough exam nation of our tax system itself; its basis and principle
 Further, the governor recommends Investigation and Legislation looking tc serviceable cooperation between the charitable and correctional institutions in the state; dwells on the need or a rcformatory for women, and adds thai the machinery for supervising the pub lie health Is woefully inadequate.
 Intends No Criticism
 q intend no criticism of our excel lent board of health" he says, but only repeat the testimony of its own members Every sort of infection should be guarded against. A costly war must be waged on the mosquito and the housefy. The dissemination of poisonous gases from factories, from locomotive engines and from vast bodies of smoke which pervade our cities must be prevented
 "The dairy business must be sharply supervised along with cold storage ana the handling of food stuffs in the. mar kets Oyster beds must be inspected; there must be some thorough and ef- ficient system of keeping our lakes and streams from pollution, and systematic war must be made with such diseases as tuberculosis.
 Ut seems to me or the hrst conse- auence" continues the message, that the promise We have made the people of the state, that we would at once take the initial steps necessary to ef- feet a return to system or assembly districts in place of county delegations to the legislature should be redeemed and that a constitutional amendment should be submitted to the vote oi the people at the earliest possible time. It is equally imperative, as it seems to me, that the use of the courts of justice by the people should be sim plified and facilitated. Our legal pro cedure is too technical, too compli- eated, too expensive, too little adapted to the use of the poor and un- schooled. With splendid courts of un- doubted integrity we, nevertheless, feel that the rich litigant can tire the poor litigant out We are proud of our bench; why should we not put our selves in position to be equally proud of our administration of justice as based upon lne DtSt ItlCiihco Ai'N'StS It Is not the courts we wish to change so much as the methods of procedure
 Reform Juries
 Both parties are pledged also to take up the matter of jury reform; to con sder in particular the methods by whicl grand juries are chosen in order to de wise, if possible, a process of choice bS which abuses of Q serious kind whici have arisen to the scandal of public opinion may hereafter be prevented. commend this deeply important subJec' to your very earnest consideration.
 ..Our workmen very justly demand further legislation with regard to the in spection and regulation of factories anc workshops, and recommend Legislation of this kind to your very careful ano earnest consideration. recommend moreover, the passage at an early date of an act requiring the railways with1 this state to provide their trains wit adequate crews. Our sister state O Pennsylvania has adopted legislation O this kind and the railways whose iine' cross from Pennsylvania into New Jer sey actually carry full crews to the Dor der of this state and then send thell trains on through New Jersey with al unfinished crews, to the jeopardy. as l be lieve, of life and property, requiring more of the small crew than 1t can safely and thoroughly do. The abolition oi grade crossings. too, as rapidly as possl' ble, is an imperative necessity. The loss of life at grade crossings in this state has been very great.
 "The report of the commissioner ol public roads urges some changes in the road law, for which bespeak your very careful consideration, They are intended to render tho present system of admins- tration more efficient to remove the care of improved roads entirely from politics and to establish d definite system ol highways These are all matters of seri- ous business and it will be great pleas. ure to me to be associated with you ir trying to fulfill our obligations in re. gard to them"
 HXrnIYI n ADAI IGH