Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-04-19
WILSON REPLY
TO HIS CRITICS
Answers Statements of Re-
publican Legislators.

Trenton, n. 1.-The following state
ment has been issued by Governor
Wilson:
Ordinarily l would remain entirely
silent under partisan attacks of this
kind, but l feel that IL is due TO the
people Of the state that l should speak
my very emphatic protest against an
uncalled for and grossly dIscourteous
attack upon my official career, proceed
ing as a~manifesto from a conference
Of Republican members Of the legis-
lature.
"Of my vetoes | shall say nothing.
They speak for themselves and are
justified by the bills against which
they were uttered. But the statement
that have by frequent absences from
the state in any degree neglected my
duties as governor Is absolutely false.
No important matter Of business has
been allowed to fall IN arrears in my
office. Every bill has been read and
acted upon within the time prescribed
by the constitution. | have been alb
sent from the state only two of the
session days of the legislature.
Not ten days, but FIVE days only,
under the explicit prescription of the
constitution were available for the
consideration of the more than $50
bills which were sent TO my office just
before the temporary adjournment of
the Legislature on the 29th day of
March daUntah 10 thoSa hills Tho
full five days allowed me. They re-
cefved my careful attention.
The legislature had by deliberate ar.
rangement of It's Republican leaders
determined to reassemble the following
week, 80 that l was not permitted. uu-
der the constitutional provision, to take
more time than l did axe in the con
sideration Of the bills. 1t is a note.
worthy circumstance that, although a
great many Of the important measures
sent me at the end of session were
introduced early in the session, they
were delayed in their passage until the
very end. The bills that came to me
while the session lasted were for the
most part OF an incidental and trivial
importance.
Almost all the bills of capital con
sequence were reserved until the last.
Among them one We're more e%onspicu-
Gus than those that attempted to break
down at one point or another the best
legislation of the session of 1911, to the
maintenance of which both parties
were explicitly pledged to in the cam
paign of the autumn of 1911. Bill after
bill was introduced to weaken the force
Of the corrupt practices act and of the
Geran act. This, that and the other
door Of loose practice was deliberately
opened. 1t was my duty to stand guard
against these things and l have done
so. Against the bills to this effect which
have beer passed over my veto / will
have to utter my earnest protest in the
name not only of party obligation, an
obligation fairly resting upon both par
ties, but In the name Of the people of
the state. The session has been fruit
full Of nothing so much as OF legislation
tending to impair rather than to In
crease the efficiency Of the laws Of the
state.
In my annual message l called at
tentiou to the great matters to which
| understood both parties to be commit
ted. | did not deem 1t wise or cour-
teous to avow as tho session advanced
by repeated messages my fear that
these matters were to be neglected and
that the whole session wRs to be spent
upon measure of another sort and OF
questionable expediency. II the $50
sion has been barren and disappoint-
ing, as 1t has been. the people Of the
state WI know where to bestov the
blame.
Tho foregoing ia In reply to an ofh-
cial address issued today by the joint
Republican caucus AS an excuse for
their subsequent action In repassing
about two-thirds Of the bills vetoed
by Governor Wilson. This statement,
which 10 without parallel In the legis-
lative history of the state, attacks the
governors vetoes as unJusttfable and
declares they SAVIOR Of having bsen pre-
pared without due elaboration owing
to the governors crowding the work