Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-01-16
Recommends Commission
Form Of Government and
More Economy IN States
Expresses Regret in Leaving
State Of New Jersey as
Its Governor
10y Associated Press.)

TRENTON, N. j., Jan. 15.-Presi
dent-elect Woodrow Wilson, in his
capacity as governor of New Jersey
sent his second annual message to the
legislature which convened today. II
was his last formal appeal to the legis
lature for the completion of the pro
gram of progressive legislation FOL
| which he declared himself when he
took office.
Foremost among the laws advocat
ed are a radical revision Of the stat
utes governing corporations, and bet
ter laws in the matter of drawing jur
les. The governor recommends the
commission form of government fol-
cities, and speaks strongly in favor OF
economies in the state administration
In conc uSion he expresses the hope
that New Jersey will ratify the con
stitutional amendments providing for
a tax on incomes, and the election OF
United States senators by direc: vote
of the people. The governors mes.
sage was written while the president.
elect was in Bermuda and constitutes
his only political writing since cleo.
ton.
At the outset of the document there
is a personal note of regret at leaving
New Jersey, and an expression of graf
itude and obligation to those who
stood bv him in carrying OF reforms.
Almost without preface, however, the
governor calls attention to the laXity
Of the states corporation laws. With
the hope thai New Jersey shall never
again be called "the mother of trusts
the message is addressed to a legis'
lature that is for the first time during
his administration, democratic in both
branches.
The corporation laws Of the state
VIGOROUSLY stand in need of altera
ton, the governor says. They are
manifestly Inconsistent with the inter
ests Of the people in the all-importan1
matter of monopoly, and as they stand
far from checking monopoly, they &C
tually encourage it. The whole coun'
try has set its face against this meth
cd of forming vast combinations and
creating monopoly, Governor Wilson
declares. 81 am sur the people OF
New Jersey, he continues, do not
dissent from the common judgment
that our '2"' must prevent these
things and prevent them very etfec-
tually.'
The governor says the statutes of
the state should be amended to pro.
vide some responsible official super.
vision of the whole process Of incor.
poration and provide, in addition, sal
utary checks upon unwarranteI and
fictitious increases of capital. No
legitimate business will be injured or
harmfully restricted by such action.
These matters affect the honor and
good faith of the state, and should be
acted upon at once and with clear pur-
pose.
After declaring that the state should
enact legislation to protect its people
from irresponsible persons who offer
for sale securities of every sort, the
governor turned to the question Of
Jury drawing. Why has no legisla.
ture ever seriously and earnestly set
itself to correct this condition." he
asks. "The drawing of grand jurtes,
and even upon occasion the drawing
of petit juries, is VIGOROUSLY subject
to political influence and control in
this state, and this can and should be
amenued."
Continuing. the governor pointed
out reforms in the States taxation
system, and suggested that the Board
of Public Utility Commissioners be
granted additional powers to eliminate