Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-14
PROGRESS HIS PLEA
Gov. Wilson Sends Last Mes
sage to Legislature.
NEW CORPORATION LAW
Present Statutes "Notoriously in
Need of Alteration" He Says.
JURY DRAWING ATTACKED
President-to-Be Urges Direct Elec-
ton of Senators and Extension of
Commission Form of Government.
JURY DRAWING ATTACKED

himself when he took Office.
Foremost among the laws advocated are
a radical revision of the statutes govern
ing corporations, and better laws in the
matter of drawing juries.
I The governor recommends the commits
! sion form of government for cities. and
speaks strongly in favor of economies LII
the state administration. In conclusion,
he expresses the hope that New Jerse!
! will ratify the constitutional amendments
! providing for tax on incomes ana the
election of United States senators by
direct vote of the people. The governor
message was written while he was IN
Bermuda. and constitutes his only po-
| litical writing since election.
Sounds Note of Regret.
At the outset of the document there is a
personal note of regret at leaving New
| jersey. and an expression of gratitude
| and obligation to those who stood by him
| in carrying out reforms. Almost without
| preface. however. the governor calls at
tention to the laxity of the state cor
| poration laws. With the hope tnat Ne"
| Jersey shall never again be cailed tiie
| mother of trusts the message is ad-
dressed to a legislature that is for the
| first time during his administration DEM
ocratic i'm both branches.
The corporation laws of the state no
| toriouslv stand in need of alterauoll. the
| governor saws They are manifestly in
| consistent with the interests OF the peo-
pie in the all important matter OF mo
nopoly. and as they stand. lar from
courage it. The whole country has set
it's face against this method OF FORMING
| vast combinations and creating monopoly,
| Gov Wilson declares.
| ~ am sure that the people of New
| Jersey" he continues. do not dissent
| from the common Judgment that our law
| mnst prevent these things. and prevent
| them very effectually.
For State Supervision.
The governor says the statutes OF the
state should be amended to provide some
responsible official supervision OF the
whole process of Incorporation and pro-
vide, in addition, salutary checks upon
| unwarranted and fictitious increases OF
| capital No legitimate business VIII ne
| in iured or harmfully restricted by such
! action These matters affect the honor
and good faith Of the state. ana should
| he acted upon at once and with clear
| purpose.
enact legislation to protect it's people
| from irresponsible persons who oner TOT
| sale securities of every sort, the govern
| or turned to the question OF jury draw
| ing. "Why has no legislature ever SER.
cusly and earnestly set itself to correct
this condition. he asks. The draw
/ ing Of grand juries. and even upon occa-
| sion the drawing OF petit Jurles, IS no
| toriously subject to political influence and
control in this state, and TINS can ana
| should be remedied.
Reform in Taxation.
Continuing, the governor pointed out re-
forms in the states taxation system, and
suggested that the board of public utility
commissioners be granted additional pow
| ers to eliminate dangerous grade railroad
crossings in "a thoroughly practical fash
! ion The board, he urged. should also
be given power to require railroads to
man their trains with adequate crews.
| While commencing the legislature of
| 1911 for passing the act permitting cities
and towns to adopt the commission form
of government. the governor urged full
| er extension of the system.
1.-The path of reform in that field. he
| added. lis unquestionably the path Of
| greater freedom. The question OF munich
pal government is perhaps the most seri-
/ Gus question concerning the organization
| of methods of government that now con-
| fronts us as nation. | covet for New
| Jersey the honor of showing the way OF
liberty and sef-respecting reorganization.
| Would Serve Farmer.
THE farmer has not been served as
! he might be- continued the governor.
1--WE have set up and subsidized agricul-
| tural schools, horticultural schools,
! schools of poultry breeding. and the rest,
and they have done excellent work. But
a more effective way still has been found
by which the farmer can be served. Lee
lures and schools and experimental farms
attached to schools like laboratories are
excellent. bat they cannot of themselves
push their work home. Some states have
gone much beyond this and we should
follow them with Zest.
On the question of economy Gov. Will
son says:
The business of the state is conducted
| with a wastefulness Il duplication OF
! effort confusion and conflict of function
which no business enterprise could sur
vive for six months There is an extra
ordinary multiplicity of boards commits
sions. departments and miscellaneous Of
fees overlapping, connected without be-
! ing co-ordinated. independent of one an
ether and yet naturally belonging to q
single systematic whole. which ought tc
| be drawn together. simplified. brou0h
! into proper relations. pruned and put
upon a footing of efficiency which viii
| also be a footing of economy and quick
| responsibility. We are Wasting the pup
| lie moneys and not getting the re-
suits which good business methods would
| get.
Appeals for Amendments.
The governor dwells at length on 1.-THE
need and demand for a constitutions
convention in New Jersey and concludes
his message with an appeal for the rati
fcation of the two proposed amendments
to the national Constitution. He says:
Two great amendments to the Consti
! tuition of the United States await the
| ratification of New eJrsey, the amend
ment comforting upon the Congress OF
the United States in unm1stakable terms
| the power to levy taxes on incomes anc
| the amendment providing for the election
! of senators of the United States by the
direct vote of the people. l cannot toe
strongly urge upon the legislature the
ratification of both these amendments
We cannot keep our place among the
/ progressive states of the Union and re
| ject them. Indeed. We shall be in
very small minority if We do reject them
Compliment to Fielder.
MAY l not. in closing, express the sat
isfaction I feel in the knowledge tina
when I lay down the duties of governor
I shall leave them in the hands of Sena
tor Fielder. man of proved character
capacity, fidelity and devotion to the pub