The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1914-01-20
GOVERNOR FIELDER
TO THE LAWMAKERS
Urges Many Reforms in Inau-
guTaI Massage.

the inaugural address of Governor
james f. Fielder.
Gentlemen Of the Senate and General
Assembly:
Taking advantage of that provision
of our constitution which empowers
the governor, whenever he considers II
necessary. to communicate to the leg
islatfre the condition of the state and
to recommend such measures as he
may deem eXpedient and, following the
custom of incoming governors, to de-
liver an inaugural message. | submit
for your consideration certain matters
which | believe of interest to the peo-
pie of our state 1t is unnecessary to
refer now to all subjects which will
or should be brought to your attention
at this session, and it is my purpose to
speak only of those which appear to
be of pressing Importance, reserying
other matters for future messagesA
l am much concerned that this ses-
sion shall be marked with care, delib-
GRAFTON and earnest thought. so that
hasty and i'll considered legislation
shall not be enacted. Too many bills
are introduced of not the slightest i'm
portance to the state at large, and too
many unnecessary and defective laws
are enacted each year. Notwithstanding
the constitutional limitation against
special legislation, | venture to assert
that two-thirds of our laws are passed
20 ns.,I IN.
cial purposes. At last years sessions
nearly 1,4O0 bills were introduced. of
which about 400 became laws. While
1t is the duty of each member to serve
the people of his county by endeavor-
ing to secure legislation for their bene-
fit, it is also his duty to the state not
to clog the processes of legislation
with useless suggestions in the form
of bills or to attempt to secure special
advantages for those who should be
governed by general laws. The proof
of a legislators capacity and useful
ness is not to be found in the great
number of bills he may introduce and
pass, but rather in the quality of the
few which bear his name. Each mem-
ber should carefully scan and consider
all bills offered to him for introduc-
ton, and he should have the courage
and good sense to refuse those he
knows cannot or should not become,
laws. | am informed that not so,
many years ago legislative bills were.
not printed at state expense, but that.
each member paid for the printing Of.
his own bills. II that were still the
rule could easily imagine that nei-
ther the volume of bills introduced nor
the laws enacted would be so large.
Last Minute Legislation.
One of the evils of legislation has
been due to the introduction and pas-
sage of bills up to the closing hours of
the session, when, in the attendant
rush and excitement. imperfectly pre-
pared and improper legislation has
been enacted. The governor has only
five days within which to consider bills
after they reach his Office, and he can
not give the time for consideration
that he would wish to the mass of
passed bills thrown at him at the con-
clusion of q session. In these days the
veto power is not considered suffi-
cient barrier against improper legisla-
ton. and the failure of Legislators to
act with deliberation, thought and
good judgment has helped to produce
distrust of legislative bodies, result
ing in the suggestion of various devices
and expedients to curb and limit their
action.
With these thoughts in mind, I COM
mend your proposition to limit the
time for Introduction of bills and to
require that a reasonable period shall
elapse between their introduction and
consideration, as also the provision
understand you are to make for a leg
islative reference bureau and for a
legal adviser, who shall prepare and
crticise bills. The adoption of these
remedies for checking the evils of
which | have spoken, entailing but
slight expense, indicates your desire
for safe and sane legislation and mer-
its general approval.
Our state expenditures have increas-
y
of our growth in population and the
natural placing of heavier burdens
upon our departments and institutions
This increase in expenditures has been
met by gain in income, but the diff
Guilty which has confronted preceding
administrations is that our income has
not kept pace with the demands made
upon it. We must husband our re-
sources, exercise more careful watch
over our outlay and see that each dol
lar expended brings its full return to
the state. There is a widespread be-
lief that money is wasted through a
multiplicity of departments, boards
and commissions and that by simplifi-
cation in administration and consolida-
ton of departments our revenues can
be conserved and expended to better
advantage. l believe that much can
be accomplished in this direction, but
it is not my intention to deal with the
subject in detail at this time, for the
reason that the economy and efficiency
commission, appointed pursuant to
joint, resolution of the session Of 1912,
has had this matter under investiga-
ton, and | am assured its final report
will be presented to you within few
weeks | feel that this commission
has devoted much time to searching
examination of the functions of and
+bo raSults anoonnIfshad bV Our state