Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-01-15
ANNUAL MESSAGE
OF Gov. FIELDER
Makes Strong Plea For Econ
Onny and Efficiency.
BIG INCREASE IN VALUATION

Should Be Discretionary With Gov
ernor-Asks For Short, 6usinesslike
observation-disclosures Canal Abandonment
Following is the first annual message
of James F. Fielder. governor Of New
Jersey, to the One hundred and thirty
ninth legislature Of that state:
Gentlemen of the Senate and Cen
eral Assembly-But few differences OF
Importance can be discovered Ia the
platforms adopted by u two great
political parties at their recent conven-
tons. and. therefore, In fulfilling
pledges it should not be found difncuit
for party representatives to work IN
harmony. Members OF both parties
must realize that the election Is over.
and that they are now units OF a legis-
Iative body, whose aim should be to
secure by cooperation the best results
from its session. and 1t should make no
difference In action that one party Old
or did not make a specific promise upon
any particular subject. The honest de-
sire to i've UP to his oath of office is
the sole motive which should actuate
each member. l.. therefore. look to
the members of both parties to redeem
their party promises, and ask that
each shall aid and not hinder the other
in SO doing. You may be sure OF my
assistance in all legislation for the good
of our people.
The few subjects to which l propose
to direct your attention nearly all come
under the head of unfinished business
ard are mainly of a financial nature.
The first relates to the reorganization
or consolidation of state boards and
commissions with a view to econom.
and a higher degree of efficiency In OPP
Grafton. A special investigation of this
subject was hardly necessary to CON
vince any one who has had experience
with our state government that COM
missions and departments have In
creased beyond necessity and reason.
and the mere calling attention by Gov
ernor Wilson in his message of 1912 to
the wasteful manner in which the gov
eminent was being conducted should
have been sufficient to produce a rem
edy. A commission recommended by
that message to study the subject has
presented two reports. and as its In
vesfigations are not yet concluded a
further report may be expected at this
session. The commission has perform
ed its duties in a businesslike manner,
and the conclusion already reached and
recommendations made are of great in
terest and value. furnishing the ground
work or foundation plan for the rear
rangement and simpliication of many
of our methods of government and In
many cases he detail for the structure
which should be erected thereon, Be-
lieving that these recommendations
| should be enacted into law. ! urged
| such action in two messages to the
legislature at it's last session. Failure
to act did not convince me / was
wrcng. and. recent events lave con-
firmed my opinion that our citizens
want this legislation. am not so GER
tain as the commission appears to be
that its reorganization plans will re-
| suit in a large reduction In state ex-
penses, but | do believe some saving
will follow and that they will greatly
promote efficiency. and. while the tota'
amount expendeA may not be material
ly less. better results will surely be Sc
| cured for every dollar spent. With the
| facts ~squarely before us it is our duty
to act with decision and promptness.
Increase In Valuation.
The annual report of the state board
of equalization of taxes. recently filed
with me. shows an increase of over
$75. 0O0.0 in the total valuation of
property for taxation. exclusive of the
| stocks of banks and trust companies
and railroad property, and that not
wlthstanding tins increase in valuation
the average tax rate of our municipali
last year. | know that the great ma
| jority of our citizens are willing to bear
their just share of the fair cost of gov
eminent. but they rightfully object to
excessive expenses and inequality in
assessment. The attention Of legisla.
lures has frequently been called to
high and increasing tax burdens. and
l venture to refer to the subject
again and to reiterate my opinion that
the difficulty is largely due to the un
wise and improper method of selecting
assessors and to the fact that In many
instances the compensation they re-
ceive is insufficient to secure the serv-
ices of competent men. The choice oil
assessors by election usually brings
them and their office into politics. We
shall never obtain relief unless we
clean up the source of the trouble. and
/ renew my recommendations that as.
SCISSORS be no longer elected. but be ap-
pointed under civil service rules fol
assessment districts. that they be paid
proper salaries. that their assessments
be made under uniform rules to be pre-.
pared by some higher tax authority,
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