Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-01-16
GOVERNOR SlzER'S SPEECH
AT INAUGURAL TODAY
(Continued from page IL

CONTINUED from page -
than those which now confront us.
The permanency OF our institutions
depends upon the promptness and
the courage with which we meet our
responsibilities.
The limits of this occasion do not
permit of extended and detailed
treatment of the various problems
that press for solution. I shall,
however, take the liberty to refer in
, a brief way to certain phases of the
larger problems which require i'm
mediate action.
Platform Pledges
Good faith or the part of individ-
uals and of political parties is of the
! very essence of these things. It be-
hooves US to keep faith with the
electorate who have just spoken. We
sought their suffrage and support
upon the basis of certain pledges
| solemnly made concerning things we
intended to do and the laws we pro-
! posed to enact. These pledges must
be inviolably kept or we shall justly
merit rebuke and reputation at the
hands of a deceived and disappoint-
ed people.
The pledges made by both parties
are ClSdE dllut WILLIE III nus coSS1-
| tials they differ but slightly, there
can be no excuse for delay or for
nonfulfillment. In all efforts in this
J direction made by the party having
legislative control, my cooperation
will be cheerfully given. In my eff
forts / expect, in the interests of the
| state, a like cooperation. We should
not care for the credit so long as the
desires Of the people are fulfilled
and their interests protected.
The things uppermost in the
minds Of the people of the state are
taxation, the regulation Of public
utilities, good roads. labor and pro-
hibition. There are, Of course other
matters which are perhaps of equal
importance, such as the problem
| growing out of the abandonment of
the Morris Canal, the needs Of the
| present as well as the future with
| respect to potable waters, the en-
couragement. of agriculture, and the
development of the Port of New
, York. These and other important
matters will have special treatment
at a later date.
To carry out this program we
must be certain that we have the
| fun confidence of the people of the
state. The great emancipation, Lin
coin, said:
with public sentiment, nothing
can fail. Without it, nothing can
succeed. Consequently he who
moulds public sentiment goes deeper
than he who enacts statutes or pro-
nounces decisions"
We must not drift farther away
from representative government.
Let us get back to it. Let us be
wary of the growing tendency to
regulate our very act.
Individual initiative must be per-
mitted to assert itself. Let us aim
| to secure for the people life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness guar
| anteed under the constitution.
Taxation
While the subject of taxation is
complex, we all are agreed that the
present system is antiquated and
must be replaced by one scientifically
devised. 1t must have for its foun-
dation the necessary machinery to
make just assessments and to equal
ize them. The interchange of funds
between state, county and munich
pality must be on a simpler basis.
| Those who pay the taxes should have
| the broadest powers to spend them
without having imposed upon them
| mandatory requirements by legisla-
tive action in which they had no
| voice.
Exemption from taxation should
be based upon a correct principle.
and property which is no used
strictly for either educational, char
liable or religious purposes. should
| be required to bear its legitimate
| share of the burden of taxation. All
agencies expanding public moneys
should be investigated in d to
ascertain if the expenditures are JUS
tilted or if retrenchment or changes
in method are necessary. The pres
| ent agitation with reference to taxa
ton in city, county and state has
| aroused the people and already in
many municipalities we learn of re-
auctions in budgets and of refusals
to increase appropriations. we must
take definite steps, and at once, to
limit the spending power OF PUBIC
officers. This can be done by placing
a limit upon the amount that can be
appropriated in each year, and by
strictly enforcing the law which pro-
vides a penalty for exceeding appro-
priations, and by limiting the
edness. 1 shall have further and
definite recommendations to make in
a special message on this subject
which will be submitted at a later
time, and which will give the bene-
fits of my study of this important
question.
Economy
In the present condition of our af-
fairs. when every home-owner is
complaining about the burdens of
taxation, it is our duty to practice
the most rigid economy, consistent
with necessary progress.
This economy should come In
state, county and municipality. Use
less Offices should be abolished, and
departments consolidated where pos
sible; useless enterprises should not
be undertaken; strict watch should
be kept over our expenditures. We
must see that we haze an adequate
return for all moneys expended. Our
departments and institutions should
be closely scrutinized to ascertain 4
we are indulging toe much in luxu-
ries and non-essentials. Many sala-
ries are higher than the services rem
dered warrant, and some which were
increased to meet unusual conditions
may, with propriety, be reduced,
Improvements, designed more to aid
the favored few than to serve the
public welfare, may well be aban-
doned.
Roads