2 ' . CAPfe «1 ' STAR

MESSAGE BY GOVERNS! FORT IBM Mt H SMI tO Hi Ufiim IOS POWER Of HEWN. |l WKmW B* fiivon w Qev*crw, 0*wH •*«■** or Commission, Mo ■ocloroo bays foreee o* J-vort.no. «f Furidtog Adequate WMO fiopply For Otete* to H.M-rn Pari of fitate. Mas* Mutter* of MemeM Dleeuoeed. UlMH, M. J, JUU. lA-The MOUtl BBnp of tbe governor, John Franhh.ta( to the senate and general ilMttr oayo: Iwtliw <rf Uo Boa. to and General Br M* asprooo Urmi of Uk oooetlta|M«fo« oO-Oo, adopted la ISM. It to Made the duty o< to* governor "to gnuinranlirM by mooo.ro to tbo l«gMutare at th* opening of each oaaa Ion o • • tbo oondltion of tbo state and paooonmeod sueh maaaaroa u bo taay Assam sapsdlont" Oar constitution baa few, If any. jtoflri— faaha, and tbeae oao'bo rtotMod In the way pointed oat to Mat I— qaaiiiit for Us amandmont. Constitutional Amendment#. Boar ameadairofis weio referred by M* last lagtefetwr* for your concur the first Increases the salaries of tbo . aanalora and assemblymen to $1,000 par year, whlsfc a hoc Id be done. Tbe eeeood would make tbe term of Me governor and tbe senators four pears and tbe assemblymen two years. tbe third authorizes tbs districting af counties for tbs election of mem btrs of tbe gaoaral assembly, and tbe fourth relates U tbe reorganisation of Ma Judiciary. Ooacnrrsnce In tbe amendments ta •arnestly urg*d. Daring tbe rigorous uollMcal campaign through which we MVS Jost passed they wore not crlti«ta*d by any eaa Power ef Removal of Offioinl*. lb my annual address I earnestly Mgsd the enactment of a law giving to lbs governor the power of. re moral of habile oAetata, not under the consUtnKbn protected from removal, except by l^ssi lisnst- I repeat that recom•teodatku. tt tba objection is to giving this powSr to the governor, then give tt to the USarte or to tbs senate or to a commission consisting of tbs governor, tbe president ef tbe senate and tbe speaker V tbs house or some other body which ■ay commend Itself to your judgmeat. . tbo power should be somewhere. If there be fesr that the power will J be abused, limit it to the following j ceases: » First.— Malfeasance la office. Second. — Offenses which are made misdemeanor* by statute. Third - Misappropriation of public funds. Fourth.— Conviction of crime. Surely there can be no objection to such a power as this for such causes as these. The governor and other constlruttaoal officers may be impeached and •amoved from office. A senator or member of tbe general assembly may be expelled and his office vacated by Us associates, but there la no way cow, except he resign, to get s statu- ; tory official out tt office, even after conviction of crime. Surely this cannot be thought to be right by any reasonable person. County Beards ef Taxatien. Bo far as I know, no reasonable ex ruse exists fer the further continuance ef tbe county boards for tbe equallzatVsi of taxes. They cost the taxpayers of tbe mate and counties about CUO.OOO par year. If they ever had any useful purpose, which I doubt they have served It and their fuitber aantlnnsnce can only be Justified upon tbe low and absolutely Indefensible ground that places are pre Tided tor eighty-four persons to draw salarigy from the public treasury which sis not earned. If these county boards arc abolished provision can be made far a board or body In each county with power to fix tbe tax rate and to equalise taxes by a simple method of procedure and at small expense. All tbe other duties of a county board can be •est upon the state board for tbe equalisation of taxes Department of Corporations. The creation of tbe department of sarporationa. in accordance with thp recommendation of the commission on the revision of tbe corporation laws in Its report of last winter, is strongly Urged. New Jersey should continue and. If possible, broaden her past policy as to the organisation of corporations. They came to us because of the conservative, settled character of our Judiciary and tbe fairness of our past legislative treatment. Criticism of our corporation laws by citizens of other states has about ceased except as to a few uuraaaonlng and unreasonable persons Meter Vehicle Department. What was said as to tbe creation of a motor vehicle department In my Inaugural address larft year Is especially sommended to the legislature. Thl i department is constantly growing. 1c Is sure to become one of tbe largest sad mast important departments In tk i Stat*, with a revenue which is certc '.J to reach a ouarter of a million of t •' - "i

! »■*■ P« year within tbe next Sra i years. It demands tbs constant and I i with tbs requisite inspector* and other I I officers to enforce tbe law. AH tufcfc i psw.r should b* exclusively to Aba 1 bands at this department. Arrest and bah might be allowed by local coasts- ' bias or police fur alleged violation of 1 tbe. lew, hut further procedure as to ' ■Utamsat or suit should be cxilueUe- I ly in this department or its representative. Mat all cases ef uajset appreben- i Use* of tbe peace, who for tbe eoeta ■ they receive encourage this elaaa of Btlpattoa, would be ended. A more Mm pie and easy method of procurtag i a license, especially by nonresidents, < should also prevail. < Pxelaa. ' Whatever legislation may h* enact- 1 ed this year, one thing is evident— that 1 tbs majority party in tbs legislature ' oaamot, ansept In bad faith with the 1 people, repeal tbs ,'blehope' law." as ' cnBsd. It Is pledged to maintain that 1 law, and tbs present governor stands irrevoosMy committed to that statute There Is naed for greater uniformity j In granting licenses, and tbe present ,i method of baring licenses granted by 1 an axolee board, appointed by tbe | mayor or court. In soma places and ! 1 elected in others and then In other , 1 pis*** ha ring lbs oommoo council or I < tbs court itself grant tbs licenses is < wrong. Th* following modifications ef tbs i excise laws are suggested: First — Tbs minimum lioenae fas i should bs flxad on tbs basis of tbe < population of tbe local municipalities, < provided that in no case should It be lass In any municipality than that at i which Uoenses are now granted In : such municipality, and eaoh application for a license should be advertised i once for at least ten days before action Is taken thereon that objection , may be made thereto and beard. Second. — The number of licensed place# allowed should be limited to ' not exceeding one for each 600 people. : provided that no greater number of i licenses should be granted in any , < place, where tbs present percentage b greater than this, than tbe present licensed places bear to tbe present I population. Third.— A simple and definite form of i procedure to revoke a license for tbe i violation of tbs law, with a provision . that a license shall be Ipso facto re- ' . veked on conviction of any crime «r su a plea of guilty or nou vult Fourth.— No license should be granted to any person not a native or naturalised cttlaen of th* United States. Fifth.— No Uesus* sbowd bs gvaated to a peraoa who bad been convicted of | any crime which would disfranchise him under our state cuoatltatioa. Sixth— All right te transfer a lies use from on* place te another should be ; prohibited. Seventh.— All licensed places should bs dosed from 1$ <ydoe* midnight un- ; tfi 6 a. m. i Jury Reform. Jury reform is needed In this state. For years public sentiment has apI proved It and the more efficient ad- • j ministration of both the elvH and ! criminal law demanded It There Is I | but one way to accomplish this and j s that is through a Jury commission In j each county. This commission should j : consist of the sheriff and two citizens j appointed by tbe presiding Jostles ef ( the supreme court sitting in each of j > the circuit courts of the state. The act I i should define specifically how the Jury list is to be made up and the Jury - drawn, and tbe statute should relate I to both grand and petit Jurors. Publio Utilities. The last session of the legislature, through a disagreement between tbe j ' I two houses as to tbe terms of an act. | j j failed to pass a public utilities bill j r I such as public sentiment seemed to de- j _ : mand. ] The point upon which the legislation j j failed at the last session seems to have j I been over the nit* making power. A • I bill without some control over rates, at j ■ j least a correctional power as to tliem, j - 1 would bs of little^ if any, more value I - j than our present railroad commission i 1 ' net Tbs commission should have the J 1 power to revise and correct rates ; • shown to bs unreasonable upon com r plaint and after bearing, subject to a . 1 review of any final order as to rates - . by the courts, with a provision for | I speedy hearing and determination on - tbe appeal. Tbe power which is now 3 tn the court of chancery to regulate ■ grade crossings should else be transe f erred to this commission when ap- , t> j pointed^ State Institutions. t The boards of managers of all our I p ' stats institutions, except the state e | prison, serve without pay. It Is a | thankless task and one In the performj anea of which there may be at any j i time unpleasant criticism. These Insti- j rations are becoming so large and ref quiring so much attention that it is n unjust to the state to ask tbe assumpD tlon of so large a responsibility wlthy out remuneration. Each Institution j should have Its separate board of mac ; agers. 0 I do not think that the board of many agers of any state institution should s- exceed five. There is difficulty to ob- ' d { tain a quorum, and meetings now fre- 1 '• quently fall for this reason. , But I am firmly convinced that th* ' • purchase of all provisions and supplies *' of a staple nature that are needed for j 8 these institutions should be under tbe I control of a single board or depart-' >f ment. Tbe commissioner of eharltlaa ] a and corrections, together with two parly sons to be appointed, should constitute , 1 * s board for the purchase of all supplies 1 : for the Inmates which are of dally and ft general use. 1 The total cost of our state lnatltu '.i tlons la*t year was In excess of $1,500,#00 the estimate* made show that a

stUntion* ™ b^*»I kwwLd** «t least a two era badly needed. These are a t woman's refer ma tory and a house of fittenttea for insane eeovlcts. Feresaal Rqrfstraiten. , Tbs registration law aasds amendment to protect against fraud. I rec- t ommend personal registration in all « cities ef tbe first and second dam t under tbs system now in op. ration in ■ New Tort, which requires personal I a pp serenes and tbe answering of Specific questions and tbs signature of r the person registering, that, in case of ( challenge, founded on tbe identity of < tbo voter, full protection will be had. t Direst Primary Law*. Ttm primaries held ia this state tbe 1 part year under tbe direct primary 1 act met with general public approval, j There was abundant proof of' tbe 1 grosmst frauds in tbs primaries held ' | in certain places In this stats in April 1 i when delegates war* being elect- ' sd lo select delegates to the national j ' J convention. This was clearly due to j ; the fact that there was no law regu- ; la ting that primary stectios. ! | Fraudulent registration, Illegal vol- : ] lng, repeating, voting on the names of i others or upon the names of the dead ■ or Insane, marking ballots to^ make | void a vote and the like are crimes of i « a character so detestable th^t no pun- i lahment is too severe. Th* false and absolutely untrue i statement Is put forth in opposition to ( tbs direct primary that tt requires > great expense to be a candidate at a i primary election, and yet the real < truth ia that a candidate need not exj pCnd a single dollar. The state pays , | for the tickets and Insures at the polls , a lair election, conducted by competent , : election officers. ; 1 I recommend the extension ef the j \ ' present direct primary to the selection j j of delegates to th* national conventions • i of the respective political parties and , to the election of party committees. , And for myself, I thoroughly believe , in Its application to tbe nomlnatioB of ; candidates for governor and represent- \ stives In congress If an obligatory law could be passed applicable to tbe , , selection of United States senates* by . . tbe respective parties 1 would be , heartily in favor of that. Many states , hare petitioned tba congress in the , 1 method provided by th# federal eon- , Miration, asking that an amendment , be submitted to tbe states for ratifies- , tlon by the legislatures thereof, mak- , lng United State# senators elective by tbs people of th* states as tbs con- ! I gresemsn now are. I recommend that th* present legislature place New Jersey with the other : states who have asked for tb« submission of this amendment to tbe legisla* tare of tbe respective states for their : ratification. ' — 1 Voting Machines, i The past legislature, pursuant to tbe j 1 ! recommendations of the governor, en- | I I acted a law permitting the people of [ | the state to determine whether theyl i desired the continuance of the voting i [j machines in the districts where they | 1 1 now exist. Two hundred and fifteen I t , districts took advantage of this act r and In every case where this was done, r j save three, the vote was to abolish , them The present voting machine I j act should be repealed if not amended, j Th* E!*otion Ballet. Tbe work of supplying the ballot, | composed of as many separate pieces ! as there are party namea. is enorj mons and of great detail. We ihould _ j have some system under which all ] voters use a similar piece of paper : containing tbe names of all candidates , tt all parties for office at the election. L j Marked and Rejected Ballots, t j The only marked ballot that should . be rejected is one that show's a marks lng by clear design to identify It from 1 1 other ballots In the box. i It should be mad* difficult for a vot- « | er to lose hi* vote, not oasy. Civil fiervtoe. 1 j Th* last session of tbo legislature ee1 j tabliahed the civil service or merit aysr ' tarn in this stats and created a board 1 of commissioners to manage it. Tbe ' first report of tbs commission has been * made, and the work done is deserving " | of the highest praise. | Approval ef Contracts and Billa. I The governor is required by various i statutes to approve all contract* ber | fore they ore made and many bills o< e departments before they are pak!. 1 This duty, It soems to me, should be placed on Ike department contracting | y them and the attorney general. Investigations. , Almost every cession of the leglela- „ rare either appoints or authorizes the governor to appoint investigating comD mittees or commissions which have ln- | qulsitorlal power*. If these lnvtetigaj tlons could be given a JndldrJ cbaracj ter and bs made by a suprem# court j I commissioner appointed by th* court y. I on petition of tbe attorney general at h i th* direction of the legislature or gov- | smor and there could be confer, ed e ' upon such commissioner when appolnt- , ad power to Issue subpoenas ont of the T : court appointing him to compel the at c tendance of witness** and he were t. i clothed with power to pass upon (he m | admission or rejection of evidence, we r_ j pbotUd have a useful system In the e . stats and a comparatively InexpensiTej a ' sua, and good resnlt* would Sow frarfi I On these bearings the attorney garl- 1 i- j oral could appear to represent the/eg- 1 1 Mature or governor or the lecMffiure '• a 1 oonld, if It preferred, direct that Me In

MgtaTte eenOuM tks fikamtaSteUsli and raceiv* reaneuaMs m— iss.tisn far such aarvicn. i slialdtalt— tort to^STMgtetahW** Bpssd re«ulatto*M in tk* open coon- ) trt should b* Hbsral. T*kty miles an « hour could b* allowed there with safety. Arrest and trial should net be Rim- 1 but tbs right to atop should only ' exist to inquire as to the posse— loa by | the driver «f th* machine of the requisite authority or to obtain its number, • violation of law b* claimed. Butt should only b* lnstttated by direction of th* department tn proper 1 court* near tbs residence of tbe alleged 1 offender or at convenient points within 1 the state for the nonresident 1 Willful Injury te parson or property ' by the driver of a ear, or such Injury 1 an Intoxicated driver, should bs a i misdemeanor and puniahabi* aesordlngiy. without of course, th* lo— of i right to maintain civil suit by the injured party or tba owner of tbo damaged property. The present license ! fees are not excessive. I | Employers' Liability Act. Tbe enactment of an •mployert' lla- ! act is in line with the best oplc- | of our time. The old common law ' rule, which prevents an Injured man. although innooent of any "negligence from recovery because some ef bis follow servants were negligent * not adapted to our day. I By tbe decisions Id our state, the superintendent of the factory is a fellow workman with th« employee, under many conditions, and tb* unfairness of this rule In moderh conditions of work is self evident. Another objectionable rule has grown by court decision — namely. If a workman works at a defective machine or uses s defective appliance, It to be defective,' even though tbe master also know* tt and puts him to work thereat, or therewith, and tbe workman ia injured, be j cannot recover. Tbe role as to contributory negliof th* workman himself, which results ta his lnjary. I would not reAn employers' liability act modeled on the British statute would. In my Judgment, be wise legislation; but, this is so important that K should b* drafted through a eemmiesion appointed for that pnfpoee and not bo undertaken In tbe hours of e hasty legislative session. Cewssrvation ef th* Mete's WssBursss New Jersey has net been behind In this matter. We have great prcffilems la this 11ns. That part of our state on tb* west bank at th* Hudson river, for a radius of twenty-five mils* from the center of Jersey City, ta to bocom* practically a solid city within a fow years. The future water supply of such a mass of people, as wiD hero be found, ta a problem of great magnitude. Newark and Jersey City have gone Into the hills and' Impounded a supply of pure water which will be | sufficient for their needs for a few ' years; Just bow many depends largely | upon the rapidity of their growth. Paterson, Passaic, Bayonne, Hoboken and all the towns between Jersey City and the Passaic and others within the twenty-five mile radius mentioned have no water supply of their ! own. They are compelled to rely upon | a private corporation. I Tbe cost of establishing a great water plant for the supplying of all cities and towns In the section suggested would be very heavy. The great prob- ' lem ta. How can It be done? First and foremost, nothing can be done by the state. If the state ta to do ' it, until all th* water rights of the East Jersey Water company and Its subsidiary and allied companies and I tbe Morris canal are condemned and taken ov*r by the state i The water plant of the city of Newark, as tt stands today, has cost about . $12,000,000 and that of Jersey City probably $$.000,000. As to the value of the plant of tbe East Jersey Wster company and Its water rights .(includ- | lag thon* of th* Society For Useful | Manufactures) and of the like rights _ of the Morris canal, there are no flg- ' urea that I care to accept, but $5,000,- , , 000 would probably more than cover j ' them all. That would give a present j value of $26,000,000 In tbe plants and water rights ta the hills of northern | I New Jersey st this dm*, without j • counting franrttoe values. f Considering the enormous value of these rights tn that section of the : state and the tremendous cost to New I I York city in securing * n& better supply than could be obtained In these hBta. this figure ta certainly moderate. If the state could take tly whole ; matter over It would be Ideal, but tbe . bounding feature of the constitution ta _ the difficulty. There ta no power In . th* legislature to Incur the necessary . stat* debt. The people could vote t $50,000,000 of state bonds for the work, t but it ta doubtful If th«y would do so. t tt is questionable whether they should . If they would. After all. tt ta not a i state wid# enterprise. It ta to supply water to certain parts of the state ' e «uiy If g wgtar supply commission which t would own and control through con6 damnation all the plants of the cities e and private companies now operated e were crested and clothed with full power, tbe territory embraced within f'l'tbe district could through such a comi mission solve the water problem. The | I value of the plant would many times sxceed its cost, and a reasonable water rental to cities taking it based on the i tost of operating. Interest charges and * . " ■

jrrr. j * jmTTioTVS •MLIS* coo«r,. J th*** waters and prevent their pollsUon the results may b* serious. IX tb* j two Mates could art by a Joint commie- J ■ten and take over tbe 50,000 acres or of watershed within -Nsw Tort . and th* like acreage ta our own state, J the results would bs a protected supply . of great vain*. ConeslMatioa and Abolition ef Ofltes*. I recommend the abolttten ef the ta- j spec tors of th* state prison. I recom- , mend that the board be abolished and ] Its duties transferred. If any transfer , ta necessary, to th* warden and *u- ] pervteor respectively, as may b* proper. , I strongly recommend that the bu- , reou of statistic* of labor and Industries be merged into th* department of labor. Experience has aleo convinced me ( that there is no reasonable sxcure dor toe continuance of five members of ' tb* stats water supply commission. This should be a department under a 1 ■Ingle head. 1 also think that Mere are too many oyster commissions ta the state and that there should be a bureau with a single bead having charge of all tbo . oyster Industry te New Jersey. The legislature should As everthlng In Its power to foster tbe oyster Industry, and nothing will be of more benefit Man th# creation «f a responsible deportment and the patting In operation of a system of leasing tba oyster lands af tbe state. Inland Waterways I earnestly recommend that provision be mode lor further couttauanee of the wort of th* department on inland waterways by the proper appropriation and that a canal be dag be1 tweeo Bay Head and the Manasqnan river. When this canal ta completed tbe headwaters of Baraegat bay will \ be salt and about 8,000 acres of oyster . lands will com* Into us*. At present . tb* water at Bay Head ta not suffi- . rlently salt for oyster propagation. Steps should be takeu by the legislature to request tbe congress of the United State* to open Manasqnan te1st and dike and protect It so that ■htpa of quite heavy draft may find a heritor ta the Meaaaqssn river and smaller craft use the Inlet to approach the canal and Barncgat bay, and thai en down to Gold Spring Harbor at Cape May. PuMie Road*. If possible, the state should take over, with the ooosennj^ municipalities. of course, all of these roads which may be considered through highways from the chief points In the state and mplntaln them. It has seemed to me. If the counties and localities consent. that It wonld be wise for the state to have transferred to a proper body to be designated Cor that purpose the maintenance of all th* highways ] connecting the various county seats of j tbe stat* with on* another This would 1 make a continuous roadway under I maintenance by tbe state of about 745 miles. A strong movement has been started by residents along the New Jersey coast for an ocean boulevard from the Highlands In Monmouth county to Cape May. tn Cape May county, tbe Idea being to eventually hare a highway by tbe sea from tbe one point to tbe other. What this road would mean ' to New Jersey one who has not given ' tt serious thought canDot comprehend. It would be 127 miles In length. The state possesses no greater asset for tbe ' benefit of Its people then Its seacoast, ' and everything should be done to build e It up. f 1 recommend that a commission be created consisting of tbe governor, the ^ president of the senate, the speaker of j ' tbe house and tbe state road commis : - sloner. who shall have authority to I ■ I take over all highways herein referred ] r to from county sest to county seat and 1 along tbe proposed shore boulevard I ! ronte. that tbey may be maintained by 1 j the state through the state road de- | 1 partment without expense to the locall- i tie# through which the roada pass, the j f control of the surface of these roads I f being transferred to the commission by j r the local authorities. All tbe revenue " derived from license fees for automo- I !- biles should be givep to this commission to be used In tbe maintenance of | e these highways and sucb additional * sum added thereto annually by appro- 1 8 prist Ion as will furntab a sufficient | 3 fund to properly maintain them. An , y estimate of (296 a mile seem* to be I e sufficient to guarantee tbe maintenance I :. of these roads. >- If this suggestion ta adopted by the I 1 legislature, appropriations for new I > roads can be omitted for the present [ T If lateral roada are desired by locall- : e ties connecting with the main thor- , sughfares which are maintained by the ( b state, these roads can be constructed i- by them. s O rants of Rloarian Lands, d g ha U the policy of the sale of state U riparian Lands be continued? That the n state has sacrificed many millions of >- Collars by Its policy of sale since 1871 « I do not think any one can doubt that * ta at all familiar with tbe enormous 'T Increase in the. values of riparian e lands ou tbe Hudson river, Newark d bar and Kill vqn Kull. It "

/*' tMstaio teucfc lass than tonus Is a hopeful kspmuHOt Bkfcfepnr UvM. aarf It Is mLts* by ttaTSS forester that fully 00 per cart te fiat to this cause. A Mil was presented lart pear te ta* by tba state forestry bona* seeking lefitelattoa providing for fir* along the railways of tbs rtrtt through forest sections. l%ta te totes legislation, and tbs present year where such lines have existed no fires bans occurred. Tb* opeotef of tbe Bah way redormatary in MOO was welcomed by all latare# ted in peual reform as a great step In advance. The reunite sp to this time bans not fully Justified expectations. Tba difficulty has buna within and not without tbs li itteultea. Tbe theory of th* lata hekd of tba tastttution was not tb* right on*, a* seemed .to bs Impressed with tba Idea that tbe Institution was a prison and that tbs Inmates should be treated as prisoners. This Idea was redlcaBy wrong. It te to me a serious problem as to whether tb* state should not turn this Institution into an adjunct state prison and relocate a reformatory, constructing tt on modern Unas A new state prison wMl be a neceeaMg very shortly. A reformatory should have about K not leas than (00 acres of land, upon ' which the te mates sould bs employed. The nsw Sing Btaf prison baa UM - a ore*. The Maasacbuaetta redcocaa- - tory bas'000 acres and tbs Ohte TOtk > other similar state iastitstteas bar* ' like farms. ' There ta quit* a little land put pnr- ' ehasable about the Bahway tastttaI ttoo which tb* state should iruresdlete - ly secure, whll* K can be din* at a reasonable price at private sals, or csn- - demn tt by legal proceedings. Our - present farm at Habjsay has only - about eighty acres. The Inmates can t work the farm and provide -a vary t large percentage of their suM# nance, I beside raising considerable produce for i tb* market. This ta the best metha# ■ of employing the prisoner* and ta psr- ! f*ctly safe and healthful. Tb* Institution also needs a water supply of its own. At present tt 1s i paying over $$,000. and as soon as tbe new wing ta operated win probably > have to pay (4,000 par annum for wa- > ter from a private company. For $18.I i 000 a driven well system -can be In- . I stalled with a fun water supply. The - 1 economy of this ta self Evident. Trade s schools should also be established here. Collateral lnh*ritano* Tax. ' j The collections from the collateral ln- , 1 berltance taxes and transfers iast year . { produced a revenue to the state of | (247.896. T. Under tbe late decision at the court of errors and appeals tbe state will probably lose some revenue from tb* transfer of stock held by estates prior ' to May 16. 1906, and we may be also compelled under this decision to reimburse for payments previously mads under pretest prior to this taw. The Inquiries end Investigations that I . have been able to make lead me to boHeve that we are not receiving all th* revenue from th* collateral Inheritance ~ tax which we should; this probably B without the fault of any particular officials. Th* matter ta largely now tn j the hands of the several surrogates of the counties and the collection* la f some counties are looked after much t more closely than In others. Counties ( of about the same population should ' return about the same average reve- ' I ns*. and an examination of figures ] : shows this not to be true. There should j | be som# power somewhere for tnvestlj I gallon into estate# and examination of . I executors, for the purpose of ascery teliilng what bequests or devises are i. I subject to tax. I recommend that psof I vision be made for the appointment of g j an official with full power as te csL y tactions ander this taw. He could save ^ g ! hi# salary many rime* over. L Commission and Departmental Report*. I Th* laat legislature either appointed f ' or authorized the governor to appoint I I ■ number of commissions. Of these - tbe excise, the dependency and crime, t ' the Industrial education and the com a ! miss lor. ou the blind have made thelr t report. e These commissions have don* mocfc j work and hare presented valuable re * ports on tbe subject# which Ihey rer | tpsctivsly considered. Tbe high char - acter of the commissioners and thetr - zealous labors entitle these report* ta - | your moat carefal consideration. Ttes t j departmental reports are worthy of 1 most careful study. Matters of Finanoe and Taxation. In this message I have purposely 8 avoided any reference to the finances * of the stats or to matters of taxation, f Within a very few days a spedpt 1 message ooverlng these subjects w 4B ' fie presented to you. s JOHN FHANKLIN FORT, o Goverunc. t Executive Department, Trentcu, N. ' « Jan. 12. 1906.