COMMITTEE ON THE EXECUTIVE, MILITIA AND CIVIL OFFICERS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

STATE OF NEW JERSEY CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1947
COMMITTEE ON THE EXECUTIVE, MILITIA AND CIVIL OFFICERS
Wednesday, June 25, 1947
(Morning session)

nor, but in order to keep the record straight, may I say that I still believe that the Assembly should be elected by Assembly districts and that the new Constitution should provide for the exemption from taxation of the property of religious, educational and charitable institutions.

I sincerely trust that these observations, based not only upon my own experience as three-time Governor of this State, but upon my close observation of the operations of our State Government over a period of many years, will be of some assistance in the deliberations of this honorable Committee of the Convention.

CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much, Governor Moore, for your very interesting and statesmanlike presentation.

You know Judge Feller, our Vice-Chairman, who just came in?

GOVERNOR MOORE: How are you?

CHAIRMAN: I know you know Senator Farley.

GOVERNOR MOORE: How are you?

MR. FRANK S. FARLEY: Governor, how are you?

CHAIRMAN: Would any member of the Committee like to ask the Governor a question?

MRS. JANE E. BARUS: You said, I think, Governor Moore, you thought the Treasurer and the Comptroller should be executive appointments. Do you believe that having a legislative officer in the form of an Auditor, or whatever his title might be, to check or post-audit the executive expenditures is allowable and desirable?

GOVERNOR MOORE: Why, I hardly think you should check all expenditures! You have a State Auditor.

MRS. BARUS: I mean one chosen by the Legislature, if there should be a constitutional section against –

GOVERNOR MOORE: I don’t think so, no, because, after all, the Legislature provides the money and spends it. A neutral Auditor would be much better, it seems to me, having in mind that the Governor, by his appointment, is representing all the people, whereas the Senator represents really one county and he has only to take care of that one county. The Governor has to go before the State.

MR. J. SPENCER SMITH: What is your opinion regarding county offices, such as surrogate and sheriff? Should they be constitutional officers, as they are today in the Constitution?

GOVERNOR MOORE: I think so. I think that in every county and state, there should be more home rule. We are talking about the Federal Government at Washington taking over the prerogatives of the state, which is true. Now, we certainly should not follow the same line. After all, it might wipe out all governments to have the Governor appoint them. The mayor of the town should have some local government, some local interest, and these positions give opportunity for the local election of people whom they know and desire to trust.

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