The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-01-26
Comfy Commissioners.

Following is Senator Parry's bill intend
ed to replace Boards of Freeholders with
County Commissioners. 1t is a supple
ment to the act of April 16, I845, entitled
can act to incorporate the chosen free
holders in the respective counties of the
state" 1t reads thus
l. Be it enacted by the Senate and
General Assembly of the State of New
Jersey, That at the next election to choose
members of the general assembly held in
this state after the approval or passage of
this act and every three years thereafter,
there shall be chosen by the electors of
the several counties in the state having a
population of not less than thirty five
nor more than seventy thousand, FIVE suit
able persons to constitute the boards of
chosen freeholders in the respective coun-
ties, who shall be citizens of tn state,
and who shall have been for at least three
years residents of the counties in which
they shall be chosen representatives they
shall hold their offices for the term of
three years and until their successors are
elected and qualified.
2. That each of the three chosen free
holders shall receive compensation at the
rate of seven hundred dollars per annum,
and they shall receive no other conlpen-
sation fees, expenses or emoluments
whatever each board may elect a direct
or, and may also elect a clerk, who shall
hold Office at the pleasure of the board,
and who shall receive such compensation
as they shall determine the compensa-
ton of the members of the board and of
the clerk shall be paid monthly from the
county treasury upon the warrants of the
director each member before entering
upon the duties of his Office shall take and
subscribe an oath before Justice of the
peace, or notary public, to properly and
faithfully perform the duties of his Office,
and shall give bond for the faithful per-
Torrance of his duties, with two or more
sufficient sureties, the said sureties to be
approved and the amount of bond in each
case to be fixed by the supreme court JUS
tice holding the circuit in the county in
which such bonds shall be given the said
oaths and bonds shall be filed in the of
fees of the clerks of the respective coun-
ties.
3. That at the county conventions of
the several political parties held next
after the approval or passage of this act to
nominate candidates to be voted for at the
next election for members of the general
assembly, and every three years thereaf-
ter, each of the political parties authorized
by law to make nominations may nomi-
nate, and each elector may vote for FIVE
candidates for chosen freeholders; pro-
vided, that nominations as above specified
| in said counties may be made by petition
as now provided by law; and in order
that fair minority representation may be
secured on each board, the several boards
of freeholders shall be constituted as fol-
| Al r. ~. Z
sons who shall have received the highest
number of votes, respectively, provided,
that if there shall be tie or equal num-
Der of votes cast for two or more persons
receiving the highest number of votes less
than plurality, then the persons receiv-
ing a plurality of the votes cast shall de-
termine and declare which of the persons
receiving such tie or equal vote shall be
deemed to have been chosen and the said
determination and declaration shall be
final and the persons SO declared to be
chosen shall be entitled to take and hold
the Office.
d. That the terms of the boards OF
chosen freeholders to be first elected under
this act shall commence on the first day
of December next succeeding their cleo
ton, and they shall be invested with all
the powers and duties now conferred or
imposed by law upon the boards of chosen
freeholders of the respective counties in
which they shall be elected, excepting so
far as the same may be increased, decreas-
ed or abrogated by this act
S. That all acts or parts of acts author
izing the election of chosen freeholders in
any of the counties of this state of the
population designated in section one OF
this act, otherwise than as provided by
this act be and the same are hereby re-
pealed provided, however, that the terms
of Office, powers, duties and emoluments
of the several boards of chosen freehold
ers now in lawful existence in this state
shall be continued until the commence
ment of the terms of their several success
ors to be elected under this act at which
time they shall cease.
| 1t will be well for every taxpayer to
carefully consider this proposed change
and to express his views to Senator Parry
for his guidance. 1t is probable public
meeting will be called to discuss the sub
ject.