The Penn's Grove record., 1905-02-10
JERSEY LEGISLATURE
Fifth Week Finds Sessions
Work Well In Hand.
AGAINST LONG FRANCHISES.
Mr.. Colby of Essex Presents ResOlu-
ton Opposing Grants of Charters In
Perpetuity to Public Service
[sneciaI Correspondencs.l

pOrat1OAs-Other Notable measures
Especial Correspondence
Trenton. Feb. S.-The fifth week of
the state legislature was fruitful with
promise of important things to be done
soon by the lawmakers. Considerable
progress was made toward shaping leg
islation for speedy handling. Speaker
Avis request of last week for the com
mittees to hurry the bills before them
had a good effect, and many of the
measures introduced were reported this
week.
The house was treated to a surprise
Monday night by Mr.. Colby (Rep) Of
Essex, leader of the majority last year,
who presented a resolution declaring
against franchises being granted in
perpetuity to public utility corpora
tons. The resolution follows:
Whereas, A strong and urgent senti-
ment counter to the general practice of
municipalities granting to public corpora
tons perpetual and unlimited franchises
and without proper compensation to said
municipalities for such grants; and,
Whereas, The general principle upon
which such grants are made is funda-
mentally wrong in theory and fact and
Is not recognized by the best authorities
upon municipal government and admin
istration; and,
Whereas, This problem, vital as it is to
the welfare of every community, should
receive the most careful consideration Of
the peoples representatives in legislative
session assembled now; therefore, be it
Resolved (the senate concurring), That,
pending possible legislation and the final
fair and equitable adjustment of all in
tereSts involved, it is the sentiment of the
senat and general assembly of this state
that all franchises granted in perpetulty
to public utility corporations are wrong
In principle, anticipating conditions i'm
possible to forecast or depriving future
generations of their just rights. and are
therefore unfair and wrong and in every
respect contrary to public policy.
Laid Over to Tuesday.
Leader Duffield of the majority asked
Mr.. Colby's consent to have the resolu-
ton lie over until next Tuesday so that
nifty to give it ample consideration.
This was done, and the resolution was
made the special order for next Tues
day.
Mr.. Colby in speaking upon the reso-
luton said that the sentiment in New
Jersey was practically unanimous
against cities. granting perpetual fran
chises to corporations. He had can
vassed the house and had found only
n member who favored perpetual
franchises. The adoption of the resolu-
ton, he maintained, would not bind
thu 1o1inIo tJIro in onr uyoU hJf would
be an expression of opinion which
should prevent municipalities from bar
tering away valuable franchises in per-
petuity, and, if passed by the legisla-
ture, municipalities would then grant
perpetual franchises at their peril. AS
this resolution affects municipalities of
all classes, the action on it next week
is looked forward to with great inter-
est.
Governor Stokes ReappOints Judges.
In executive session the senate re-
ceived from Governor Stokes the nom
nations of John Rellstab, reappointed
judge of the Mercer county court, and
George w. Macpherson, reappointed
judge Of the city district court of Tren-
ton. The appointments were referred.
The bond Of State Treasurer Frank o.
Briggs was presented to the senate and
referred to the judiciary committee.
The house passed the concurrent reso-
luton requesting the attorney general
to submit an opinion as to whether the
law providing for the use of voting ma
chimes conflicts with the general cleo
ton act.
Automobile Legislation.
More proposed automobile legislation
cropped out this week when Assembly
man Scovel presented an amendment
to the automobile law providing THAI
licenses shall be issued only to compe
tent persons and fixing an annual fee
Of S. on all new machines. 1t is fur
Their provided that the license numbers
of New Jersey, which numbers mus
not be less than three inches long,
must be displayed in the front and
rear of the machines and that no other
states number must be used. The
penalty for violations of this provision
IS $50 or in default of that amount
Imprisonment not to exceed thirty days.
For racing or fast running for a bet
or wager the penalty is $50, or the JUS
tice before whom the case is tried may
designate an Imprisonment not to ex-
coed ten days. A constable or police.
man may arrest an automobilist with.
out a warrant.
A resolution was presented by Sena-
tor Hutchinson Of Mercer that 200 adj
ditional copies of the senate bill amend
ing the state library law be printed for
distribution to Libraries. Senator Wake
lee introduced four bills as follows:
Supplement to the orphans court act,
permitting inspection of orphans court
records by responsible persons; repeal
ing several acts concerning executors
and intestates' estates; an act concern
ing corporations of this state, designed
for religious, charitable, educational or
benevolent purposes; extending the cor
porate powers concerning the holding
of and disposal of property held in fee
or trust.
Senator Bachelor introduced a sup
plement to the general school law val
idating bonds heretofore issued or loans
made and authorizing the issuance Of
long term bonds for school purposes.
Municipal Taxation.
In line with Governor Stokes recon-
mendation concerning taxation in mu-
inequalities Senator Hillery presented
a measure limiting the amount to be
raised by taxation in municipalities for
local purposes to IA per cent Of the
ratables. The act does not include stats
school taxes or any sinking fund or
bond account. Another measure pre-
sented by Senator Hillery authorizes
the expenditure Of not more than $780,
900 annually for the maintenance of
public roads constructed with state aid.
Mr.. Ernst of Hudson offered a bill in
the house limiting the interest to be
paid on arrears of taxes and assess
ments in cities at Z per cent. A bill by
Assemblyman Jones provides that city
comntrOl1orS shaU audit tha hi1lq and