The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-02-13


the Colby measure. providing for limit
to the franchise at twenty-five years,
except in cities other than first and sec
ond class, where majority vote of the
people may extend the time of the franz
chise to thirty-fve years; Senate 70. the
Avis measure, which limits franchise
granting to Twenty-Five years in first
and second class cities and thirty-five
years in other municipalities; Senate 10,
the Minturn bill, which provides that
franchises in cities shall not be granted
fer longer than FIVE years. renewable
at the option of the governing body. A
longer period Of franchise may be grant
ed if the voters affirmatively say SO.
1t is likely that the administration
measure is the one which will eventually
win out. 1t is the most drastic as we'll
as the most fair.
On Wednesday the Senate revision Of
the Laws Committee viii continue the
hearing on the Jackson bill, Senate No.
6. TO abolish fees in county offices. 1t
is said that the measure Will work hard
ships in various counties where the work
OF county clerks are heavier with small
population than counties where a larger
population resides.
A way out of the present objections
to the bill has been proposed, that being
the adoption of the United States maxi
mum allowance Of fees for its court
clerks. The trouble with this plan
seems to be that while the federal gov
eminent oan fix a maximum fee in any
district, the State constitution prohibit
| fion against special legislation in New
Jersey will not allow the legislators TO
say that in one county the maximum
| fee allowance shall be so much, in an
other county it shall be different fig
ure. Here in New Jersey the bill must
| be framed on the plan of first, second
and third class counties, or on the pres
ent jackson plan by population. 1t
seems that the objectors say that this
works hardships in the smaller counties
where the work is harder than in many
of the second class counties. The am
| swer to this proposal is to allow the
Common Pleas judge to fix the maximum
| fee allowance to county officers, the Leg
| islature saying that no greater fee al
lowance in any county shall be above
certain sum. BY placing this amount
just below the FIRST class county salary
sum. the Common Pleas judge will work
equity to the voters for the $4,000 a
year and more will certainly be cut off,
while hardworking officials in smaller
| counties where they do most of the work
and make all of the searches Of proper
ties, may get just compensation for their
toll.
On Wednesday also the house rail-
roads and canals committee will give
hearing on House 81. the act 10 abandon
| the Morris canal. As this proposed bill
is the same as last year, it is likely that
! there will result hot hearing on the
measure, which seeks to take away
rights from the State and give them in
| great value to the Lehigh Valley Rail-
road for sale to- the Public Service Cor
poration. The news that J. P. Morgan
| and the Pennsylvania Railroad have got
| control of the majority stock of the Pub
/ lie Service Corporation is significant at
the present time, and shows that de-
! terinined effort will be made this Legis-
lature to force this Morris canal aban-
1onment bill through.
Mr.. Mills, of Morris. who was OPP
posed to the act last year and the year
| before this year, introduced the bill and
will stand for it before the House. Lead-
en- Perkins, who last year was against
the bill in the heartiest manenr. is this
| year for the measure. The Essex men
are pledged to the work of abandon
ment. because Newark wants to get rid
Of the ditch and use it for q subway
and the Hudson men are also in the deal
because it interfcres with getting round
Jersey City.
So with these things in mind, it will
| be readily seen that the capitalists are
about succeeding in Wrestling from the
| State valuable asset. Public attention
| is attracted in another direction this
! year and the agents of the corporations
are shearing the giant while he sleeps.
1t is likely this week that the friends
Of the local option house bill will make a
move to get it out of the municipal cor
porations committee of the house This
is "a fight that the leaders are dodging.
They are saying that the fate Of Sena-
tor Childs. Of Somerset County, at the
Il. IL.