The Penn's Grove record., 1906-02-09
STATE LEGISLATURE
New Jersey Lawmakers Put II
a Busy Week at Trenton.
FRANCHISE COMMISSION REPORTS
Advises Against Municipal Operation
of Street RafIways-TO Limit Grant
of Privileges to Thirty-three Years.
Decentralization Denounced.
Especial Correspondence

DenOuHceu.
Especial Correspondence
Trenton, Feb. S.-The busiest week
the legislature has yet experienced was
closed yesterday wednesday, after a
series of hearings, committee meetings,
conferences and sessions. The calen-
dar was not cleared up Tuesday after
noon, the usual time for adjournment
for the week, and the lawmakers decid-
ed to remain over another day in order
to get a fresh start next Monday night.
They adjourned Wednesday for the
week.
The LIQUOR traffic and automobile reg
ulation occupied considerable attention.
and well attended hearings were held
on these subjects.
One of the most important matters
of the week was the report of the com
mission appointed last year to investi-
gate all franchises granted by munich
palities to public utility corporations.
The commission gives a brief resume
Of legislation relating to the power of
municipalities to grant franchises.
They advise as follows:
First.-Against municipal operation of
street railways, urging the difficulties in
the way of such operation in view of the
extension of railway systems through diff
ferent municipalities.
Second.-Recommending that the power
to grant franchises should remain with
the municipality.
Third.-An privileges hereafter granted
shall be limited and not exceed thirty
three years unless a majority vote shall
| decide to extend it for a period not eX-
ceeding sixty-six years.
Fourth.-At the expiration of the grant
the municipality shall V to again fix
the terms of a further grant not exceed
ing ~thirty-three years.
Fifth.-Recommending the repeal of
laws limiting the construction of street
railways parallel to existing lines.
Sixth.-The practice prevailing in the is
sue of excessive stocks and bonds under
guise of law should be made impossible.
Seventh.-There should be changes in
the standard of gas prescribed for COM
panies organized under the general law
or a new standard adopted for all.
Eighth.-Recommending that the limi-
tations as to places in which water COM
panies may operate should be removed
and powers given to acquire, build, own
and operate water and light companies.
Ninth.-There should be no change in
the present method of imposing franchise
taxes or fees.
Among the house bills passed Tues
day was that of Assemblyman Wright
Passaic) giving county boards of free
holders complete control over roads
constructed by state aid. Another i'm
portant bill passed by the house was
one fixing the annual meetings of
boards of freeholders on Jan. l at the
courthouse. The house passed the SEN
ate resolution thanking Captain Casio
and his crew for the. heroic rescue of
passengers on the i'll fated steamer
Cherokee.
New Railway Taxation Bill.
Another railroad taxation bill found
it's way into the house of assembly
when Asselnblyman Arrowsmith OF
Hudson introduced a bill providing that
the real estate of railroads and canals
be assessed and taxed by local assess
ors in the same manner and at the
same rate as other real estate taxable
in the same taxing districts. LTaXa5ic
personal property of~such corporations
shall be similarly assessed and taxed in
the districts where located. The bill
provides that franchises. and tangible
personal property not located in a sin
gle taxing district shall be assessed by
state boards of assessors at an average
tax rate, which tax shall go to the
state.
Mr.. Everett presented a bill making
it q high misdemeanor to take from her
home any woman child under sixteen
years old for marriage or immoral pur.
poses.
Nh. Barber offered a bill providing
for the taxing of all corporations not
now subject to state franchise tax.
Mr.. Barber presented a joint resolu-
ton authorizing the governor to ap-
point a commission of three to report
on the feasibility Of a law for a division
of the profits of public utility corpora
tons between the corporations and
such municipalities as grant them fran
chises.
MI. Minturn introduced a bill which
prohibits corporations from contribut-
ing any aid in the election of public Off
GERS.
MI. Cornish presented a bill to regu-
late the sale of patent or proprietary
medicines. 1t provides that every pat
ent medicine bottle must bear a sched-
ule showing its ingredients and their
proportions. The word poison must
be on every bottle containing a certain
percentage of alcohol, morphine, CO
caine and like drugs.
The governor sent in these nomina,
tons Monday night for members of the
state board of education: For the Sec
ond district, James B. Woodward; the
Fourth, s. st. ]. McCutcheon; the Sixth,
Francis Scott; the Eighth, James L.
Hays.
Appointed by the Governor.
These appointments were received
Tuesday from the governor: Moses
Taylor Pyne, member of the public IL
brary commissions; board Of managers
State Home For Girls, Alfred B.. Car
Macy, Margaret H. Sickel, John D. Rue,
Medical examining board. Edward Hill
Baldwin, John J. Bauman, John w.
Bennett. Mr.. Rue being a former sena.
tor, his appointment was Immediately
confirmed. The others were referred
to the judiciary committee. The gov.
ernor's appointments to the state board
of education, sent in Monday night
were reported favorably.
The senate in executive session con
armed these appointments: Edward 8
Atwater, Judge of the district court o
Elizabeth; David e. Ellsworth, mem
Der of the board of geological survey
j. Howard Willets, member of the