The Penn's Grove record., 1906-02-16

works; Mr.. Martin authorizes hrss
class cities to purchase lands and erect
houses for the use and accommodation
of fire and police departments; Mr.. Ar.
rowsmith places schoolteachers ON pen.
sions who have served forty years; Mr..
Barber Of Mercer makes the road com
missioner's salary $4,000 and that Oh
the supervisor of roads $500; Mr.. Hill
dreth repeats act of 1896 regulating
fishing by steam and other vessels with
shurred or purse seifes and requiring a
license; Mr.. Berg provides for sum.
mary review by justice of supreme
court Of proceedings and Judgment rem
dered by any fire board or commission
er in connection with the supervision,
dismissal, retirement or reduction in
rank Of members; Mr.. Morgan requires
all commissions, boards and state Off
GERS to report to the governor unless
otherwise directed ten days previous to
meeting of legislature, and If the re
ports are to be printed these must be
delivered on. opening day; Mr.. Burk ex-
tends term of offices of persons chosen
or appointed by municipal boards or
bodies to Jan. 1 next succeeding the
day at which their term Of Office would
otherwise expire; Mr. Heck requires all
ferryboats plying a distance Of two
miles or more between points to have
toilet rooms.
Hearing on Morris Canal Bills.
Two important hearings were held
yesterday wednesday,. One of these
was a public hearing or the two Morris
canal bills. The first of the canal bills,
introduced by Mr.. Mills, Is almost an
exact duplicate Of the measure intro
duced last winter and passed in the
house, but stopped in the senate by
bribery charges. The second canal bill
was presented by Assemblyman Prince
and provides that the canal company
must operate the canal or surrender
it's charter.
The second important hearing which
occupied considerable time was on Sen
ator Jackson's bill placing county Off
GERS in second class counties on q sal
airy basis instead of fees. There is
great interest manifested in this meas
ure, and it is likely to be passed with
out much difficulty.
Senator Hillery's substitute for his
maximum tax act, presented last week.
is causing considerable discussion. 1t
is intended to let municipalities hav-
ing a high tax rate down by easy
stages to the $1.75 rate, which is made
the maximum under the proposed law.
1t gives these communities time to adj
just their finances and advance prop
erty assessments so as to produce the
necessary amount for the financial
budget under the lower tax rate. Sen
ator Hillery's bill is essentially a com
promise measure and as such is likely
to be adopted and become a law.
Limited Franchise
Senator Minturn of Hudson was be-
fore the senate municipal corporations
committee this afternoon to speak on
the senate limited franchise measures.
He argued for his own bill senate, No.
7O), saying the time was fast approach.
ing when the municipalities would wv
for the people of the state all public
utility corporations, and therefore he
believed that five years were enough to
give Il corporation. He was the only
speaker. and his remarks were in the
nature of a good natured talk with the
committee.
The house committee on municipal
corporations and the judiciary commit
tee gave a hearing Tuesday afternoon
on house bills Nos. 81 and II, which are
meant to tax railroads and trolley
roads 5 per cent per annum for fran
chise values. Senator Colby commenc-
ed the hearing by the declaration that
it was time the franchise values of
great railroads and trolley roads were
taxed. He introduced the next speaker,
Harrison Van Duyn of Newark.
Mr.. Van Duyn argued that the state
board of assessors should assess fran
chise values and certify to the taxing
district the amount of moneys coming
as a matter of tax to the local districts.
He threatened that if the legislators did
not make a move to assess franchises
of these great corporations other men
WOulu HI the leSlsldlOTS CudlFS next
winter.
George L. Record of Jersey City in
dersed the remarks of Mr.. Van Duyn
and instanced the sale of the franchise
value Of Jersey City trolley lines which
were bought by the Public Service cor
poration for $4,OOO,OO0, although the
property was all run down and only
valuable because of this franchise val
ue.
He commended that franchise value
was capable of ascertainment and
should be taxed as a house is taxed, on
its tangible value. He asserted that
this class of property was the easiest
of entertainment of any property.
Mr.. Record said this great franchise
value had entirely escaped taxation,
and he said that these values were
Tally growing enormously in value.