The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-01-23
Assemblyman Mills Intro
duces a Bill to Repeal It's
Charter and Now the OPP
posing Forces Prepare for
War
GREAT FIGHT EXPECTED
MARELLI, OF PATERSON. SEEKS
BY LEGISLATION TO KEEP
NOMINEES FOR OFFICE FROM
INFLUENCING VOTERS BY
THEIR PoCKETBooKs.
Special to ..Ths Jersey city News..l

Special to "The Jersey City News."}
TRENTON, Jan. 23, 19O6-The House
was in sesseion less than an hour last
night and during that time 80 bills were
introduced The most important measure
was one offered by Assemblyman Mills,
of Morris County, which provides for the
repeal of the charter of the Morris Canal
and Banking Company owners of the
Morris Canal and the reversion of the
canal property to the State. Provision
is made in the bill that the canal COM
pany shall deposit $685. 900 into the State
treasury and thereupon the Governor
shah appoint commission to investigate
the value of the ccmpany's stock, value
of the canal property, etc and report to
the next Legislature.
Outside of the equal tax measures this
bill was the most important that
the Legislature will be asked to consider.
1t will unquestionably provoke lively
discussion in both Houses and the lobby
lists will be kept busy exerting their in
fuence to prevent the measure from be-
coming a law
The Lehigh Valley Railroad Company,
lessees of the Morris Canal, are opposed
to the Mills bill because it would de-
priye them Of valuable rights which they
now possess and would destroy all hopes
of enabling the company to use the canal
as a road-bed, which scheme was con-
templated if the State sanctioned its
abandonment.
Public hearings will be given by the
Municipal Corporations Committee TO
which the Mills bill was referred. and
it is expected that the Lesigh Valley
Railroad Company will present numer-
Gus arguments why the Morris Canal
and Banking Company's charter should
not be repealed and the property revert
to the State.
Assemblyrnan MarellA of Paterson. in
troduced bill which. if, it becomes
law, will be hailed with JOY by all can
didates who may hereafter seek an elee-
tive office. 1t provides that it shall be
unlawful for any candidate to expend
any money for election purposes during
a campaign. except such an amount as
may be needed for his personal expenses.
In other words, a candidate cannot CON
| tribute smoney to any political club or or
ganization or. make any gifts of money
for any purpose while he is seeking of
fee.
| The bill also requires political COM
mittees or organizations in every county
or municipality of the State to make
public statement at the close of each
election campaign showing the amount of
money received, from whom it was re-
ceived and how it was expended.
1t also prohibits the receiving of funds
from any candidate to further the inter
ests of his candidacy and makes it un-
lawful for any corporation to make can
| tributions to campaign fund.
Assemblyman Wright of Passaic, in
troduced bill giving Boards of Free
holders in all counties power to take
complete control OF all roads built with
State funds At present the State as
sumes Jurisdiction over such roads, not
withstanding that each county is COM
PEELED to defray half the expense of con-
struction. Recently the State Roads
Commission refused to allow the State to
make appropriations unless the counties
kept the roads in first class condition.
Assemblyman Arrowsmith, of Hobo
ken, presented bill which will enable
the trustees Of the Industrial School in
Hoboken to apply for larger appropria-
tion for that school. At present the law
limits the city appropriation to $1,000,
while the State donates a similar amount.
The bill increases the amount that may
be appropriated to $4,000 and the State
to contribute a like amount
Assemblyman Scott, of Bayonne, in
/ troduced three bills affecting his home
city. One provides that the Board of
Council IN the event of death or resig-
nation of one of its members, may order
| a special election. Another provides that
the Council shall submit the question of
raising City officials salaries to a vote
| Of the people before the increase becomes
/ operative. The third bill regulates the
conveyanees Of property for unpaid tax
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