The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-02-13
NEW JERSEY
LEGISLATURE
Municipal Operation Of Street
Railways Meets with Dis
favor. Auto Hearing.
REGARDING STATE AID ROADS
Especial correspondencel

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 fresh start next Monday night
They adjourned Wednesday for the
week.
The liquor traffic and automobile reg
nlation occupied considerable attention,
and welI 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 ali franchises granted by munich
palities to public utility corporations.
The commission gives brief resume
of legislation relating to the power OF
municipalities to grant franchises.
They advise as follows:
First.-Agafnst 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
Thfrd.--sAll privileges hereafter granted
shall be limited and not exceed thirty
three years unless 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 have to again fix
the terms of a further grant mot exceed
ing thirty-three years.
th.-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 ] at the
courthouse. The house passed the sen
ate resolution thanking Captain Caste
and his crew for the heroic rescue Of
passengers on the III fated steamer
Cherokee
New Railway Taxation ELI.
Another railroad taxation bill found
its way into the house of assembly
when Assemblyman Arrowsniith Of
Hudson introduced 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. Taxable
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 bill making
it.a high misdemeanor to take from her
home any woman child under sixteen
years old for marriage or immoral pur-
poses.
Mr.. Barber offered a bill providing
for the taxing Of all corporations not
now subject to state franchise tax
Mr.. Barber presented joint nesolu-
tion authorizing the governor to ap-
point commission of three to report
on the feasibility of law for division
of the profits Of pubic utility corpora
tions between the corporations and
such municipalities as grant them fran
chises.
Mr. Minturn introduced a bill which
prohibits corporations from contribut-
ing any aid ID the election of public Off
GERS.
Mr. Cornish presented a bill to regu-
late the sale Of patent or proprietary
medicines. It provides that every pat
emit medicine bottle must bear sched-
uIe showing its ingredients and their
proportions The word poison must
be on every bottle containing certain
percentage Of alcohol, morphine, CO.
caine and like drugs.
The governor sent in these nominal
fions Monday night for members Of the
state board of education: For the Sec
ond district, James B. Woodward the
Fourth, IS. st. J. McCutcheon; the Sixth,
Francis Scott; the Eighth, James T..
Hays c
Appointed by the Governor.
These appointments were received
Tuesday from the governor; Moses
Taylor Pyne, member Of the public Ii
brary commission; board Of managers
State Home For Girls, Alfred B. Car
nagy, Margaret Fl Sickel John d. Rue;
Medical examining board, Edward Hill
Baldwin, John j Bauman, John w.
Bennett Mr.. Rue being 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
or education, sent IN Monday night,
were reported fayorabIy.
The senate in executive session con
Armed these appointments: Edward 4
Atwater, judge Of the district court OF
Elizabeth; David g. Ellsworth, mem
Der Of the board Of geological survey
CONTINUED ON FOURTH PAGE.