The Penn's Grove record., 1908-04-17

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measure providing for the enactment
Of a bill controlling public service cor
porations with a ratemakinS clause
giving power to the proposed commits
sion to ascertain the cost Of production
and to regulate prices to consumers.
The senate refused to pass a bill with
such a provision. In all other respects
the house and senate practically agreed
on a public utility measure. Between
the contentious and the consequent dis
cussion and wrangling over this pro-
vision no bill was passed. Governor
Fort tried to close the breach between
the adherents Of the measure, but did
not succeed in getting the support Of
enough members to pass the Robbins
bill. Senator Colby, however, remained
firm in his determination to urge the
enactment of a bill with the ratemak-
ing clause and presented a resolution
asking a continuance of the session Of
the legislature until such bill became a
law. Assemblyman Martin refused to
concede the p%racticability of the Rob-
bins bill and claimed that the senate
bill would result in failure to effect the
purpose sought to be accomplished.
One Of the questions which will be
raised at the next election will be,
"Who is responsible for the nonpas-
sage of a public utility bill-the regular
Republicans for not agreeing to the
Martin bill or the Democrats or the
new idea Republicans for not agree
ing to the Robbins bill?"
Despite his inaugural address, his
Governor Fort found the legislature
could not be moved to pass his excise
recommendations. This no doubt was
the greatest disappointment of the ses-
sion to the governor. What he wanted
above everything else was a state
board with power to revoke licenses.
Apropos of the excise question, it will
be remembered also that the house de-
feated local option and saved the SEN
ate from the necessity of passing upon
this question. Some of the other rec
concentrations made by the governor
that failed to gain the consideration
and legal enactment of the legislature
were those for jury reform, for the
creation of the state departments Of
corporations and motor vehicles, o
ferring upon the governor the power
to remove municipal officers from Of
flee, the abolition of the county boards
Of taxation and the state riparian
board. The governor did not give up
hope to the last minute that the coun-
ty tax boards would be wiped out, and
it was not until midnight on Friday
that he sent his nominations to fill the
vacancies on these boards.
While the governor failed to have
many Of his recommendations adopted,
all the measures, he advised, however,
were not ignored. He succeeded in Sc
curing the passage Of many of his rec
concentrations. There were before the
legislature various tax bills, but the
only nj of Importance that passed
were those to regulate the taxation of
bank stock and to modify the Hillery
maximum tax rate law. The bank
stock tax bill will greatly reduce tn .
assessed valuation of bank stock. The
modification of the Hillery law raises
the maximum rate for county and local
purposes from $1.75 to $2.O5, provided
the county tax boards consent.
The constitutional amendments pass.
ed providing for a revision of the ju-
dietary system of the state by abolish
ing the court of errors and appeals and
the court of chancery and creating a
supreme court of three branches, law,
equity and appellate; the redividing of
the counties into assembly districts
and for the election Of the governor,
senators and assemblymen in evenly
numbered years, beginning in 1910, and
the election of county and local officers
in odd numbered years. The govern.
or's term and that of the senators are
made four years and assemblymen two
years. County clerks and s~urrogates
will be elected every six years and
orone every four years. The amend.
ments will be presented again at the
next session Of the legislature for ap-
prevail and later submitted to popular
vote.
Sketch of Senator Hand.
Senator Robert e. Hand, Republican,
Of Cape May county, the father of the
new inland waterway law, was born at
Erma, Cape May county, June 2S, 1854.
Educated in the public schools, he gave
evidence at an early age of business
ability of an unusual order. He is now
extensively engaged In oyster planting
and general contracting. Senator Hand
began his public career as a member
Of the local board of education and
was its district clerk for twelve years.
He has served on the board Of free
holders and as sheriff Of Cape May
county. In 1896 he was elected to the
assembly and a year later was chosen
senator. He has the distinction Of hay
ing served three terms in the senate.
JOHN L. M. KELLY.