The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-04-02
SENATE MAJORITY
DOES JUST AS
GOV. FORT ASKS
Republicans Pass Bill to Give
Him Absolute Control Over
Commissions.
TFrom . stan correspondent.l

TRENTON April AFTER a heated
partisan debate last night the Senate
passed by a strict party vote, II to Z,
one of the bills for which Governor Fort
was the sponsor.
The measure provides that the Gov
ernor or the Legislature shall, whenever
1t shall be deemed by him or 1t to the
best interests of good government and
the most effective administration Of any
institution of the State, commissionso OF
department of the State government,
proceed TO investigate and determine
the actual operation, administration
and condition of the said institution,
commission or department
President Robbins left the chair to
advocate the passage of the bill. Other
Republican Senators championed the
bill, which was opposed by Senators
debhardt, ~Einchliffe, Silver, Osborne
and other Democrats.
school Moneys.
After a vain attempt on the part Of
the Democratic minority to relieve a
Senate committee of further considera,
ton OF a House bill to distribute school
moneys, Senators Robbins, Frelinghuy-
sen and Bradley held a conference with
Governor Fort, with the result that
they agreed that the Senate should
pass, as soon as drawn, a measure dis
tributing on April is half Of the school
money in the hands of the State treas
urer and the other half on June Is.
There is In round numbers SIS, 900, GOO or
such moneys, so that there will be dis
tributed by the end of this session OF
the Legislature 81. 500, 900, or $500. 900
more than was wanted by the Radcliffe
bill, for which the Democrats fought SO
vigorously in the morning session.
The 1906 act, which gives all of the
taxes of main-stem railroad property,
excepting one-half of one per cent. OF
the assessed valuation. to the schools
fixes no time for distribution. 1t COM
pels the comptroller to hold these
moneys until the fun amount is COLI
Iected. Since then there has been liti-
cation on various parcels and the whole
amount is not yet collected. The new
bill will distribute on the dates men
toned what moneys are in, about IS, 600, :
900 in all, and this relieves the schools.
Retains Poll Tax.
NlI, EidutCit . Dlt W dbOlRcu pull tdA
was defeated by a vote of II to so. Tie
author asserted that the tax was an
just, and in many municipalities 1t was
not collected Messrs. Lewis and Buck
spoke against the bill and in defense
of the tax.
Fees Of election officers in cities OF
more than 30, 200 inhabitants are i'm
creased from $40 to SIS. and other mu-
inequalities from So to So for certain
days in the Roberts bill, which was
passed by the House.
A bill introduced by Mr.. Tatem, Of
Camden county, amending the borough
act relating to filling vacancies, wa
passed by the House. 1t provides tha'
in case OF vacancy caused by death, dis
ability or resignation or other cause, thu
Mayor shall, with the advice and con.
sent of a majority Of the remaining
members OF the Council, appoint ths
Councilman or Councilmen to fill such
vacancy or vacancies.
The House defeated Senator Wake
lees bill making 1t lawful for the Chan
cellor to cause the investment of depos
its in interest bearing bonds.
Finance Bill.
The Senate took up the Frelinghuyser
Finance Committee bill. This wal tn,
first attempt 20 settle the states finan
cial question. The measure appropriate
$780,, 1851 of the Pennsylvania railroad
back taxes to the State school fund il
liquidation OF the alleged debt to thu
State fund. The school fund has owet
the state fund $4,000 for years. will
interest. During the debate on thu
measure there was . sharp tilt betweei
Messrs. F'relinghuysen and Silzer. Th,
latter charged 1t was a grab of schoo
money. Mr.. Frelinghuysen resentet
this reflection by the minority leader.
The bill was passed, II to 6.