Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-06-27
BY w. j. MORGAN

BY w. j. MORGAN
The story in yesterdays and to-
days Star in regard to the local office
management of the motor vehicle de-
partment in something that is not
strange to the Hon. Job H. Lippin-
colt, commissioner of motor vehicles,
assistant secretary of State, and CAM
paign manager for the former mayor
of Jersey City, Otto wittpenn, who
aspires to be Governor of New Jersey
1t would naturally occur to most
citizens that the dual position, with
dual salaries of assistant secretary
of state and commissioner of motor
vehicles, would satisfy the industrial
ambition of most men. But it seems
that the above Offices, especially the
commissionership of motor vehicles
department, has always been used to
further political intrigues and politi.
cal ambition.
Such an important office of itself
should be sufficient to command the
entire time and ability of any office
holder or child of political fortune, as
1t is a most important office, and the
results from it's successful manage
ment ought to be sufficiently satisfy
ing to it's executive without wander
ing far afield and in the employment
of work that the State has not COM
missioned him to do.
As far as the Newark office is con-
cerned it has been used for number
of years for partisan political effort.
It has been tied up to a local motor
ing organization. 1t would seem that,
as was the case between Pharaoh and
the children of Israel, it is not the In
tention of the Hon. Job H. Lippin-
colt to let the office go from the club.
In fact, he said as much to the writer
at Trenton recently.
When suggested that the local
deputy commissioner and not the
State was responsible for the office
expenses for the local office, and that
he could employ what assistants and
office room that he desired, and not
be compelled to remain under the
same roof with a competitor In the
insurance business, in the person of
"
not on good terms. Mr.. Lippincott
declared that Mr.. Rhodabeck could
not move without his permission, and
also intimated that the local deputy
had been talking too much and stirr-
ring up unnecessary trouble.
Asked as to Expenses.
The writer asked Mr.. Lippincott as
to the amount of the expenses of the
Newark office during the years pre-
ceding Mr.. Rhodabeck's advent, and
asked if it was true that the total
expenses of the office with salaries
and commissions did not amount to
over $4,000 and that the expenses alone
for clerk hire was over half that
amount. Mr.. Lippincott intimated
that these figures were not correct
and that 1t was nobody's business
what they were, evidently forgetting
that any taxpayer or citizen can go
to Trenton and rightfully demand an
examination of the books.
1t is quite true that the Office
of deputy commissioner of motor
vehicles as we'll as the office of secre-
| tary of the New Jersey Automobile
and Motor Club has been used TO
promote the personal fortunes,
through insurance policy solicitation,
as competition against quite a num-
Der of club members and citizens that
are in the insurance business. But
it seems to be the purpose of Com
missioner Lippincott, as far as the
motor vehicle department is con-
cerned, to continue this competition
as he acknowledged that the local
deputy has every right to carry or
a business side line, and 1t would
seem, from recent public statements
in regard to the scramble for thai
business between the club secretary
and the deputy commissioner tina
there is a good deal of profit In tina
line.
Free Office rent has been Offered
Mr.. Lippincott for the local motol
vehicle department. That was ovel
a year ago. Many automobilists OBJ
/ iected to going to the local club TO
their licenses because many did no
belong to the organization and the1
were adverse to being importuned I
take Out insurance, join the club o.
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was forced on their attention.
1t is thought that the retention an
insistence that the local vehicle de
partment be continued with the Ne'
Jersey Automobile and Motor Gu
and must follow that organizatlo
into their new quarters has some pc
litical significance and that an effor
is being made to proselite the organ
ization politically in the interest
a political candidate for governor.
The matter, however, has reacne
the stencil" stage and those "h
have to take out licenses may organ
ize a boycott and either go to Jerse
City or Paterson for their licenses,
Law the matter before GoVerno
Fielder for his attention.
Next Tuesday will start the mos
pretentious automobile touring pre-
position that this country has eve
seen. That will be the tour of IN
Indiana automobile manufactures
that will leave Indianapolis July
ana.
1t is expected that there Will
and will proceed via st. Louis, Kar
sas City, Denver. Salt Lake City ar
on to Frisco. The tour will hay
twenty-five cars at least at the star
ing point. the State capital of IND
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