The Penn's Grove record., 1914-01-16
SEEKS WIDER POWERS.
Health Board Wants More Control
Over Local Bodies in Enforc-
inn Enod awe

Gt%S
Over Local Bodies In Enforc-
ing Food Laws.
Demanding more power from the Leg
~islature, that it may more effectively
control lpcal boards of health that do
not cooperate with it in the enforce-
ment of the health laws, the State
Board of Health presented its annual
report. The board is specific in what
It wants. Not only does it ask that
the municipal authorities be made sub
~servient to the State body, but among
other things it wants: The State
law to include the Shirley act, which
recently became part of the Federal
law; the enlargement Of the work Of
the State Laboratory of Hygiene; the
amending of the marriage license law
SO that Justices of the Peace will be
prohibited from legalizing common
law marriages; a more comprehensive
meat inspection law; a law giving the
board jurisdiction over the construc.
ton of sewerage systems; the licens-
ing of attendants at filtration and
sewage treatment plants; a law to reg
ulate the business Of freezing eggs;
an act to strengthen the cold storage
law; the establishment of standards
to regulate soft" drinks and alcoholic
beverages, and lastly, but most import
ant Of all, the board asks for direct
control of local boards, making it man
datory for the municipal bodies to
enforce the pure food laws Of the State
and all other health regulations. To
this latter proposition the board calls
specific attention.
Marriage License Law.
The marriage license law also comes
in for comment. The board thinks
that it is Satisfactory with but one ex-
ception and that is the insistence OF
some Peace Justices on taking part
in the promotion of ~clandestine mar
riages. Their method" the report
says, "is to advertise the fact that they
will assist persons to be married with
out the formality Of procuring q IL
cense. They do this by having the
contracting parties appear in the pres
ence OF witnesses and take each other
as man and wife, thus communicating
what is known as a common law mar
riage. 1t is recommended that some
amendments be made to the law to
overcome this defect, as it is a recog-
nized fact that most of such mar,
riages end in disgrace and divorces
The tuberculosis work with which the
board is. entrusted has been greatly
extended during the past year. More
than 435, 900 persons have seen the
moving picture and s~tereopticon views
rela<ing to tuberculosis and more than
100000 pieces OF literature have been
distributed. The board recommends
that provision be made to extend the
exhibit so that other health problems
may be presented.
Wouldn't Pay His Gas Bill.
The State Board Of Public Utility
Commissioners has been called upon
to settle a dispute about a gas bill
in Newark. Max Cohen, who conducts
a clothing store at SO Mulberry street
was at peace with the world until the
mail brought the monthly gas bill. II
should be understood, Cohen says,
that his bills for damage done to the
Public Service gas supply have here
tofore ranged from Sc to $3.50. Con-
sequently, it may be imagined that
Mr.. Cohen almost threw a fit when
he gazed upon the pink slip and read:
bill for December, $15.12." Would
he pay it? No! Right away Mr.. Co
hen rushed UP to the Public Service
office. He says the only satisfaction
he received was a reply from a clerk,
saying he must have let his gas Jets
flicker to that extent during the holi.
day trade" That was impossible, said
Mr.. Cohen. And anyway" he e5acu-
lated, 'it stands in the paper that the
bill only dates December 20" What
did Mr.. Cohen do then, but carry his
troubles to the State Board of Public
Utilities Commissioners. And he ex-
hibited a letter from A. N. Barber, sec
rotary of the board, saying that his
case would be fully investigated.