The Mount Holly news., 1915-03-30
Political Notes.

to make material changes in the office Q
member of the County Board of Taxs
tion, Senator White voted with the Dem
ocrats and the bill was lost. In thu
casting his vote Senator White, in on
opinion, did exactly right, although W
may stand alone in that idea. The pro
posed change in the present law provid
ed for the appointment by the Governo
of a new official who would receiv
"a, 900 per year, to abolish the presen
boards and create new bodies with great
ly reduced salaries, and to abolish tn
Office of secretary as now elected outsid
of the membership. The latter part o.
the bill was about its best proposition
The Burlington County Board Of Taxa
ton did not benefit the county or itsel
when it practically retired JOSEPH
Kaighn and installed the present secre
tary, merely for partisan purposes and
possibly to raise campaign fund which
failed of its intention. The idea of cut
ting down the salaries of members il
Burlington county to $3.50 per year, wal
absolutely ridiculous. We speak with
authority on this point, with q full
knowledge of the work that is required,
and when $3.50 men are engaged for that
labor it will be full time to abolish II
altogether. III the present Legislature
will propose some method that will be
an improvement on the present system
it should be given due consideration,
but to put $3.50 men in a place that is
worth, at the very least, three times IA
much, if not what is now paid, is not In
the line Of that improvement.
One of the best bills passed by the
Legislature was that which allowed
townships of 1000 or under to have
house toulouse canvass of voters instead
OF requiring personal registration. Gov
ernor Fielder did not think well of the
proposition, however, and he vetoed the
bill. The governor does not see why
townships should have this privilege
while cities of 5000 or over-as at present
should be made to have personal regis
tration. The reason for the veto looks
very himsy and the bill ought to be
passed over the objections. The town
ships in this county which would be af-
'ected are Northampton and Chester.
There are 218 townships in the state, and
Of that number only IL have over 5000
population, SO that the law in question
would not work any hardship to the
,ther counties. 1t is to be hoped the
dill will be passed over the veto.
When Senator Edge agitated the SUBJ
ect of economy and efficiency there was
considerable objection because the bills,
I passed, would retain a Republican
Dffice-holder who, for some reason, the
governor seems to want to get rid Of.
When this bill was under discussion
here were loud cries of partisanship,
md that the Republicans wanted to keep
me Of their own faith in Office, and that
II course, was a heinous crime. But
vhen the bill to knock out the County
Boards of Taxation was being debated
he partisanship business was all the
ther way. 1t was just the thing to sus-
ain the Boards and retain about fifty
'ood Democrats, and just as awful to
Ass bill that would keep one good Re-
'ubl ican in.
Any one who knows Sleeper, of the
'almyra Nea0s, or who has read his pa
'er, has had ample opportunity to size
Ip the calibre of the individual, hence
7hen he refused to give Assemblyman
'eacOck credit for voting for local OPP
ion there was no surprise. Sleeper, in
lis paper of November s, 1913, says he
lad published paper at Palmyra for
early % years, and his character and
motives were pretty well known, and in
be next issue he said: 'sYou can make q
icture appear almost any color If you
ut on glasses Of corresponding hue,
T diseased eyes may give an imperfect
ision-making straight lines appear |
rocked" Well, in his paper OF last |
7eek Sleeper had his diseased eyes
yes marked with that hatred that would |
ot allow man credit for any good mo-
i've, no matter what his action might |
e. 1--WE wish we could think Peacock's |
ote was conscientious one," he says,
ut he did not want to have any such |
bought. Assemblyman Peacock has
vowed himself in favor of q county
)cal option bill and tried to get an
mendment or substitute allowing the
eople to vote on the question through
ut the state. Wheu the bill which was
efeated was reported adversely by the
majority of the committee Peacock put
a minority report which kept the bill
efore the House and got vote on it,
lie was the recipientof petition signed
y less than 500 persons, asking him to
upport the measure, and had letters
igned by three times that number of |
eople requesting him to cast his vote in |
he negative. The Palmyra Neaos thinks |
enator White alienated large number |
| pcOIlc DcCduSc llt VOtcQ dRdluSt tklt l
leasure, and there is not the slightest |
oubt that Assemblyman Peacock will |
nd adverse criticism because he voted |
,r it. If Peacock had voted against |
zeal option, how Sleeper would have
welled. Twenty-nine lines would not |
ave held him in. And when the AS
did vote the other way the |
eyes," blinded by prejudice |
nd as near hatred as can be reached, |
ould not see any credit in the act. And |
ct Sleeper feels aggrieved at those who |
ill not consider him an upright, con-
,ientious man, battling for principle |
lther than profit" In the same words |
nat he has used towards the editor of |
his paper, we now say to him, shame
n you."