Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-01-15

the new DOdru snail COuslsJ OF Blk mem
bers, with the proviso that the board
can divide into courts of three for the
purpose of hearing appeals. etc.
Sixth.-Transferring the engineers OF
the present department of the board OF
assessors to the board of utility CON.
missioners. but in no way Interfering
with the work of r~evaluation and as
sessment now in charge of the engi'
neering corps.
notwithstanding that the new or.
ganization of the state board of health
may enforce state laws in local dis
tricts.
Flights. -Creatlng a department Of la
Dor and industry by consolidating the
department of labor and the bureau OF
labor statistics.
Gas Rate Legislation.
The decision of the court of errors
quiring corporations to furnish ninety
cent gas to cities will be another sub
ject of legislation TO give municipalities
greater control over the public utilities
The state board of utility commission
ers want a more clear definition of the
attitude of the state on franchises and
a better Interpretation of the powers
of their body. Senator Pierce of Union
has taken up the gas rate subject and
will promote his plan unless n more
suitable is given him. The three reme
dies he proposes nre: First. amend the
pVoConf f,.onahico aaf Inv SuhStituftno
the indeterminate franchise. He be
lieves that this would overcome the
court decision on franchises hereafter
granted; second, pass a ninety CEN
gas law covering both the district In
volved in the recent decision and the
Larger district investigated and for
which the utility commission recon
mended the same rate. He thinks
this would settle the point involved In
the pending litigation and would only
antedate by six months the offer Of the
gas company of a ninety cent rate by
January, 1915. At a conference the
Republican members of the legislature
decided not to take any definite action
on the rate making until the %rehearing
for the case In court is made tomorrow
by the public utility commission. Some
of the mayors of the state are favor
ing the adoption of a bill similar to the
Ford act of New York city franchises.
and Senator Pierce would give this his
support. The senator is anxious ia
have the gas supplied at the rate OF
so cents a thousand feet. Mr.. McGin
mis- has a bill making the rate 90 cents
F~reeholder Subject Again.
Another squabble over a mandatory
small board of freeholders Is promised
In the bill of Senator Charles A. Rath
bun of Morris county. A feature that
is regarded as having the most sigIiiA
canoe is that it provides for the ele"
ton Of freeholders by districts haSed
upon population. The districts are
be designated by special commission
appointed in each county by sulrem
court Justices Terms of all The FREE
holders are fixed at two wears IN,
would terminate simultaneously III
size of the boards is fixed AT n'ne
seven, FIVE and three members. accord
ing to the population. Essex and Hud
son being the only mes to have nine
Compensation for the freeholders
ranges from 500 to $1,000. the small
est amount being paid on the largest
boards.
The Rev. Edward g. Read of Plain
field has been chosen to act as chaplain
Of the senate during the coming SEES
sion and will receive a salary of $500.
His duty will be to open with prayer
the daily sessions of the upper house
1t has been the custom to select a diff
ferent clergyman for each day, and
the stipend of $40 was given each. The
assembly is to continue this practice.
DR.. Read is a retired clergyman and
served as pastor of both Presbyterian
and Dutch Reformed churches In Plain,
field. He was selected by Senator
Pierce.
Wants Bachelors Taxed.
Among the freak bills that will pro
vide some amusement but will scarce
~ get through. is that Of Assembly
man Charles w. Ostrom of Jersey City
He would levy $50 a year on every
bachelor over thirty years of age who
Is not burdened with the support of 3
father or mother or dependent rela-
tives.
Vigorous efforts will be made this
year to adopt a statute authorizing cit
les to name women police and proba-
ton officers. The Federation of Civic
and Social clubs As supporting the idea.
which failed Of accomplishment last