The Penn's Grove record., 1916-02-18

State Women's Reformatory.
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Considerable surprise was manifested
Yesterday when it became known that
Governor Fielder had signed the bill by
Senator Hutchinson, of Mercer, curtall-
ing the power of State Comptroller Ed-
wards over state acquisitions. This
was a Republican measure, and as it was
aimed at a Democratic Comptroller
some thought the Governor would veto
it. He, however, thought it had merit
enough to warrant his approving 1t.
Comptroller Edwards claims 1T is one
of the worst bills ever passed in the
State"
Under the requisition law as it stood,
the COmptroller's Department had the
power to check expenditures before they
were contracted for, if in the Judgment OF
the Comptroller, such expenditures were
not warranted. Now he simply orders
that any requisition, no matter what for,
be approved.
The Legislative Commission appoint
ed to investigate the question OF a pen
sion system for state and municipal en-
~plOyees, has submitted a report to Gov
ernor Fielder declaring that public SEN
timent is against the establishment of
such a pension system at this time. 1t
states that a pension system would be
unWise because the tax rates are al
ready high and should not be increased.
The Commission says that if any pension
system be established it should be on the
c~ontributory plan under which the m
ployees would give a percentage OF his
wages to the fund.
The appointment of a commission to
establish and install a uniform system OF
hool-Gaanipn anA accounting in t1p Of
fees of sheriffs, county clerks, surro-
gates and registers of deeds is provided
in a resolution introduced in the As
sembly by Mr.. Morgan, of Union Coun-
ty. 1t applies to all counties but Es-
sex and Hudson, if adopted and the
system be put in force it will revolution
ize the bookkeeping methods in many OF
the counties.
Many municipalities of the state are
strongly opposing the bill by Senate
President Read, of Camden, putting
public utilities operated by municipal
ties under the control of the Public Util-
ity Commission. Corporations operating
private utilities are just as strongly ad-
~vocating the measure. The towns claim
there is no demand for such a law, ex-
cept as it comes from the corporations
referred to .
The Senate this week unanimously
passed the bill by Senator Edge repeal
ing the act for taking a state census ev-
cry ten years. 1t is also slated to pass
the Assembly. If the act be repealed, a
saving of about 100000 will result ev-
cry ten years. The state enumeration
has been taken between the censuses TAX
en- by the Federal Government, so that the
state has had a count of its population
every five years. The advocates of this
bill claim there is no need of the state
census.
Two other important measures passed
in the Senate were Senator Rathbun's
bill giving citizens the right of access to
all books and documents of any munich
pality, except those in civil or criminal
actions; and the bin by Senator Egan,
amending the public traffic act so as to
modify the section which makes it con-
tributory negligence for a person to cross
any street or road, except at specified
crossings.
Among the bills introduced in the Sen
ate were: Creating a department of gas
and electric inspection In all towns and
cities prohibiting the valuation of the
franchise where the property of a pub
lie utility is being appraised for rate fix
ing regulating the quality and price of
illuminating gas increasing the tax on
the gross receipts of public utilities from
two to four per cent; legalising certain
amusements on Sunday.
Bayonne Republicans have started a
boom for Mayor Pierre P. Carven, of
that city, for the nomination for Cover
nor. The mention of his name, however,
cannot be regarded as anything more
than of the "favorite son" character, and
the boom will not reach statewide pro-
portions.