Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-02-18
Measure Gains Six More Votes
In Assembly.
IOBST BIBLE BILL PASSES.
AutomobiIists at Hearing Before SEN
ate Committee Protest Against Pro-
posed Merger of Motor and Road De-
partments = Pierce Grade Crossing
Bill Passes In Upper House.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
Trenton, Feb. 16.-Six more votes in
favor of local option were recorded in
the house compared to last year after
one of the most impressive sessions Of
the legislature. Although the bill was
defeated by a vote of 40 to 10, the sup
porters of the measure declared that
they were satisfied, as they maintained
that they were gradually making prog
ress. The bill would have required
thirty-one votes in the house to carry
A majority. Made the special order of
business for the day, the discussion on
the subject attracted delegations who
were in sympathy with or opposed to
the movement in all parts of the state.
The assembly galleries were crowded
to standing room, and space was also
In demand around the walls on the
first floor.
Impassioned speeches marked the
argument pro and con, and an outburst
of applause frequently interrupted the
speakers, although Speaker Pilgrim
discouraged any display Of favoritism
by the frequent use of the gavel. The
bill was briefly explained by Assembly
man West, who advocated its passage
by maintaining that it was a home rule
proposition. He was followed by the
Rev. Harry j. Iobst, the Methodist
minister who is an assemblyman from
Hunterdon county, who made the
chamber ring as he earnestly pleaded
that approval be given the measure.
He declared that 40, 1000 persons in the
United States go to their death annu-
ally through rum.
Hammond Defiant.
Assemblyman Hammond of Mercer
vigorously upheld the measure and
openly defied the politicians, who, he
declared, had ~endeavored to defeat
him at the polls the last time he ran.
Assemblyman Runyon of Union elo-
Quently defended the principle of local
option and declared that party lines
should not be drawn on such a vital
question. Assemblyman Wolverton of
Camden and Republican Leader Hates
Of the same county supported the cause
Of temperance and drew word pictures
of the sorrow that drink causes.
Branding local option as a strike at
personal liberty, Assemblyman Carroll
Of Hudson was vigorous In his opposi-
ton to the movement. The minority,
he asserted, would not have the right
to rule, as he maintained they would
under the present scheme. Mr.. Schoen
asserted that because the privilege of
drinking was abused was nc reason
why the liquor business should be
destroyed, and he pointed out that the
bill did not provide, as it should, for
eompensating the brewers and saloon
men for the loss of their property. In
an able address Mr.. Simpson also op-
posed the measure, declaring that men
cannot be saved through legislation.
Reforms, he asserted, must be accom-
plished by the individual himself.
Iobst Bible Bill Passed.
Assemblyman Iobst's bill providing
Tor the reading of the Bible in the
public schools was passed by the house
Of assembly by a vote of 3S to 10. The
passage of the measure was marked
oy a warm debate, in which it was
charged that it was fathered in a spirit
OF religious bigotry. Those who favor
ed the bill insisted that the Bible was
me basis of all morality and maintain
@ that its reading in the schools
would be productive of much good.
Bills amending the workmen's COM
pensation law have been given a hear
ing before the senate committee. The
measures increase the rate of compen-
sation for injury from 80 per cent to
% 23 per cent, allow compensation
LOT occupational diseases, create a
~eompensation board to see hat the law
y properly enforced and provide that
all manufacturers shall take out in
'urance to cover injuries to their en-
poyees. The bills are favored by the
aoor organizations, while the New
Npfesenting the manufacturers, are
slongly opposed to them.
representatives from many munich
ssities voiced strong protest to the bill
v senator Read of Camden bringing
utility companies operated by cities
sad towns under the supervision of
a ue board of utility commissioners at
ue nearing on the measure. They
aaracterized as absurd the thought
%at cities which operate water, gas or
s0trlc plants for the benefit of the
seople should be supervised by a pub
: BOARD in the matter of rates and
Uad issues. Representatives of pri-
,aeely owned public utilities insisted,
a"wever, that it was no more than fair
~a. the publicly owned plants which
aaent come into competition with
lOSe which were operated by private
sn.erests should be subject to the same
fapervision.
Automobile Hearing.
automobilists at a second hearing
Esore the senate committee on high