The Penn's Grove record., 1916-12-29

p~raising State Prison Keeper Richard
Hughes, Democrat, has led to the rumor
that Governor Edge may re-appoint
Hughes for a full term. In fact the edi-
torial said he viii probably be renamed.
The rumor is not regarded seriously,
however, in State political circles, the
general opinion there being that a Re-
publican will be appointed. County
Chairman James Mulheron, Republican,
of Mercer county, is an active candi-
date. Like Mr.. Hughes he has never
had any experience in prison work. Mr..
Hughes, who is one of the Democratic
leaders of Burlington county, was ap-
pointed by Governor Fielder ad interim,
after the death of Keeper Madden last
summer The salary is $500, but with
the office of matron and a fine residence
and maintenance provided, it is worth
about $4,000. The term is five years.
A strong eugenic act will be intro
duced early in the coming session by
Assemblyman Morgan, of Union county.
The bill will make it a crime for per-
sons infected with certain diseases to
marry, and it also will require all ply
sicians to report these diseases the
same as smallpox, diphtheria, etc. As
semblyman Morgan says statistics show
that the percentage of persons suffer-
ing with mental diseases largely due to
infection is increasing faster than the
percentage of population.
Home rule has always been one of
the strong principles of Senator Charles
O'Connor Hennessy, Democrat, of Ber-
gen county, and he has issued a state
ment that if the Home Rule Commission
created by the last Legislature fails to
recommend real home rule in it's forth
coming report, it will be a public disap-
pointment. 1t is rumored that the re-
port of the Commission may not go as
far on the home rule question for NUM-
cipalities as the home rule advocates
like Senator Hennessy and George L.
Record desire. Senator Hennessy points
out that the preamble to the McCran
resolution under which the Home Rule
Commission was appointed, declares it
to be the desire of the Legislature to
grant to municipalities 'the largest pos
sible measure of home rule consistent
with constitutional limitations" Sena-
tor Hennessy holds that municipalities
should be given the power to regulate
the liquor question, as well as any other
matter. His term expires next week
and he win not be in the new Legis-
lature.
Following their dollar dinner in New
ark, at which more than 1000 were
present, the local optionists of the State
have redoubled their efforts in behalf
of the passage of the local option bill.
The bill is sure to pass the Senate, and
the campaign is being aimed at the AS
sembly. The local option forces have
a big job on their hands, as at present
there are only about 10 Assemblymen in
favor of the bill. The plan of campaign
is to create such a strong public senti-
ment in favor of the measure that the
other necessary II votes to pass it will
be forced in line.
Lindley NJ. Garrison, who resigned
from Presidents Wilson's Cabinet as
Secretary of Wa because he could not
agree with the Presidents foreign pol
icy, has become a resident of New York
City, having removed from Jersey City
soon after his resignation. His main
law practice is now in New York. al
though he still practices in this State.
He has already been mentioned as a
Democratic candidate for Mayor of New
York. Mr.. Garrison was formerly Vice
Chancellor of New Jersey, and could
have had the Democratic nomination for
Governor last fall if he would have con-
sented to be a candidate.
1t is understood that Francis r. Dav-
is, Republican, of Woodbury., will be- the
new Common Pleas Judge, of Gloucester
county, to succeed Judge A. H. Swack-
manner, Democrat. Judge ~Swackhamer's
term Will end next year and Governor
Edge will appoint his successor. The
term is five years and the salary So, 900.
Mr.. Davis has been secretary of the SEN
ate two or three terms and will serve
in that office again in the coming ses-
sion.
The assessed valuation of real and
personal property subject to local tax
alton in this State for 1916 amounts to
S2,696,3l4,Ol0.53, as shown by the an
nuaI report of the State Board of Taxes
and Assessment filed with Governor
Fielder today. This is an increase Of
$ll2,36O,415.24 over 1915. These fig
ures do not include the assessment
against bank stock, which is separately
under the Fielder-Pierce bank
stock taxing act. The tax on bank stock
this year is $673,232.24, of which fifty
per cent goes to the counties and fifty
per cent to the municipalities.
The Board makes no special comment
as to the assessments in Gloucester
county. The total assessments in that
county amount to $29,631, 819, compared
with $27,916,514 last year, an increase
of S1,715,3O5.
The taxes to be raised on this assess
ment in the State are as follows: State
school taxes. $7,OO7, 666.47, an increase
$283, 0O5.36; county taxes, s13.6 $685.
an increase of $1,410,207 .35. and
municipal taxes, $40, $50. 479. 70 an in