The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-02-08
Random Shots.


perplexing question before him in tn,
appointment of an excise commission
for Burlington city. He had been in
terviewed by those in favor OF and those
against granting licenses to sell liquor
and he had been presented with the
names of possibly SO citizens who were
thought to be just the right men for the
position. He plainly told both sides
that he would not appoint any radicals,
and after carefully considering the sub
ject he selected three gentlemen who
did not solicit the Office, but who were
willing to aid in performing what, at the
best, will be an unpleasant task. Judge
Lippincott's selection must commend
itself to every good citizen to whom the
gentlemen he appointed are known
and they are pretty well known through
out the county as men of fairness, good
judgment, and who will not be swayed
or influenced by public cIamor on either
side.
To show how easy it is to have man
put before the court in an unfavorable
light the case of Albert C. Haskins may
be cited. Prosecutor Kelsey had the
man brought before the court on a
charge Of breaking and entering a
house. Haskins, either ignorantly or
innocently, pleaded guilty to the charge,
and but for the appointment by the
court of counsel to look into the case
might have been punished for an offence
of which he was not guilty; for when
the facts were brought out 1t was shown
that the man was in the house with the
consent OF the owner, and had been
given the key with which to gain en-
trance. The prosecutor did what he
could not help doing - dropped the
charge Of breaking and entering-but it
would seem as if such charge should
not have been made in the first place.
Mr.. Kelsey has said, several times, that
he does not know the nature of many of
the cases brought in ON waiver until the
papers are handed him in court just at
the time proceedings are to be begun.
but it would seem as il it was his duty
to look more closely into them little in
and gain information that
would prevent his being necessitated to
take back some of the accusations made
against prisoners at the bar.
With the knowledge that the law fix
In; N fho 60 Ia rioo IF NJ, borS ~ tho Doc ~
of Freeholders in this county and doing
away with the per diem fee is absolute,
it is said that some who are opposed to
the measure will have bill introduced
it, and putting the question Of
back ON the old basis. The
grounds for this action are said to be the
great extra expense entailed upon the
county, as the new system will increase
the pay of freeholders over $4,000. 1t is
also stated that there is general de-
mand for the repeal of the law. That
the latter is possibly correct will not be
denied, but the general demand" comes
from those members who see their per-
sonal bills shrinking below the $500 per
The report of the county au-
ditor has not yet been put into print and
when it does appear 1t will be shown
that there are several members who
have drawn considerably more than $500
per year, and it is no more than natural
for them to object to having their pay
cut down. They claim that there are
whose personal bills will not
reach more than $50 per year and the
latter, in the estimation of the men,
bers who have drawn more money,
should not be put on an equality with
them. AS THE NEWS stated last week
there is one member Of last years board
still member-who drew over $500 in
fees. OF course nobody would
think of his wanting to give up such q
good thing and come down 5000.
1t will be found, when the matter is
sifted, that the demand to have things
put back on the old basis comes from
those whose toes are being pinched. 1t
will be found, probably, when the at,
tempt is made to repeal the law in ques-
ton, that such action will not be con-
as it is provided in the state
that the legislature shall
not lpass private, local. or special laws
creating, increasing or decreasing the
or allowance of public officers
during the term for which said officers
uara aloofod or amounted