The Penn's Grove record., 1917-03-16
STATE CAPITOL NEWS
What The State Officials Are
Doing. What The Political
Leaders Are Talking
About

legislative events came thick and fast this
week, making it one of the most prolific
and significant periods since the session
opened. Governor Edge signed the state
highways bills and asked Gen. George w.
Goethals, formerly Chief Engineer Of the
Panama Canal, 10 become State Highway
Engineer, the latter move being a great
surprise and creating a very favorable
impression. Gen. Goethals came to the
State House at the request of the Cover
nor to talk over the matter, and while he
did not give a definite answer, the Coy
ernor thinks he viii take the position. If
he does, all the big engineering part Of
building the more than 0 miles Of roads
in the new State Highway System will
be under his control, he TO pass on all
specifications, approve all contracts and
decide the policy as far as the engineer
ing goes. With Gen. Goethals. the man
who did such great work on the Panama
canal, in charge of the spending Of the
: S~15,000,000 road money during the next
five years, the highway plan would have
the confidence of the people of the state
in a very decided way.
The road bills were signed BIZ the Gov
ernor yesterday with a goldmounted pen
provided by W. L. Turton. of Newark. an
officer of the Associated Automobile
Clubs, and II. A. Bonnell, of Newark, a
member Of Governor Fielder's Highway
Commission of last year. They all take
effect Immediately. One imposes the
state road tax of 81 ON the $1,000 for the
next five years another establishes the
fifteen trunk routes of the highways and
the third re-organizes the State Road De-
ma nm IN, Da.T III
now be governed by a non-salaried Com
mission of eight men, who will name the
Highway Engineer. Governor Edge is
now considering the appointment of the
members Of this Commission and is en-
deavoring to get successful business
men who are used to handling big propo-
sitions to serve 1t is expected the men
will be appointed next week after the
Governor gets their consent to act.
= . 3 q
The Governor yesterday afternoon ap-
proved the Oliphant bill increasing the
tax on the franchises Of all public utili-
ties except street railway companies.
Such public utilities as gas, electric light.
water and telephone companies now pay a
tax Of two per cent. of thei- gross re-
ceipts. This new law makes them pay
three per cent this year four per cent.
next year, and five per cent in 1919 and
thereafter. Companies with gross re-
ceipts of less than $4,000 are exempted
from the increase. The increased taxes,
estimated at nearly $~1,000,000 will go
to the municipalities.
The Egan road act of last year provid-
ing a state bond issue of $1,O00,000 to
build a State Highway system 20 be
repealed to give a clear track to the adj
ministration road acts. The repeater
passed the Senate this week and is slated
to go through the Assembly. Although the
Egan act was adopted last November at
the polls by a plurality of $4,000, it is de-
clared to be unavoidable.
= = = =
After one of the most stubborn and
lengthy debates of the session, the Assem-
bly, at l O'Clock yesterday morning passed
the bill by Mr.. Roberts, of Burlington,
repeating the full crew law. The vote
was 81 to -. The il Democrats present
and seven Republicans votel to keep the
act on the statute books. The majority
for the measure came entirely from the
Republican ranks, and the Democrats
will seek 10 make political capital from
this situation. The repeater was defeated
last week, but came up this time on
reconsideration. This bin places the con-
troll of the size of train, crews with the
State Public Utility Commission, while
the present law arbitrarily compels an
additional man in every crew with a train
beyond the maximum number of cars
without regard to the stops or work to
be done. There will be another fight
over the bill in the Senate.
Governor Edge has ended the stiff
fight among the Passaic County Republic
cans over the appointment of a County
Judge by sending to the Senate the nomi-
nation of former Assemblyman William
w. Watson. Of Passaic City, the selec-
ton of Senator McCran, Of that County.
The other candidate was Surrogate Ere
derrick Beggs. Of Paterson. 1t is claimed
the Beggs followers will yield to the
actien Of Senator McCran and not CON
Test the matter further.
5 $
State Labor leaders. including former
ASsemblynan a. A. Quinn. of Middlesex.
president of the State Federation of
Labor. and Henry f. Hilfers, Newark.
secretary of the Federation. asked Cover
nor Edge this week to oppose all local
option bills that might reach him, in
GLIDING the Hates measure. They stated
that this organization was pledged against
local option.
Some Of the important bills passed
by the Senate this week were; Strength
ening the cold storage act by extending
its penafty provision to all sections (;
providing a uniform method for prose
cutting violators of the food and drug
act: authorizing the employment of pri-
soners in county iails at wages not TO
exceed y cents a day authorizing county
school superintendent to pay not exceed
ing $1.200 for clerical assistance.
The Senate Yesterday afternoon passed