The Penn's Grove record., 1917-02-02
STATE CAPITOL NEWS
What The State Officials Are
Doing. What The Political
Leaders Are Talking
About

Trenton. Jan. 31-The State Prison
and Reformatory Investigating Commits
sion just appointed by Governor Edge be-
gan its inquiry at the State House to-
day. Chairman William 2. Dickson. of
Montclair presided and Cove nor Edge
was present. James H. Mulheron. who
was appointed Prison Keeper Monday
night by the Governor and confirmed by
the Senate yesterday, attnded the hear
ing. The members Of the Board Of Pris-
on Inspectors were the chief witnesses.
Several state officials who have relations
with the Prison were also examined in
formally, including State Labor Commits
sioner Lewis L. Bryant, Charities and
Corrections COMMISSIONS Richard Stock
ton State Road Commissioner Edwin A.
stevens; State Commissioners of Educa-
ton Calvin n. Kendall and others.
Governor Edge and the members Of his
Commission inspected the Prison last
Saturday preparatory to the beginning of
the probe. Following this visit the con-
victs started rioting on Sunday hoping to
attract sympathy to their side of the
Prison charges. Keeper Hughes quieted
them on Monday by isolating about 20 of
the ringleaders. The Commission found
many things at the Prison that need COR
recting, but mostly they have to do with
the physical condition of the Ole buildings,
such as u~nsanitary wings, dark cells, in
adequate bathing facilities, etc. Keeper
Hughes was praised for the condition in
which he has kept the Prison.
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The fifth week Of the legislative ses-
sion will start next Monday with three
important bearings on big bills. They
viii all take place before the joint Judi
ciary Committee. At II a. N. will be
the public hearing ON the State Highway
bills. one imposing the tax Of 81 a thous-
and for five years for highway construc-
ton, another outlining the highway sys-
TEN and the third r~e-organizing the State
Road Department. At , p. H.. the home
rule bills introduced for the Home Rule
Commission will be argued pro and con.
At 4 O'Clock the public utility franchise
dill will be given a hearing. This pro-
Fides for graduated increase of the tax
On the gross receipts of gas, electric
light, water and all other utilities except
street railways. The present tax is two
per cent. This bill raises it t three per
cent. this year, four per cent. next year.
and five per cent. in 1919 and thereafter.
The public utility corporations affected,
including the Public Service Gas and
Electric Companies. are preparing to OPP
pose the measure and will tight it at
The hearing ON Monday.
Newton A. X. Bugbee, of Trenton.
chairman of the Republican State Com
mittee. was elected State Comptroller for
three years from February - next, at
a joint session of the Legislature yester-
day at noon. The Democratic candidate
was Edward l. Edwards, of Jersey City,
the present Comptroller. who has held the
office six years. The vote was on strict
party lines, being % to 6, with several
a~bsentees. After the two Houses had
adjourned for the week, State Treasurer
Read and Comptroller-elect Bugbee EN-
tertained the members of the Legislature
and state officials at a luncheon at the
Trenton House. State Treasurer Read
presided and introduced Mr.. Bugbee, who
thanked the legislators for the honor they
had given him. He paid a tribute to re-
firing Comptroller Edwards, referring to
the fine record he had made in the office.
Mr.. Edward responded with a little
speech. saving if he had made a good
record it was because he had the sup
port of the members Of the Legislature,
Republicans as well as Democrats. He
predicted that Mr.. Bugbee would succeed
in his new office.
In appointing James H. Mulheron,
chairman of the Mercer Coun Republi-
can Committee, as State Prison Keeper,
Governor Edge issued a statement that
he believed Mr.. Mulheron was well quail
fed for the place. He statel that the
fact that Mulheron was a politician was
not against him, but should b. al asset.
as a successful politician must know how
to handle men. The other main appoint
ments made by the Governor this week
were
Camden County Judge, Senator John
&. Hates. of Collingswood Camden City
District Court Judge, A~ssemblyman Gar
field Pancoast, of Camden; Member of
the Burlington County Tax Board, Henry
p. Thorn. of Medford, who is on the Re
publican State Committee; Members of
the Delaware River Bridge Commission,
Thomas ]. $. Barlow, of Burlington
County; Richard L. Ceilings, of Cam
den and Daniel +. Hendrickson. of Wood
bury; Members of the Board of Shell
Fisheries. Lorenzo d. Robbins, of New
Gretna, Burlington County and Joseph
Fowler, of Port Norris, Cumberland
County.
Friends Of the late Secretary of State,
David s. Carter, of Monmouth County,
yesterday afternoon presented to the
State House Commission an oil painting
of Mr.. Carter. 1t will be hing in the
office of the Secretary of State. 1t is
from the brush of Henry Mosler, of New
York City. The committee which had it
painted and presented was composed of
Senator Henry Il. Ackerson, County Col
lector Charles L. Mcdonald, of Mon
mouth County, and State Chairman
Edward +. Grosscup.
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The license fees Of commercial motor