Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-01-19

tefesting of the session.
In addition to the complaints from
the larger counties for the placing of a
state tax for the highway system, hints
are thrown out that the railroad corpo-
rations may enter a campaign and put
stumbling blocks in the path of the
governor. Their anticipated objections
'nre founded on the theory that h con
Etruction of hard surface roads will
place the automobile in still greater
competition with them for short hauls.
The larger counties. base their pro-
tests on the allegation that theT would
be unduly assessed for the roads which
will be only of indirect benefit to them.
If the routes in the Egan bill are fol-
lowed. as it has been announced they
will be. Hudson county will not get
any of the new thoroughfares.
Some compromise may have TO be
reached on the road scheme as a sug-
gestion has already been advanced
that the property owners living direct
ly on the main routes should be assess
ed higher than those on the less impor-
tant highways.
Home Rule Local Option.
Another battling ground will involve
the question of home rule. The COM
mission named by Governor Fielder to
investigate this subject did not regard
local option as being within its prov
ince, but the proponents of that move
ment plan to fight vigorously II 1t is
not included in the proposed new stat
utes. The senate, which contains new
members classed as independents
will be the scene also of the chief con-
test on this issue. Local option pro-
ponents believe they will be able to
muster enough ballots in that branch
to accomplish their object. The Repub-
lican platform calls for home rule leg
islation in everything consistent with
the constitution.
1t Is expected that a measure for the
repeal of the full crew aw will be pre-
scented.
Senator Emerson L. Richards of At
lantic county is advocating the bill to
empower county boards of election to
go over the ballots after each election.
This virtually amounts to a recount,
and the senator says that it will act as
a check against probable fraud and
will ssh candidates who are elected
of getting their proper count. This
scheme would obviate the necessity of
a candidate asking for a recount and
would place that expense on the county
at large. p
The proposal to abolish the position
of the inheritance tax collectors will
also receive the support of the admin
istration. By requiring %surrogates to
do this work the tw%enty-one collectors
of the counties would lose their places.
1t is believed that at least $4,000
could be saved by such a bill.
To Consolidate Departments.
Governor Edges declaration for a
further consolidation of state depart
ments will mean the institution of new
legislation along those lines, as the
governor has declared that he will be
the business manager of the state.
Bills, it is also thought, will make
their appearance to permit of a solu.,
ton of the problem facing the state in
handling its prison inmates. Renewed
criticism of conditions in the Trenton
prison may hasten action on this ques-
ton. The buildings on the site at Tren-
ton are crowded together and do not
afford sufficient space for exercising
ground.
Rather than take additional land for
this institution, Mr.. Edge would have
developed the colony scheme for open
air employment for the convicts. The
structure at Trenton would then be
devoted largely to the prisoners who
cannot be trusted to work in the open.
He would abolish the contract system
now in existence there and replace it
with machinery for the manufacture of
articles required by the other institu-
lions.
To make sure that the different
counties have their ratables at a just
figure to bear a proportionate share of
the tax it is proposed to levy for the
state highway system a state commits
sion may be named to obtain the equal
ization. This organization would work
along the lines of the county boards OF
taxation, which are now directed to
see that the different districts of the
counties have rated their property fair
ly. Senator Pierce of Union county in
tends to present such a measure early
in the session.
Important changes may also be made
in the primary and election laws un-
der recommendations which will be
made by a commission which was APP
pointed to study this subject. The
board is to make its report in the early
part of February.
One of the radical changes talked OF
would prevent a candidate who has not
entered the primaries from filing a pc
tition for the general election after the
primaries have been held. The condi-
ton that exists now has given rise to-