The Penn's Grove record., 1917-01-12
State News


$4,000 over 1914. Despite this in
crease it is claimed the corporation bust
of the state is not as large as it would
be were the "seven sisters" antitrust
laws not on the statute books. During
the past two years practically all of the
large corporations that have been formed,
have been chartered in other states like
Delaware, with more liberal laws. 1t is
said that had these New Jersey statutes
not been enacted these companies would
have come here for their charters 1t is
this situation that has led the Republi-
cans to plan for the amendment of the
seven sisters"
In connection with their proposal to
simplify the election laws of the state,
the Republicans are considering the
question of a bill providing for a system
of auditing for each election, to be APP
Piled by the County Boards of Election.
The bill will authorize these boards to
90 over the ballots after each election,
amounting to a general recount of all the
ballots annually. The County Boards
would canvass the returns Immediately
after the election as they do now, but
later would open all the ballot boxes
and go over all the ballots to check up
the first return. 1t is claimed such a
law would make the local election officers
more careful and thus give cleaner cleo
tons.
The most sweeping home rule proposed
in this state is to be introduced in the
new Legislature by Assemblyman Singer,
Democrat, of Hudson County. 1t will
provide for a wide open Sunday in mu-
inequalities which adopt the Act. By
giving this power to towns and cities it
will permit liquor selling on Sunday, as
well as open theatres, motion picture
shows, barber shops, and retail stores.
The bill will meet with strong opposition
and will provoke one of the fights of the
coming session.
>
As Governor Fielder retires to private
life he will devote all his time to the
practice of law in Jersey City. 81 am
going to jump right into the practice of
law on January IT," he said today, dis
cussing his retirement.
Asked if he would be a candidate for
United States Senator, he reiterated that
he would not. Il don't want to be
United States Senator and / would not
take it," he declared. 1t has been re-
ported that he might be appointed Vice
Chancellor if Vice Chancellor Stevens re-
tires within the next few weeks, the ap-
pOintment being made by Chancellor
Walker. Governor Fielder said he did
not know anything about this. He stated
that Stevens was one of the best Vice
Chancellors and he hoped he would not
retire before his term expired.
1t is not thought the plan of the West
Hudson County residents to secede from
Hudson and form a new county to be
called phil Kearny County" will get
very far in the Legislature. Those in
terested in the scheme declare that at
present they are not represented in either
the state or county government, as the
Assemblyman and Freeholders are always
selected from the more popular eastern
half of Hudson County, which includes
Jersey City, Hoboken and Bayonne. The
proposed new county would have a pop
ulation of about $4,000, or more than
that of Cape May, Gloucester, Hunter
don, Ocean, Salem, Somerset, Sussex or
Warren.
The extent of the business of the
public utility companies of this state is
shown in the annual report of the Board
of Public Utility Commissioners just
filed with Governor Fielder. There are
352 such corporations supplying service
by pipes or wires, including SO gas com
panies; 80 electric light and power com
panies; 122 water companies; 80 tele-
phone companies; Is sewer companies;
70 municipal water companies and Is
municipal electric plants. There are also
% street railway companies. The 352
companies of the first named class serv-
ed 1,40O,91S customers during the year
and their operating revenue was $46,-
$4,000. The % street railways carried
375,491 ,021 passengers during the year
and their total operating revenue was
$19,110,000. This gives a total operat-
ing revenue of all these companies of
$780, 9,000. Operating expenses and
taxes were $39,23O,OOO, leaving net rev.
enues of $26, 100000.