Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-02-02
ELECT BUCBEE
AS COMPTROLLER
Joint Session Rewards G. 0. P.
State Chairman.
GROSSCUP'S JOB ATTACKED
Bill to Cut Term Observation-Disclosures
on Important Bills Start Monday In
Move to Expedite Legislation--High-
err Tax on Motortrucks Will Bring
Strong Opposition.
Especial Correspondence.l

0'S"S OPPoS'eiSh"
Especial Correspondence
Trenton, N. j., Jan. 31.-Meeting in
joint session yesterday, the members
of the house and senate elected Repub-
lican State Chairman Newton A. X.
Bugbee of Mercer county for state
comptroller. The legislators and the
legislative correspondents were after
ward the guests of Mr.. Bugbee and
State Treasurer William T. Read at a
dinner in the Trenton House. Mr.. Read
formally introduced Mr.. Bugbee, who
made an address of appreciation for
the honor that had been given him.
He stated that he was comparatively
u~nschooled in politics as compared with
some of the other men in the state, but
that his fortunes had brought to him
this very desirable position.
With the election of Mr.. Bugbee to
this $4,000 position the Republicans
are placed in entire control of the state
house commission, the state printing
board and the state purchasing COM
mission. AS the result of this change
new incumbents will probably be plac-
ed in positions at their disposal.
One report is that John Nevin, chief
auditor of the comptroller's depart
ment, and John A. Smith, %statehouse
custodian, will lose their offices. Each
now receives $500 yearly. Mr.. Smith
has made an enviable reputation for
himself as a competent officer. The
question has been raised as to whether
or not he will come under the protec-
ton of the civil service, and his re-
tirement may go before that board be-
fore official action is taken.
Mr.. Nevin is one of the most indus
worked earnestly to place the comp
troller's department on a ~businesslike
basis. His rulings, however, or pur-
chases by different state institutions
gained him the opposition of a number
of the state departments.
Grosscup May Go.
Another Democrat who may b. af-
fected is Edward E. Grosscup, chair
man of the Democratic state commit
tee and state purchasing agent. Sena-
tor Lewis T. Stevens of Cape May has
introduced a bill reducing his term
from five years to three. This amend
ment would allow the selection of a
successor by Governor Edge. Senator
Stevens, who gained attention during
the last session when he smothered in
committee the workmen's compensa-
ton bills, is also fatheripg other meas
ures which have already aroused in
tense opposition.
One of these would make the term of
all weights and measures officials ex-
pire next May. By his scheme of re-
organization all municipal departments
of weights and measures would be
wiped out. and only county officials
would be named. Their selection would
be in the hands of the governor instead
of the boards of freeholders. Their sal
aries and expenses would be paid by
the state.
Sealers May Put UP Fight.
SAT present. the Cape May senator
remarked, 1.-THE sealers are under ten
ure of office and cannot be removed
nor their salaries reduced. We feel
that the Cape May superintendent is
not earning his money"
The present Cape May incumbent is
| D. w. Rodan, a Democrat, and other
sealers maintain that the bill is aimed
at him on this account. They have
been stirred to actively try to combat
the object of this bill.
One feature of the measure would
reduce from five to three years the
term of the state superintendent and
he would be allowed to select assist
ants without naming them from a civil
service list.
Through the abolition of the munic-
ipal department the sealers' work
would be greatly hampered, it is held,
but Mr.. Stevens asserted that amend
ments would be inserted to remove the
grounds for this protest. Coal dealers
have banded together to try and kill
his bill making 2,240 pounds a standard
ton.
With the hearings, which will be
conducted Monday, greater progress
will be made with the bills already in
troduced. In the morning at II o'clock
the measures placing a highway tax of
81 On a thousand ard that recognizing
the state road department will be
taken up.
The assessment feature, it is expect
ed, will bring out a large delegation,
particularly from counties which feel
they will be taxed too heavily for the
benefits they receive.
Automobiles approve generally of
the highway scheme, but the provisions
which would make a municipality of
more than $4,000 population bear the
upkeep expense for highways within
their jurisdiction is meeting with their
disapproval.
Representatives called on Governor
Edge and he said that he could see no
objection to an amendment requiring
the state to take full control of all the
thoroughfares named in the bill. This