The Penn's Grove record., 1917-02-16

to the Governor. line Court holds That
the law providing that the railroads
shall carry these officials free is uncon
stitutional as to any railroad hat is not
under contract to carry them free.
= = =
The Mercer County Republican Com
mittee has elected former Senator Har-
ry d. Leavitt of Trenton, as its chair
man to succeed James Fl. Mulberon,
who was made State Prison Keeper. Mr..
Leavitt has long been an active Repub-
lican worker. He is closely associated
with former Governor Stokes, being
cashier of the Mechanics National Bank
of this city, of which Stokes is presi-
dent.
Strong opposition to a bond issue as
a means of financing a State highway
system is being made by the State
Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber
supports Governor Edge in his stand to
build the roads by a direct State tax for
five years. The State Chamber is also
against the proposal of Senator Osborne,
of Essex county, to assess the benefits
for the road construction upon the abut-
ting property. The Chamber shows
that there are 235 townships in this
State and they contain 20 per cent of
the area of the State, but hold only 16
per cent of the ratables, so that to as
sess the benefits for road building upon
the property in the rural sections would
bankrupt the property owners in the
townships.
AJi,fout Conora1 parhar oDJ Omar
termaster General Murray are already
proceeding to secure the necessary
equipment for the members of the Ma
tional Guard under Senate bill 101 just
approved by Governor Edge. Options
nave been secured on the necessary
quantities of shoes, shirts and under
wear, these being the main articles not
already provided by the Federal Gov
eminent. The articles will not be actu-
ally purchased unless the break with
Germany grows more serious and the
Jersey troops are called to the colors.
Part of the money is being used to pay
the Guardsmen who are guarding the
State armories and arsenals, but if there
be no war, the balance will lapse back
into the State treasury.
y = Il =
State House politicians we're surprised
a few days ago to see former United
States Senator James Smith, Jr., at the
Capitol. He strolled through the main
corridor to the Office of Governor Edge,
wearing his inevitable high silk hat and
frock coat and reminding the politicians
Of the old days when he was the ack-
nowledged dictator of the Democratic
party. He said his visit had no politi-
cal significance. He called on ex-Gov-
ernor Stokes at the Mechanics National
Bank and then visited the State House
to pay his respects to Governor Edge.
Honor to the members of the National
Guard of this state who responded to the
nations call last summer at the mobili-
zation of the troops for the Mexican
Border. is proposed in a joint resolution
introduced in the Senate this week by
Senator McClennon, of Hudson County.
t provides that the Governor shall cause
medal to be struck of a suitable design,
me to be given to each officer and soldier
who responded to the call of President
Wilson.
Some radical recommendations are
looked for in the preliminary report of
the Prison Investigating Commission,
which will be submitted to the Governor
IN a few days. 1t is understood that the
report will urge the abolition of all con-
ract labor in the Prison at once, and
quitting the men now at work on the con-
tracts, at employment on the Prison
Farm in South Jersey and on the roads.
1t is likely that the Commission will
recommend that the Prison be remodeled
to remedy some of the unsani,ary condi-
ions shown to exist and also to provide
more exercise facilities for the convicts.
The State Board of Education announc-
es that the total amount of the state
school tax this year is $7,314,863, and
including the railroad taxes, the total
sum to be distributed to the schools from
all state sources is $40, 564, 1863. The
apportionment of the ten per cent reserve
fund has just been made. This is ten
per cent of the state school tax and
mounts to S731,4S6. This amount is
reserved and apportioned on a basis to
aid some of the counties which while poor
comparatively III rdCdDleS, are rlcn IN
children and 50 ordinarily sIould not have
sufficient money for their schools. These
counties are aided by taking some money
from the counties that are richer in rat
ables than in children, which gives them
an undue proportion of the school funds.
BY this a-pportionment the following
counties will contribute the sums as Civ
en-: Monmouth, $4,000; Union, $4,000;
Essex. $4,000; Cape May, $1,000; At
%lantic, $4,000; Hudson, $50, ZOO; total
$4,000. This amount will be distributed
to the poorer counties, as follows: Cum
berland, $4,000; Burlington, $4,000
Hunterdon, $4,000; Glouces. r, $4,000;
Warren, 5000. These sums are in adj
dition to the regular proportion of the
school tax due these counties. The coun-
ties not mentioned above are medium
o%unties, neither giving nor recei, ing, but
being paid their regular share of the
school taxes.
The State Economy and Efficiency
Commission has inst submitted its final