The Penn's Grove record., 1917-03-02
STATE CAPITOL NEWS
What The State Officials Are
Doing. What The Political
Leaders Are Talking
About

maue IL the most interesting PERIOD oil the
session and brought to the State House
some of the largest crowns seen here
IA some time. The killing of the local
option bill, the passage of the state high
way bills, the attack Of the House Dem
ocrats upon the state highway direct tax
measure, leading to the Republicans tenn
porarily laying it over; the moving pic
lure exhibition Of the State Game, Farm
and Fish Hatchery; numerous public
nearing On measures and several appoint
ments by Governor Edge were the lead
ing features of the week.
The principal appointment was that of
Frank Wanser, a Republican real estate
man, of Vineland, to be State Superin-
tendent of Weights and Measures to sue
iced William L. Waldron, Democrat, Of
Trenton. The term is five years and the
salary $500. The Democrats had hopes
chat Mr.. Waldron might be renamed as
ne has made good and recently the
weights and measures officials Of the state,
including several Republicans, asked the
Governor to ~re-appoint him. Governor
Edge said he was personally acquainted
with Wanser and knew he was well quail
flied for this position. Former Senator
Mathis, of Ocean County, Howard Tni-
dell, of Trenton, secretary of the Civil
Service Investigating Commission and
others were candidates.
The Governor appointed William II.
Jeffrey, of Toms River, as Judge of
Ocean County, and Richard Plummer,
Of Lakewood, as Prosecutor of that
County. He made these County Tax
Board appointments Cumberland County
Wilbert II. Robbins, of Commercial
Township; Ocean County, Ulysses S.
Grant, of Toms River.
The two Senate highway bills were
passed in that House yesterday after
noon. Senate No. 2, establishing the ff-
teen trunk routes of state roads and pro-
viding for the method of constructing
them went through II to Q, after an
amendment proposed by Mr.. Osborne, Of
Essex, providing for open competition in
road contracts had been voted down. Mr..
osborne declared that competition should
be guaranteed as against the patented
pavements, but Leader McCran main
tanned that the Highway Commission to
De created could be trusted to handle that
and it should be left with them.
Senate No. 3, the companion measure
re-organizing the State Road Department,
was passed 16 to 2, Ackerson, of Mon
mouth, and Barber, Of Warren, voting
against it. 1t creates a non-salaried
State Highway Commission of eight mem
bers to be bipartisan, except that the
Governor is made, ex-ofiicio, a member
with the deciding vote in case of a tie.
This Commission is to have full control
of the Department, appoint the State
Highway Engineer, etc. The term of
State Road Commissioner Stevens, Dem
ocrat, has already expired and he is hold
ing over until the new Department is or
anized.
The bill imposing a direct state tax of
81 a $1,000 for five years to provide a
fund estimated at SIS 100000 for the
construction of the highway system, was
passed by the Assembly yesterday after
noon, the vote being SO to Il. Robinson,
Of Bergen, was the only Republican to
vote against it, while all the Democrats
present opposed it with their votes. On
Monday night the Democrats succeeded
in holding this bill up temporarily by
raising the point that as drawn it did not
provide for the additional tax on the rail
road property or bank stock. When this
argument was advanced by Mr.. Geran,
the Democratic leader, it Immediately at
tracted attention, and Mr.. Ohphant, the
Republican leader, asked that it lie over
temporarily. This was lone and then it
was taken yesterday afternoon and
passed.
The Senate yesterday afternoon passed
the bill giving to municipalities the right
to initiate ordinances on any question,
including liquor regulations. This right
is now conferred on commission govern
ment cities and this bill, by Mr.. Hates,
of Camden, gives it to all other municipal
titles. The vote was II to O. The
method of initiating a vote of the people
in any town on a proposed ordinance is
to file with the governing body a petition
signed by fifteen per cent. of the voters.
The vote is to be taken at a special or
general election as the governing body
may determine after a hearing on this
question. If a majority of the legal
voters vote for the ordinance it becomes
valid and binding. ANY ordinance adopt
ed by the people cannot be repealed ex-
cept by vote of the people.
Another bill passed in the Senate yes
terday afternoon provides for the equali-
cation of tax assessments as between
counties. 1t is by Senator Pierce, of
Union County, who is a tax expert 1t
gives the State Board of Taxes and As
easements the power to equalize the ratio
of the assessments between the counties,
and is important in view of the probable
ity of the enactment of the state road tax
measure.
The substitute for the Gaunt-Maekay
local option bills was defeated in the As
sembly on Monday evening by the vote
of SO to 10. Those voting for it were +:
Atkinson and Read, Of Mercer: Bramhall,
of Essex: Edgar. of Middlesex: Glover.