The Monmouth inquirer., 1918-02-21
BIG NEED TO
CUT MORE ICE
Cognizance of Prospective Short
age in State Was Taken
by the Legislature.
PRESS is ASKED TO AID
Request Widest Publicity to the ur-
aency Of the sitration-HeaIth and
Prosperity OF People May Be
Endangered by Ignorance.

Cognizance of prospec-
tive scarcity of ice in the state during
the coming summer was taken in the
legislature when the house adopted a
concurrent resolution, introduced by
Mr.. Hirshfield of Passaic county, call
ing attention to the danger.
Mr. Hirshfeld put the measure in at
the suggestion of Governor Edge fol-
lowing a conference in which the as
semblyman sought the assistance of the
executive department to take action
similar to that in New York, where
former Governor Odell has been made
state Ice administrator to prepare for
the extra demands which will come
from the federal government.
The resolution is one, as the title
states, calling the attention of the
the necessity for Immediately harvest
ing and storing three times their nor
NAL cut of natural ice, to safeguard
the public health and insure the pres
ervatior of perishable foods during the
coming summer period"
The press is requested to give the
widest possible publicity to the ur-
gency of the situation, that the health,
welfare and prosperity of the people
may not be endangered through igno-
rance of existing conditions
The resolution was adopted unani-
mously in the house, but not without
some persiflage.
"Will there be need for three times
the quantity in view of the possible
adoption of prohibition?" asked Mr..
Simpson.
We'll" answered Mr. Hirshfeld,
"there will be so many more dead that
ice will be needed for preserving
them"
Freight and Express by Trolley.
Transportation of freight and eN-
press matter by street car lines, under
supervision of the Public Utilities Com
mission will become possible under the
McAteer bill, House 216, which was
passed by the assembly and which was
sent to the senate for action, The bill
was sent forward under resolution
adopted in the house directing Speaker
Wolverton to sign and Clerk Jeffreys to
send forthwith to the senate all bills
passed by the house.
Mr.. McAteer stated when the bill
was called up that in the present con-
dition of railroad traffic he considered
the bill an absolute necessity TO relieve
distressing condition for the people
and to relieve the transportation sit
uation.
Mr. Morgan declared the bill was
bad, because 1t would permit freight
ears on the streets. Mr.. Lewis sought
to know what effect ordinary freight
transportation would have on accom-
modations for human freight. Mr..
Hirshfield feared freight car use of
streets might depreciate the value of
property in the suburbs. Mr.. Stewart
commented that Newark streets are al
ready crowded Mr.. Hobart said night
transportation was already provided
for under an act passed in 1909.
The plan was not an innovation. Mr..
McAteer contended, because it was an
Improvement on the law of 1909. and
1t was not dangerous because the traf-
fic would be regulated by the Public
Utilities Commission with regard to the
rights of the people He said transpor-
tation at night was not convenient be-
cause business places were not open
to receive freight or express matter.
Prison Keepers Eight Hour Bill.
There was no disposition apparent
ny the majority in the senate favorable
to an eight-hour day for keepers of the
state prison and other institutions of
the state, as provided for in bill fos-
tered by Senator Hammond of Mercer
county. The senator made brief
statement in support of the measure,
but found some of his colleagues, espe-
cially Senator Wells. chairman of the
Senate Appropriations Committee, out
of sympathy with it. TIL eresult was
that he had the bill laid over for future
consideration.
Mr.. Wells. in opposing the bill. ques
toned whether the state was financial
ly able to establish such a system, re-
marking that should the present bill
pass next year almost every institution
in the state would want an eight-hOnr
day, with a consequent increased draft
upon state funds.
"In answer TO the senator from Bur
Iington," replied Mr. Hammond. II
would say that when the fall campaign
rolls around we will he pointing to
certain side of the ledger, telling how
much money we have saved. We can
save money, It is true. By ignoring the
welfare of these men and women. who
labor under a strain dissimilar from
that OF the labor in many other posi-
tions When the fall campaign comes
around, don't let US say that we saved
money at the expense of these men
and women"
When the roll call failed to attract
The necessary vrtes the senator from
Mercer had the bill laid over for the
dime being.