The Penn's Grove record., 1920-03-12
Lawmakers Slow
With Legislation
Both Houses Wait on Governor
Whe Keeps Back His List
of Appointments

ing for a commission to investigate
rent. ~profiteering in New Jersey.
The adverse vote on the measure
was a surprise to many representatives
of rentpayers' organizations who nave
been lobbying in Trenton. The feso-
luton called for a commission OF TWO
members of the senate and three OF
the assembly to be appointed by Gov
ernor Edwards with power to lnVestl-
gate housing conditions and consider
the matter of "so-called rent pro1teer-
ING in the state The recommends
tions of such committee were TO De
presented to the assembly during the
present session.
Some members of the house who
voted against the resolution declared
that their action did not show their
disapproval of legislation to curp
greedy landlords, but the appointment
of the commission provided in the
resolution at this time when the SEES
sion is nearing the end of its session
would not have given the body time
enough to formulate adequate recon-
mendations to meet he situation.
Other anti-profiteering landlord bills,
it is anticipated, may receive dlffereht
considerations on the part of the as
semblymen.
The session of the senate did not
get under way until nearly 9 O'Clock.
Chaplain Read in his invocation pray
ed for tie preservation of the Amerl-
can Sabbath, and that the senators
would take no action to bring about
it's commercialization.
Among the bills passed in the senate
were Senate 10S by White, which al
lows a voter remaining at the same
address from which he registered at
the preceding election to register with
the municipal clerk, and Senate o. by
Pilgrim, increasing from $1,000 to S.
600 the salary of district court depu-
ties.
The house passed Assembly 119 by
Assemblyman ToZer of Bergen, which
provides for al Appropriation of So0,-
600 in order TO establish "a permanent
memorial of the camp and the supreme
sacrifice of many of the men who pass
ed through Camp Merritt The money
vii be uSed in erecting a suitable
mum at The intersection of
Knickerbocker road and Madison ave-
nue., and the Bergen County Board OF
~FreehoIders will be custodian of the
memorial.
The house passed Assembly 20f,
which provides that corporation coun-
sci in first class cities may have the
power of naming their assistants.
House 80 was lost by a vote of 2S to
u, it requiring 81 votes to pass a
measure in the house. II was later
reconsidered and recommitted. 1t pro
vided that clerks of County Boards of
Taxation be given protection under
tenure of office. House AZ regulating
salaries of district court clerks was
passed.
AsSemblyman McAteer introduced
two bills by unanimous consent. One.
No. 522, provides for creation of a
State Industrial Museum, and No. 523
%appropriates $4,000 for its mainte-
nance.
Not the slightest movement of Gov
ernd. Edwards prize bag was visible
| DIS tit clSltl NtSh VI lIC lNSi1lttNiNS
session opened. Of all the long list eff
important appointments to be made,
none has yet emerged from the eXecu-
tive office.
1t is reported, however. that the
governor has no intention of opening
the bag until the last week of the SEES
sion. which now appears to be due
about the first week in April. With
woman suffrage and beer legislation
finally disposed of and no prospect of
immediate action upon the pending
utility measures, interest ebbed to "A
low level and the members of both
houses appeared l~istless.
AssembIyman Warner of Union failed
to corral enough votes to put through
his resolution providing FOR a commits
sion composed OF three assemblymen
and two senators to investigate and
report at this session on housing con
ditiOns and rent prOtiteering. Demo-
cratic Leader Barrett opposed the res
olution on the ground that there is
pending a bill, suggested by the gov
ernor. providing for the appointment
of a commission to conduct such an in
v~estigation and there would be no
time for such inquiry during the ses-
sion. Others joined the opposition,
and the Republicans being divided, the
measure was defeated.
County Tax Clerk Protection.
There was another political scrap in
the house over Mr.. ROwland's bill in
tended to keep the secretaries of cOun~
ty boards of taxation in their Jobs de-
spite political changes in government.
Leader Barrett leaped OIL the bill for
the Democrats. declaring it was poor
craftsmanship. in view of the fact that
a Democratic governor has the power
to make these county boards become
Democratic and they would no doubt
choose secretaries of their own party.
Mr.. Rowland said the members of the
WY "TND ~ D DTU