The Penn's Grove record., 1920-09-10
Higher License
For Motor Cars
Advocated By FreehOlders. De-
lay in Road Construction
DeplOred

The Board of Chosen Freeholders
at their meeting On Wednesday went
on record as favoring such a general
increase in the fees of all motor We
hicles as will guarantee the building
of more permanent roads thruout the
state. The Board agreed with the
movement which has for its object the
raising of funds by taxing motor
trucks and all other vehicles to secure
the funds to carry out the road build
ing plans of the State Highway Com
mission and the several counties in
the State. The Board also emphatic
ally declared against reciprocity as to
m~otorvehicle traffic with other states
in its present form.
A communication was read by Clerk
Ochs from the New Jersey Commits
sion created under the Motorvehicle
and Traffic Act, which stated that a
bill was being prepared for the pur-
pose of providing for increases in the
registration fees and asked that the
Board answer certain questions en-
bodied in the letter. At previous
meetings the ACCESSIBILITY of the in
crease for the purpose of making the
owners of motorvehicles bear a great
er portion of the burden of road build
ing had been discussed and although
most Of the members are owners of
cars, the board vas unanimous in its
pronouncement in favor of the in
crease. When the motion was made
to go On record for the increase there
was a general interchange of thought
on the subject. 1t was asserted that
the fees of New Jersey were the low
est of n state in the country and
that this state was used by outside
= los more than any other state.
The queTei0ns were aneWered as fol-
lows: The Board beliey in the pro-
posed increase; the Board believes that
the increase should be. such as to make
the fees equal to the average fees of
other states; the Board believes that
the fees should be graded according
to maximum weight and carrying ca
pacity of the cars. The Board then
added it's emphatic opinion as to reci-
procity because it is all one-sided as
is is now.
An Unexpected War Tax
1t was shortly after Director Gray
had called the meeting to order that
the claim of Sutton & Corson, road
building contractors, for losses sus-
tanned by reason of the val while con-
structing the sixth section of the NAL
aga-Penns Grove road was presented.
The claim amounts to $6,956.33, and
represents the difference in wages,
freights on materials and cost of ma
terials prior to the declaration of war
and during the time it took to finish
the road.
Claim is made under the Act of the
Legislature, Chapter 120, 1920, which
permits boards of Freeholders to reim-
burse contractors for losses entailed
by reason of the increase in cost over
the original contract price by reason
of the war. 1t applies only to con-
tracts let subsequently to September
LIST, 1917.
The Sutton & Corson contract was
signed two days after war was declar-
ed. Mr.. Sutton was present and stated
that while the Act would entitle them
to reimbursement for all loss they
would only ask for differences in the
labor, freight and materials as shown
in their statement. A communication
was read from w. T.. billiard, in
which is was stated that the claim was
just and in accordance with the Act.
The principal increases shown in the
statement were labor, $3,483.24;
freights, $1,839.21; cost of materials,
$840.77.
On motion of Mr.. Borton it was de-
cided to have the solicitor make an in
spection of the accounts and verify
them and report at the next meeting
of the Board.
Is Contractor Delaying Job -?
Mr.. Heron called attention of the
Board to the fact that no work was
being done by Burke & Co., the con-
tractor having the work of construct
ing the section of the Pennsyille-
Penns Grove road at Churchtown. He
claimed that to all appearances the
contractor vas laying down on the job,
that he had sold several carloads of
stone tt the dupont Company and had
removed his crane. Mr.. Layman also
said that he did not believe the con-
tractor would have any more trouble
in getting material than the dupont
Company had. Neither of these gen
tlemen thought that any work would
be done until spring.
Engineer Keasbey explaind that Mr..
Burke had sold the material to the du-
Point Company because it was not any
good to him as it was not enough for
him to go ahead with the work and he
could not see his way to getting any
more. Mr.. Keasbey also stated that
he had received from State Highway
Engineer Wasser assurances that an
effort would be made to arrange so
that material could be procured by the
county road contractors.
On motion of Mr.. Heron the En-
gineer was instructed to confer with