Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-01-27
Towards To GUST
TWO STATE BODIES
Governor Would Have Appointed
Utility Board of 3 Members

Bu Special Correspondent.
TRENTON, Jan. 27.-In line with
campaign pledges and his inaugural
message, Governor Edwards started
his legislative activities here last night
with q bang by causing to be intro
duced in the House of Assembly SER
ies OF four bills relating to the Public
Utility Commission situation and also
one measure re- organizing the present
State Highway Commission. The Ed
wards program on the utility question
as outlined in the four bills follows:
Create a Public Utility Valuation
Commission to appraise the property
of all utility companies and vest 1T
with sweeping powers to ascertain all
facts, especially with reference to
"watered stock"
Abolish the present Utility Board Of
five members, THE act to take effect
ten days after it becomes a law.
Appoint three persons to serve as a
Utility Board until their duly elected
and qualified successors shall take Of
fee. The temporary encumbents to
be named by the Governor with the
advice of the Senate.
Provide for permanent Utility
Board of three to be elected by the
people at the next general election
each to serve a term of three years,
3 beginning the first of next January
their successors to be nominated and
elected every three years thereafter
Nominations to this board shall be by
the presentation Of petitions contain
ing one thousand signers and filed
with the Secretary of State, as In the
case of other Statewide officers.
Assemblynan Henry J. Gaede,
Democrat of Hudson County, present
ed the four measures and the battle
is now on for their enactment. With
both branches of the Legislature Rep
ublican, struggle Is expected before
the Democratic administration bills
are passed.
Democratic House Leader Hugh c.
= Barrett, of Essex, put in the High
way Commission re-organtzer, which
Is most drastic bill. 1t chops off the
heads of the present Republican board
and creates q new body of three mem
bers. If 1t Is enacted into law. State
Highway Commissioner William q.
Thompson, will be iegislated out of Of
fee. The act provides for the appoint
ment of State Highway Engineer by
the new Commission "who has been
q resident of New Jersey for period
of not less than five years"
This would eliminate Mr.. Thomp-
son, who was brought into New Jer-
sey by General George w. Goethals to
serve as his assistant under the Edge
highway program. Mr.. Thompson
has not been In New Jersey three
years yet, so the f1ve-year caluse would
eliminate him. Similar provision is
made for the assistant engineer.
The Barrett bill provides that the
Governor shall appoint the new COM
mission Of three, one for one. one for
two and the other for term of three
years Each member Is to receive the
salary of $4,000 year and there is
provision by which not more than
two of the members may be Of the
same political party. The present
board of eight Is non-salared. 1t meets
once month. whereas under the pro-
posed legislation the paid commissio on
must meet at the State House ON each
Tuesday and Friday and every meet
ing must be open to the public. The
present highway department, board
and all would go out of office ten days
after the approval of the Barrett bill.
BY the terms of this measure all
the powers, duties and other privileges
vested in the present commission
would be conferred upon the new
body. All funds for road purposes
shall constitute State road fund, in
Guiding appropriations made for road
purposes by the Legislature, receipts
of tho Motor Vehicle Department. ex-
eept those allotted for interest on State
road bonds, and all moneys for federal
aid or from other purposes shall be
included.
Another administration measure
was the Introduction of a joint resolu-
ton by Assemblyman Barrett, the
minority leader, providing for the ap-
pointment Of commission to investi-
gate and report to this Legislature on
the housing situation. 1t authorizes
the Governor to name five persons to
study the subject of providing homes
for the people of the State. The men,
bers are to receive such compensation
as the Governor may think proper.