Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-03-24
MOTOR VEHICLE
BILL PASSED
First Real Partisan Scrap of
Legislature Develops on G..
O. P. Move to Save Dill
Bu spccio, Correspondent.

By Special Correspondent.
TRENTON, March 24.-The first
real partisan scrap of the present ses-
sion of h legislature was staged
yesterday afternoon when the Republic
can majority On the house asserted
Itself and passed the bill to take the
job of motor vehicle commissioner
away from the Democrats n by put
ting 1t under State Comptroller Bugbee
give 1t to a Republican at $4,000 a
year. The vote was thirty-two for
N twenty-five against, on strict party
lines. The Office is now held by VIII
liam L. Dill, of Paterson, whom the
Democratic administration announced
last week would be re-appointed II
the Republicans permitted the motor
vehicle department to continue under
the secretary of state who has the ap-
pointment of the commissioner.
The bill now goes to Governor
Edwards who will veto 1t and then
1t is probable that the Republicans
will pass the measure over his head.
1T is a bitter and personal regret
TO me to see my personal friend. Will
liam l.. Dill removed from the of1ce
which he has glorifed and which |
believe, as the result of his work,
would run along without him. de-
Cared Republican Floor Leader Bar,
rett, after attacks had been made upon
III III Wy NV
the start of the present administration
the governor Is said to have declared
there was no intention to rename the
present commissioner, and the COM
missioner told me in his w language
that his head was in the basket"
Hershfield reused the Ire of the
Democrats by declaring hat 1.-The
truth of The matter is we are afraid
to trust this office to anyone but Will
liam l.. Dill" He said this after say
ing that Dill, If re-appointed, would
have no fixed term of office n might
subsequently be removed and some
n else named who would throw the
power of the Office to a North Jersey
County" meaning Hudson.
will you as majority leader use
your influence to have him re-appoint-
ed under this BILL" asked Assembly
man DeVoe, Democrat, of Middlesex.
At have not influence in such a mat
ter" replied Hershfeld, but II the
majority SO requests will do what l
can"
Democratic Leader Barrett, of Es-
sex, said Hershfield's remark about
trusting Dill was an insult to the
members OF the Democratic party.
Prior to the passage of the bill he
offered an amendment to give the
appointment to Governor Edwards
and have It confirmed by the senate.
I1o SoIltCiIuCo tiC bticNtioh VI III
commissioner ought to go to the man
who was elected by the people last
fall and not to the man who was de-
feated.
Ask Edwards to Hold Body.
Representatives of chamber of COM
merce boards, of freeholders and
others interested in highway building
throughout the state today appeared
here before Governor Edwards and
asked him to retain in office the pres
ent state highway commission and to
continue the services of State High
way Engineer William G.. Thompson.
The Delegation was headed by Henry
w. Leeds president of the Atlantic
City Chamber of Commerce, State
Senator G. d. White of that county
and Commissioner William S. Cubert,
of the Shore municipalities.
while we have since 1894 a state
highway department." said Mr.. Leeds
addressing the governor" it failed in
q large measure to accomplish the
purpose for which it was intended, to
develop a continuous system of per-
manent highways such as would give
state wide benefit II relief. We,
therefore earnestly appeal to you,
Governor. for a continuation of our
efficient highway commission in order
that its policy of highway administra-
ton and it's program of economical
and permanent highway construction
may be continued until its completion,
ut is our opinion this commission has
rendered value received to the state"
Mr.. Leeds said.
This also applied to Engineer
Thompson who should be retained.
The administration bill in the house
to abolish commission has just been
amended to provide for a bipartisan
commission of four each to receive
$500 a year.
The terms of Walter j. Buzby, of
Atlantic City, and Warren G. Clark, Of
Tenafly, two members Of the high
way board ended today and the Gov
ernor will have the naming Of their
successors If the bill for the new
board Is not passed.