The Penn's Grove record., 1920-04-02
Governor Sends
Utility Message
The Plum Tree Shaken. Salem
County Given New PrOss-
cutOr and New Circuit
Court Judge

MISUNDERSTANDING that existing
laws regulating control of utility COR
porat.ons by the Utility Commission
are confusing and operate against the
interests of the public, Governor Ed
wards in a special message to the
legislature, urges prompt passage of
the Gaede bills for the reorganization
of the Public Utility Commission and
additional legislation to be prepared
by a conference between the commit
tee and the attorney general.
Noting that the bills have not yet
been reported out of committee, the
Governor recalls his promise to sug-
gest to the legislature remedial legis-
lation OF the subject, among sugges-
tons, he recommends that the legisla-
ture pass laws to make clearer the
powers and duties of the commission.
The message deals altogether with
laws to make better the administra-
ton of the public utilities, and de-
clares that decisions of the courts
have left many provisions of the laws
IN doubt.
One defect is the provision limiting
the power of the board to suspend
rates for three months, pending in
v~estigatiOn, which the Governor says
operates to the disadvantage of the
public because the utility corporation
absorbs so much time that there is no
time left for proper investigation by
the board.
1T is i~ntolerable," says the mes
sage, "that the law should be so Is to
leave proper presentation of the pub
lies side in great controversies de-
pendent upon the grace of any Co..
poration.
decisions of the courts holding:
that the Public Utility Commission
can disregard municipal ordinance
contracts appears to have created
great confusion as to the legal status
of the rights of these corporations and
of the public. Remedial legislation
is urged to correct this evil"
The message calls attention to the
difference In valuation Of public utili-
ties in taxation and for rate making
purposes and suggests that this be
Strengthened out by new legislation.
The Governor makes plain that he
will not allow legislation to Interfere
with the trial of the Public Utility
Commission on the charges filed
against it by Jersey City.
Edwards Makes Appointments.
Governor Edwards sent = long list
OF IN 1fntments to
L@mation.
Among them was the appointment of
Ralph w. e. Donges, one of the orig
inal public utility commissioners named
by President Wilson when he was gov
ernor. Mr.. Donges is elevated to the
Circuit Court bench. Among the ap-
pointments were the following:
Prosecutors of the Pleas-Monmouth
county, Charles F. Sexton of Long
Branch, reappointed Burlington, JON
athan H. Kelsey, Pemberton, reap
pointed; Salem, Daniel w. Beckley,
Monroeville, to succeed Daniel V. Sum-
merrill. Jr., Penns Grove; Somerset,
Azariah NJ. Beekman of Somerville,
reappOinted.
Judge of Circuit Court for circuit
comprising Burlington, Salem, Allan
tic, Gloucester and Cape May-Ralph
w. E. Donges of Camden, n of the
original public service commissioners
appointed by President Wilson when
governor Of New Jersey. He will sue
coed Howard r. Carrow.
District Court Judges-Somerset
county, William F. Vosseller of Bound
Brook, reappointed Mercer, John A.
Montgomery OF Trenton, reapDointed;
Camden, Rudolph F. Ayres, appointed
under a new act to preside over the
First Judicial District of that county
as established by the statute.
State Public Lib airy Commission
John P. Dullard of Trenton, reappOint-
ed.
To be Member of the Civil Service
CommissiOn-Theodore H. Smith of
Jersey City, county of Hudson, to sue
coed Max Miller of Hoboken.
To be President Judges of the Court
of Common Pleas-Edwin E. Marshall
of Trenton, county of Mercer, reap
pointed Ruff V. Lawrence of Free
hold, county of Monmouth, reappoint-
ed; Frank L. Cleary of S~omerville,
county of Somerset, to succeed Daniel
Beekman of Somerville.
State Board of Taxes and Assess
ment-James Baker of Jersey City,
county of Hudson. to succeed Fred
erick Gentieu of P"nns Grove