The Penn's Grove record., 1921-02-25
JERSEY To HAVE
ITS COAL PROBE
Legislative Commission to Make
Inquiry Favored Unanimously
by Assembly.
ASSAULT ON HIGH PRICES
Committee Reports Bill After Repre-.
sentatives of Many Towns Pro.
test-Restriction to Newark and
Jersey City is Unsuccessful.

Trenton.-New Jersey is to have a
coal probe of its own. The assembly
without a dissenting vote adopted Sen
ator MacKay's resolution providing for
the appointment Of a commission of
senators and assemblymen to make in
vestigation and report to the legisla-
ture. When the measure came up I'm
the house, Majority Leader Rowland
said 1t was intended to supplement the
inquiry conducted by Congress and
that 1t was evident there is ample
for such an inquiry In New
Jersey.
1t has been a source of much COM
plant by consumers that high prices
are maintained by a combine and that
New Jerseys comparative nearness to
the mines gives it no advantage as to
prices.
The senate made it a little harder
for the Democratic organization of
Jersey City to control commission gov
eminent elections, when 1t passed the
bill presented in the house by Leader
Rowland of Camden. The measure re-
peals the MacAteer law, passed in
1920, making necessary special regis
tration for commission government
elections. Senator Wallworth fathered
the bill and argued that it was a hard
ship for the voters to be compelled to
register for municipal elections In ad-
dition to the registration necessary for
the general elections. OF course, he
did not make reference to the fact
that the bill was aimed at the control
of Jersey City by the Hague machine,
although Senator Parry, of Essex, did
allude TO this fact.
Senator Parry asserted that it was
wanted by the Jersey City and Newark
Democratic organizations because it
was possible for them to get their or
g%anizatiOn members out to register,
while the independent voters would
not take enough interest to register.
No counsel for the probers was Sc
lected, but it was pretty well under
stood after the sessions work that the
men will come from outside Hudson
county, thus eliminating former Judge
Carey, Colonel Vickers and others who
have not been mentioned.
The .anti-Hague progress consisted
of passing the repeater of the Mac
Ateer law of 1920 in the senate, and
the passage of the Franklin bill in the
house. The MacAteer act provides for
special registration for city commits
sion elections, and it's repeal will mean
the carrying over of last falls voters.
The Franklin bill will wipe out pref
erential voting and will bring back the
old plan of having a primary to select
10 men, these 10 men to run for the
five commissionerships at the election.
Opposition Develops
1t was revealed in the hearing on
these bills that there was considerable
opposition to the last easu among
the Republicans, and some doubt was
expressed by Assemblyman Franklin
whether it would go through.
1t was not expected to be reported
out of the committee, but after a can
vass of the members he found that 1t
had sufficient supporters to put it
over"
Not one representative from Jersey
City appeared at the hearing, contrary
to expectations, since the bill was in
troduced primarily for handicapping
the Democratic organization in Jersey
City and Newark. The bill did not
suffer, however, from lack of oppO-
nents.
William A. Kavanaugh, assistant
corporation attorney of Hoboken, de-
clared that it would be playing in the
hands Of the big political parties and
would enable them to nominate their
candidates, and the whole affair would
be cut and dried.
The bill was a slap at everyone wish
ing to run for commissioner-lawyers,
doctors or any other business or pro-
fessional men-he said.
Saves $40, 900; Then Spend $4,000
Corporation Counsel Congleton of
Newark couldn't see the logic or the
economy argument of the Republicans
In saving $4,000 by wiping out the
registration day and spending
100000 for the holding Of a special pri-
mary election.
Mayor Charles P. Gillen of Newark
along the same lines and reiter-
ated the opinions of the other speak
ers that it al playing into the hands
Of machines of both parties.
Henry Hilfers of the State Fedora
ion Of Labor characterized the bill as
'eactionary and expressed the opinion
hat 1t would result in destroying ma
|ority rule.
Others who opposed the bill at the
were Joseph E. Gum, DR.. Will
G. Hanrahan. Frank Book of New !
lrk and City Attorney Patrick Harding
# Haddonfield.
Mackay Selected Chairman
The joint legislative committee APP
to investigate whatever Re
'ublicans think need Investigating met
nd selected Senator Mackay as chair
nan.
Hudson Lawyers Eliminated
The committee talked over the posi-
:lS<~ H,J.o, -