Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-07
move TO REGULATE
I. J|TNEyS IN JERSEY
Bill to Displace Motor Vehicle
Commissioner Awaits Vote
in House
l0NG-STANDING GRIEVANCE

Special Dispatch 70 ErcrinG rWbH" Ledger
Trenton, March T.-politicinns see in
the favorable reporting Of the bill TO
dismiss William T.. Dill. motor vehi-
Gle commissioner, a move on the part
Of traction interests to get control OF
the department Of motor vehicles and
bring about state regulation of jitnrys.
Assemblyman Joseph J. Loori, Re-
publican. Of Jersey City, introduced the
bill to dismiss Commissioner Dill. Mr.
Loori Is chairman of the House COM
mittee on revision of laws, which ia
vorably reported the bill to the Assem-
bly,. The other members Of the com
mittce approving the measure are Corin.
Of Atlantic Downs. Of Morris; Evans.
of Passnic, and Champion, Of Essex.
I The Loori bill is now awaiting vote
IN the House II proposes that the
Legislature in joint session shall an.
point new motor commissioner. This
years Legislature being overwhelmingly
Republican. n member OF that party
would get the job. The bill would also
raise the motor commissioner salary
| from $500 to 5000 n year. tommis-
sioner Dill receives $1,000 wear as
assistant secretary of state which. with
the $1,000 compensation as motor COM
missioner entities him to $+I00 year.
Salary Is Not Target
Republicans and Democrats agree
that the $500 salary is not the real
goal prompting the attempts to get Mr..
Dill out Of office. \ year ago the
Democrats were willing that Commis-
sioncr Dill should be turned down as
motor commissioner. \ rousing cam
paign on the part Of his supporters
compelled the Democratic administra-
tiOn to reappoint him.
The 1920 Republican House of As
scmbly failed by two votes to override
vetoed bill 10 place the motor de-
partment under the state controller
and thereby gain the right to appoint
the county and city motor vehicle
agents. whose fees are based upon the
number of licenses issued and said to
be quite rcmuncrative.
Opposition of the jitney associations
to regulation of their business from
Trenton by the new board Of public
utility commissioners has thus far held
up anti jitney regulation bills. Some
basis Of compromise may be reached
before Adjournment Of the Legislature
by the trolley and jitncy interests.
From a State House viewpoint. leg
! "
/ by the motor vehicle department would
have better chance of getting by the
lawmakers than the various hills to
have the Public Utility Commission
supervise jitnryS in competition with
trolley companies.
Little surprise was expressed in the
legislative halls today when the stories
of the reported move on the part OF
the traction interests to Oust Commls. L.
-. 10 lnf flnU Af
jitneys became known. South Jersey
legislators have felt aggrievpd for some
years over failure 20 establish nddi :
tionul registration agencies in certain
counties. Lawmakers from the north =
ern counties want Republican as
chief Of motor vehicle department.
Commissioner Dill has served one five
year term and completed year of MS
second term.
The name Of George F. Wright. Of
Paterson. was linked with rumors
started in connection with III" reporting
of the bill for Rcpuhlican motor
vehicle commissioner. Mr.. Wright Il
a power in Republican circles in Pas
sale county. lie was a member Of the
board Of public utility commissioners
recently dismissed by Governor Ed
wards.
Passage Of the Loori bill would
bring II Formidable array of candidates
into the fled for the place.
Senators from the p"puIouS counties
will seek to amend the Van Ness pro-
hibtion enforcement bill by inserting
trial by jury for hootlegg"rS. The
bill comes up in the Senate tonight
for consideration. The prinrlpa
amendment proposed concerns the jury
trial feature. although a"rrrtan"e 4"
other changes mny delay hnaI vote