The Penn's Grove record., 1921-01-07
State Senate in Special Session
Denies Confirmation to New
Utility Commissioners.
STATE POLICE ARE NEEDED.
Farmers of South Jersey Have Made
Comprehensive Survey of Traffic
That VIII Use New Cam
den Bridge.

IN OIlllll commissioners were DOI
confirmed by the state senate IN spe-
cial session. In a ten-minute executive
session the senate, by a vote of 9 to 8,
refused to force the Senate judiciary
Committee to report the nominations
to the senate. The brief session adj
journed without date. The nominal
lions, therefore, will die with the open
ing Of the 1921 Legislature.
Senators Pilgrim of Essex and
Mackay of Bergen, Republicans, did
not attend the session. and Senator
Haines of Camden, Republican. is now
county registrar and has surrendered
his legislative seat.
Republican senators in conference
were urged by Senator Bright of Cape
May to have the nominations reported
out of the judiciary Committee. Sen
ator Runyon of Union supported the
move on the part of Senator Bright.
On roll call on this motion Bright and
Runyon were Joined by Senator Whit
ney of Morris. Senator Sturgess of
Gloucester did not take sides on the
action. Eight other senators opposed
the reporting of the nominations.
While the Republicans were hold
ing a party caucus the six Democratic
senators agreed to introduce a resolu-
ton to relieve the Senate judiciary
Committee of the names suggested by
Governor Edwards for the new board.
When the session met at 8 O'Clock
thp pypp1tiyp cacSiop IyaS i'm mp6ia TO-
ly ordered. Democratic Leader Brown
Of Middlesex offered the resolution to
relieve the committee of further con-
sideration of the nominations. A vote
was taken, resulting in nine of the
Republican senators opposing the
Brown resolution and six Democratic
and three Republican senators favor
ing it. Senators Runyon, Whitney and
Bright voted with the Democrats.
Republican senators who voted
against the resolution to have the sen
ate take a vote on the nominations
made by the governor took the posi-
ton that the appeal sued out by the
ousted Board of Public Utility Com
m%issiOners acts as a stay and will con-
tinue the board in office until the
Court of Appears hands down a deci-
sion in the case.
Alfred n. Barber, secretary of the
Board of Public Utility Commission
ers. when asked what attitude the Gust
ed commissioners would sun in
view of the rundown by the senate
of the new Edwards board, said:
"The administrative work of the
Board of Public Utility Commission
ers. which is of such a nature that it
does not require formal action by the
board. is proceeding without Interrupt
ton. [. of course, have not had oppor-
tunity to communicate with the mem
bers of the board since the session of
the senate. 1t is my understanding,
however. that while the present CON
dition exists the board will not press
70 a final determination important mat
ters unless it appears formal action by
it is necessary or advisable to protect
the public interest. In any such case
action will be taken upon the assump-
ton that the board, being h only
Public Utility Commission functioning,
can assert in the public interest the
authority of the law.
1.-The increase in fares which the
Public Service Railway Company pro-
posed to make effective January l a
been. by a formal order of the board
entered some weeks ago. suspended I'M
til April 81, 1921. The increase pro-
posed by the Trenton and Mercer
County Traction Corporation was. by
an order entered at an earlier date,
SUSPENDED until February %, 1921.
Il understand the board to take the
position that there will be ample time
for it's legal status to be finally deter
mined and the question of the reason
ableness of the proposed to be fully
heard and determined either by it or
by a new board before the expiration
of the periods of SUSPENSION
State Police Needed.
In the suggested remedies for the
suppression of crime will be found
strong argument in favor of the or
g~anization of a state police or con-
stabulary system. Several of the
speakers at a recent conference evil
IDENTIFY had that in mind, though timid
about advocating it. The principle
is contained in the proposal that Mr..
Dill be designated to coordinate tho
police departments Of the state, and
in the plan 10 establish a federal bu-
reau of Investigation.
The subject of protection in the
rural districts received considerable
attention, and it is a fact thar many
of the more serious crimes in this
state recently were committed in rural
sections and the smaller municipali-
ties which lack sufficient policemen.
There is a prejudice against a state
co~nstabulary system which cannot be
entirely accounted for by the fear on
the part of organized labor that vii
might be used to their disadvantage.
Properly organized and managed.
such a force would be a great aid in
combating the so-called crime wave !"