The Penn's Grove record., 1921-02-11
HOT BATTLE over
STATE POLICE BILL
Woman Element in Legislature
Turns in With Farmers and
Industrial Captains.
LABOR LEADERS OPPOSED
Bill Gives Home Rule to TcWns-Simp-
son Measure Intended to Meet OBJ
jections to Enforcement Act.
Rum and Beer Distinct.

Trenton.-It was a renewal of the
longtime fight with the same well
known alignments. save that women
a new element, was injected at the
public hearing upon the state constab-
ulary bill. Endorsed by the powerful
manufacturing interests and many OF
the farmer organizations, the opposite
side was strongly represented by the
officers of labor organizations which
have In other years been formidable
enough to prevent establishment of the
system.
Pleas from rural sections Of the state
for the protection likely to be afforded
by a well-trained, alert and courageous
force, ready upon call to meet and
grapple with emergencies, have come
for years, and these have been acceu-
tuated by the deplOrable outbreak of
crime which seems to battle the skill
and energies of existing police organ
izations.
That such a mobile force as a state
constabulary would be effective in sup
pressing such crime is, some of its op-
ponents assert, open to serious ques-
ton. One who advocated the proposed
force put forth the naive argument ];
"a thug could hear a horse approach,
but he couldn't hear a motorcycle"
This was meant to suggest that it
would be better to organize a motor
cycle patrol force, as suggested by the
bill presented by Senator Parry Of Es-
sex.
Women Largely Favor Bill
The hearing brought out some Of
these arguments, but it was largely
along the lines presented by both sides
every time such bills have appeared.
which has been almost every year in
the past ten. The hearing also devel-
oped the apparent fact that a great
majority of the women of the state.
or at least a majority of the members
Of the New Jersey Women's Repub-
lican Club, are emphatically in favor
of the bill.
Senator Simpson fought vigorously
10 amend the bill when it came up for
second reading in the senate, so that
the force provided under the bill could
not be used in any labor disturbance.
The measure was reported with com
mittee amendments. these changes pro-
viding that the force should not be
used In a town or city unless the gov
erning body requested the constabu-
larry and the governor ordered it.
These amendments were adopted.
Then Senator Simpson presented his
amendment to make it impossible 10
use the force in. a labor controversy.
He asserted that the adoption of this
amendment would give the rural dis
tricts the protection they were entitled
to and at the same time dispose of the
charge that the measure was inimical
TO the interests of organized labor.
The amendment vas voted down by
a tie, 8 to g.. Those favoring the
amendment were Barber, Brown, Rays
and Simpson, Democrats; Bright, Par
ry, Reeves, Runyon and Smith, Re
publicans. Those opposed to it were
Case, Hagaman, Mackay, Stevens,
Wallworth, B. Fl. White, c. D. White
and Whitney, Republicans, and Heath,
Democrat.
Utilities to Wait on Courts
No further move is to be made In the
utility situation until the Court of Err
rors has announced its decision upon
the appeal Of the ousted board. That
was the conclusion reached at the Joint
conference Of Republicans Of the Sen
ate and House. 1t had been assumed
that the WaIlworth bill passed by the
Senate, with the hallmark Of approval
of the foremost leaders, would go
through the Assembly promptly and
without q hitch, some guessers ever
having 1t down for action under gus
pended rules because of the pressing
need for an early solution Of the whole
vexed problem which the bill Is pre-
sumed to present. But some Assembly
are said to have entered a protest,
claiming that hasty action In advance
Of the court decision might further
complicate matters, since there is no
absolute certainty that the decision
will sustain Governor Edwards custer.
The Republican conference also call
ed a temporary halt. upon Mrs. Van
Ness dry enforcement bill, which had
been tentatively arranged for action
in the Assembly. The original meas
ure, SO ~far-reaching and perilous as to
arouse fears Of reaction among many
Of the best wishers Of prohibition, has
been emasculated and skinned In the
Judiciary Committee substitute, but it
is not yet in shape to meet the ap-
proval Of those who do not care to in
wade the constitutional rights of citi-
zens by such methods as the measure
proposed.
Printed copies of the substitute have
been out only since the latter part of
last week, and many members claimed
they had had insufficient time to scan
the twenty-five pages. For that rea-
consideration of the bill was de-
Hard shedding is predicted for
1t in any event.
Provide for Review