Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1921-02-21
UTILITY BOARD
MOVE TONIGHT
State Senate to Hold Center
of Stage When Legislature
Meets for 7th Time.
TO ACT ON NOMINATIONS
Edwards New Utility Board
and WallWorth Bill for New
Body Will be Acted Upon
TO ACT ON NOMINATIONS
BY Special Correspondent.

BY Special Correspondent.
TRENTON. Feb. 21:-The state
senate will hold the center of the
legislative stage tonight when the
lawmakers return for their seventh
week of work. A move upon the
part of the administration forces in
the upper branch of the legislature
Is looked for here tonight to get
some action upon Governor Ed
wards five nominations to the new
utility board. which have been slum-
bering in the bosom in the judiciary
committee of that body since the
opening day of the present session
and before that in the 1920 senate.
The errors court has spoken and
has by a close vote upheld the re-
moval of the old board. The attitude
In the senate has been wait until
the court decides the utility boards
appeal before taking up the nomi-
nations"
However. the Wailworth bill,
which creates a new utility board
and gives the governor the power to
name three $4,000 mmissioners,
has passed both senate and assem-
bly, and is ready Cor consideration
by the governor. Having passed the
lower House last Tuesday, it would
be in order for It to be sent from
the senate. the body In which it
originated, to Mr.. Edwards tonight,
and it is expected that this will be
the course taken by the majority.
Then the governor will have five
days in which to either approve or
veto it.
Thus with the governor insisting
~ a. - nff
MeSsrs- Cleveland, Whittemore
Quinn, Johnson land Hsmill, as
utility commissioners. or reject theii
names. and the Republican leaders
countering with the argument that
the executive should act upon the
Wallworth bill there is likely to be
set-off situation here which will
hold up any definite step toward a
new utility commission for at least
week. 1t is not believed the Re-
publican majority will act to- take
up the fiyeSnominations of Mr.. Ed
wards tonight, or Tuesday. and on
the other hand there is no expecta-
tion that the administration will
rush tomorrow or the next day 10
put its veto or approval upon the
Wallworth bill.
If that measure, which is the Re-
publican state committees idea to
take the utility board "out of poll
tics" becomes a law, the members
appointed under it will be immune
from executive wrath, because il
does not contain the removal clause
in the old act of 1911. So that if
the men appointed under the Wall
worth measure should give the troll
ley companies a ten cent fare, they
'iould be perfectly secure from any
charges and hearing before the gov
ernor and possible ousting from
office, as was the fate of the old
commission which had to handle the
seven cent fare controversy.
Provided there are sufficient votes
TO pass il, it Is anticipated that
Senator Case of Somerset, will move
his state constabulary bill in the
upper House tonight. 1t was due
for final action last week. but the in
troducer did not call it up.
Tonight the senate will likely re-
ceive from the Assembly the pro-
hibition enforcement bill in the
amended form in which it passed
the Assembly last week in spirited
session. 1t is regarded that the
measure will have rough going in
senate. calling for the exercise of
all the political acumen Of the Anti
Saloon Leaf:Gs to force X through
that body. 1t is likely that decid-
ed attempt to include the jury trial
feature for offenders will be made.
probably by Senator C. d. White. OF
Atlantic. who has already declared
for this amendment.
The House judiciary committee
anticipated a likely time this after
noon when IL called the hearing on
the Elliot bill 10 put the jitneys
under the regulation of the Public
Utility Commission. the same as the
trolley companies and similar con-
Germs serving the public. The Elliot
bill is the result of a conference the
Essex assemblyman and several of
his colleague, including Speaker Ho-
bart, are reported to have had with
representatives of the Public Ser
vice at which Elliot agreed to in
troduce the bill. Pitneymen fiocked
here in droves today to protest
against the passage OF the bill.
The hearing was scheduled for ?
O'Clock this afternoon. at which
time the judiciary committee also
planned to hear arguments for the
Peterson bill to create New Jersey
Housing Commissi IN to he named
by the Governor 10 study the hous-
in2 question, aud tho Pierson uill to
create pension and retirement
fund system for state employees.
Other hearings scheduled follow: