Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-04
BOARD
NOW ORGANIZED
Chief Counsel and Secretary
Named Today Thos.
Brown for Assistant.


TRENTON, May 4-The State
Public Utility Commission complet-
ed organization today with the ap-
pointment of l.. Edward Hermann
Democrat. of Jersey City, chief
counsel from May 1, and Alfred n.
Barber. Republican of this city, sec
retary for similar term. Mr.. Bar
ber has been secretary since the
creation of the board.
The post of assistant counsel
held by Ralph N. Cullen, of Camden
was not filled. It's successor will
probably be a Democrat.
1t was explained that it was GUS
tomary to select these officers from
year to year, and after the years
tenure. important changes will be
made, Senator Brown of MiddleseX
being slated for chief counsel,
which pays $500 a year. The sec
retary's salary is $1,000 a year, and
that of assistant counsel $3,50O.
TRENTON, May Although
the Public Utility Board has not yet
taken action on the three important
positions which it has before 1t to
fill, in accordance with the annual
May reorganization, it seems defl-
nitely assured that Alfred n. Bar
Der, of this city, will be retained in
the position of secretary and that
Ralph n. kellam, of Camden, will
be succeeded by a new man as assls-
tant counsel. This disposes of the
two Republicans. The status OF
Chief Counsel l.. Edward Hermann
of Jersey City, Democrat, seems to
be in doubt. 1t is likely that the
commission may settle the whole
matter today.
This was the situation here this
morning following the various man
oeuvers yesterday the most impor-
tant of which was the conference
which Governor Edwards held with
the members of the commission,
Messrs. Treacy, Osborne and Bach
arach late yesterday afternoon. AL
though nothing was given to the
representatives of the press as to
what transpired in the executive Of
fee, it is generally understood that
the filling of three jobs was the sub
ject of discussion.
Run.or had it that Chairman
Treacy of the commission refused
to change his attitude, taken some
time ago, that Secretary Barber
ought to be retained because his
long experience in that position has
made him the best fitted man for 1t
in the state. The chairman of the
commission, who is a Democrat,
served three years on the board
prior to 1916, when Mr.. Barber and
he became intimate.
1t is understood that Mr.. Barber
is to be reappointed for a year. That
the place which Mr.. kellam has
been filling is to be given to Jer-
sey City Democratic lawyer, the
no hni of
Wahl Queen. There is apparently
strong inclination upon the part of
the utility board to retain Mr.. Herr
mann, who has been the counsel to
this body since 1916, for the same
reason that prompts the support for
Barber. During the Edge admins
tration. when the board was Repub-
lican, an attempt was made to re-
move Hermann, who is Demo-
crat. to make way for Republican,
but it failed. Mr.. Hermann, be-
cause of his long association with
the work of the com mission is re-
garded as a valuable member of its
staff of advisers.
The name of State Senator Thomas
Brown of Middlesex. has been men
toned frequently as successor to Mr..
Hermann. Brown has been one of
the governors supporters in the leg
islature and it is understood that he
aside at the time the Mid
dleseX county prosecutorship was
filed last winter with the assurance
that he would be made counsel to
the new Utility Board. There now
seems a possibility that he may be
made assistant counsel, which pays
$4,000 a year. with the idea of sub
Sequently becoming chief counsel at
a higher rate of compensation. This
cOntemplates the reten-
tion of Mr.. Hermann in the capa-
city of special advisory counsel. This
was the course followed back in 1916
when Mr.. Hermann, then secretary
to Governor Fielder. became counsel
to the Utility Commission at about
$4,000 year, and Frank Sommer'
who had been counsel was continued
as special advisory counsel at S2,500.
Now Mr.. Hermann receives $500.
out there is no advisory counsel.
There were rumors yesterday aft
ernoon that the conference between
Governor Edwards and the Utility
Board members was marked by some
sharp discussion. When the COVER
nor was asked as to this he stated
that there had been nothing of the
kind. There was another rumor that
one of the Democratic commission
ers had even threatened to resign
at the meeting.
When Mr.. Edwards was asked as
to this he scoffed at the story, and
said 1t was ridiculous.
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