The Penn's Grove record., 1922-03-03
Decide to Push Enforcement Bills
Through With Minor Changes
to Meet Objections.
ALL PROTESTS ARE IN VAIN
Mackay Report Reveals Coal Combine
Here-BilIs Will Be offered to Stop
Freezeout of Small Deaiers-Price
Fixing Is Charged.


few minor changes to meet objections.
There is to he no binding ucu yoke,
TO be sure, only an understanding
that the party will stand as a unit for
the measures, Notwithstanding the
apparent disposition of some Senators
and Assemblymen.to demnr.
The party leaders, including State
Chairman Stokes, let 1t be known in
the conference that 1t would be neces-
sary to go out before the people, in the
coming campaign, squarely upon the
wet and dry issue, since it was ap-
parent that the Democrats would take
the other end of that argument. The
leader of the more liberal element
among the Republicans, ASsemblyman
Hirschfeld, said: There is ne more
use for these bills than gargoyles on
the Washington monument, but what
are we to do?"
He said he had made what protest
he could, but there was no use. So
1t may be said that the Republican
program on the question, the chief
topic of the present session since the
Van Ness act was declared unconsti-
tutional and while the caucus screw"
vas not applied, something just as eff
fective was put in operation. One OF
the changes in the bills tentatively
agreed upon was a provision allowing
the Common Pleas Judges in the sew
eral counties to designate justices of
the peace TO sit as magistrates to hear
cases under the act.
There Is, however. some doubt of the
constitutionality Of this provision, and
1t was referred to the Attorney Cen
ersl for his opinion. The most radical
change over the Van Ness act is, Of
course, the provision for jury trial of
offenders, and marked modification Of
the search and seizure clauses, fea-
lures which aroused the greatest de-
gree Of animosity to the law of last
year.
The Republican conference failed to
reach the bridge and tunnel ripper bill,
but deferred action to a later gather
Inv IN the hope that something more
definite than rs nov %.htainable, may
be reached. n 4. Adams, chairman q
the New Jersey Commission. who
would be ousted by passage Of the rip
per, sought Majority Leader Evans
with a proposal that he be heard upon
the matter and it was arranged to give
him a hearing before the Judiciary
Committee of both Houses. 1t had
been intimated that the actuating mo-
tive back of the ripper was a report
that som members of the bridge and
tunnel commission had taken advan-
tage of their positions to transact
some business to their personal profit,
a suggestion that aroused prompt and
Indignant protest from every member
Coal Probers Make Report
Retail coal dealers of New Jersey
don't fix retail coal prices, the opera
tors don't, nor do the wholesalers, but
in some subterranean fashion the hum
BILE consumers are obliged to pay the
same prices, no matter in what part OF
the state they may reside. This is the
gist of the report of the Mackay Coal
Investigation Commission authorized
by the legislature of last year.
Because the $4,000 appropriation
was insufficient TO carry the inquiry
m the fullest extent the commission
requests that IT be continued another
year with W to dig more fully into
the things they believe they can bring
70 the surface in the system of coal
distrihution and maintenance Of pres
on nr;ca levels
Naw Iarsev,s senate. following the
onart FOOL, stems 70 force lower coal
nrtcas Bius presented by Senator
rIaoI'or ~ Rorgen county would make
coal nrice fixing" illegal and punish
able by heavy fines and Imprisonment
Also they would make "combina.
TONS to "fx" coal prices and regu-
late distribution unlawful.
Operators of coal pockets in New
ark, said to be in a combine to freeze
out the small dealers, are III U al
unpleasant season If the bill lntroduc
ed as the result of the findings OF the
Mackay Coal Investigating COMMITTEES