The Monmouth inquirer., 1922-03-23
III ACTS PUT
ON STATUTES
Edwards Signs Bill Curbing Rent
Gougers-Boxing and Morris
Canal Measures Approved.
TO HOLD CANAL CONFERENCE
Tenants Now May Question Rent
Boosts-Mrs. Browns Firearms Bill
Also-canaI Commission to Get
Busy-Tenant's Plea to Court.

AlSO-Cd0dI OOUlttiSSiOU " 0Cb
Busy-Tenant's Plea to Court.
Trenton.-Governor Edwards signed
Ill measures passed by the New Jer-
sey legislature. OF the bills approved,
120 originated in the assembly and 4S
in the senate. Four joint resolutions
were approved
Important among the measures ap-
proved were the bill by Senator Mac
kay to allow tenants to question in
court rent increases of 35 per cent or
more within three years, and that au-
thorizing the Morris canal settlement.
He also signed the bill by Mrs Cath
crime Brown Of Jersey City requiring
merchants to keep a record of persons
to whom firearms are sold. The bill
was amended in the senate to exclude
clause which would require permits
to be obtained before firearms could
be bought
The governor also approved a bill
by Senator Smith of Passaic county
for the appointment of a commission
to study rapid transit passenger facili-
ties in North Jersey in connection with
the development of the port of New
Jersey.
Most of the important measures
were kept until last by the governor,
W dc fn ho in, Of
veto, messages that will give his
reasons for refusing to sign. He still
has fifty-eight measures, including bills
and resolutions, awaiting action. Some
of the veto messages, it is predicted,
will be hot.
Tenants Plea to Court
The object of the Mackay Tenant
bill is to allow a tenant to question
the fairness of a rent increase of 30
per cent or more within three years.
If tenants rent has been raised
80 per cent or more during the past
three years he can go to court, where
the burden Of proof of the fairness
of the rent demanded shall rest with
the landlord
of the court a bill of facts or particu-
lars which shall set forth the gross
Income derived from the property, to-
gether with all overhead or carrying
costs, and the tenant must deposit with
the clerk Of the court an amount of
money accepted as payment in full
for the rent for the month previous.
If the court decides the rent to be
fair, and the sum of money deposited
by the tenant is not sufficient to sat
isfy the judgment, the tenant must
pay the additional amount within five
days, and if the judgment is not satis-
fed within that period, a warrant shah
issue for the removal of the tenant
from the premises.
If the court is satisfied that the in
crease was excessive, no tenant can
be forced out of the home for two
years so long as his rent is paid, un-
less the tenant is proved to be actually
Objectionable, or where the landlord
proves that the premises are desired
for occupancy as a dwelling by either
the landlord or a member of his i'm
mediate family, or where the building
is to be alterated or demolished so
that new building can be con-
structed.
Canal Conference Soon
The Morris Canal bill signed was
the Roegner measure. 1t creates
commission to secure possession of the
Morris Canal. The commission con-
sists of Judge William H. Spear of the
Circuit Court, who lives in Jersey
City; Frank Fl. Sommer of Newark,
dean Of the New York University and
Louis A. Focht of Trenton engineer
for the State Board of Taxation. The
canal is held by the VLehigh Valley
Railroad under lease.
The commission may now proceed to
negotiate with the Lehigh Valley Rail-
road Company for the abandonment of
the canal from the Hudson River ter
minal to Phillipsburg.
Mr.. Sommer plans to get in touch
Immediately with the other members
and arrange for a series of public
meetings wherever they think there is
enough interest.
After these hearings are over the
commission will arrive at what 1t con-
siders fair terms. These will be pub
lished broadly in the newspapers to
learn the public feeling. Then, if the
reaction is satisfactory, according to
Mr.. Sommer, a meeting of representa-
tives of the Lehigh Valley and the
commission will be arranged, at whicn
the final agreement will be sought
xI.-~
be reached report to that effect will
be made to the next legislature.
other Bills Signed
Important bills which Governor Ed
wards signed include the following:
Senate 14S Permits State Police
Superintendent Schwarzkopf to name
medical veterinary and other attend
ants and adds to the state police force.
Senate 168-Increases fees for sher-
iff's offices.