Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-01-31

ture here yesterday lost no time in
backing up the move of Senator
Simpson, Hudson county Democrat,
for a legislative investigation into
the remarks of the Rev. Frank S.
Ritter, pastor of the Waverly Con-
sregational church. Jersey City, that
the assembly had been "ixed'' by the
motion picture lobby for the passage
of the Simpson open Sunday" mea-
sure and that the senate would be
fixed" These remarks were made
by the Jersey City clergyman at the
convention of the Lords Day AL
lance mere last week and were later
reiterated by Rev. Mr.. Ritter. Under
a suspension of rules, the resolution
which was presented by Senator
Simpson was passed in the senate
and rushed through a similar course
in the House.
Although the resolution received
but little opposition in either house,
a clash was provoked in the assem-
bly, when the clergy of the state
came IN for verbal abuse at the hands
of Assemblyman William George, of
Hudson county, Democratic leader.
The resolution had already passed in
the senate and was being discussed
on the floor of the House.
Assemblyman George, as a col
league of Simpon's assumed the bur-
den of talking for the measure. He
said that the fair name of the men,
bers of both houses of the legisla-
ture had been blackened by the :e-
marks of the clergymen and that for
the protection of the public against
these 'misleaders and fanatics" an
investigation is imperative.
1.-THE clergy of the state has stoop-
ped to the gutter" was as far as
the minority leader got with his
attack on the clergy in general when
Assemblyman T. Harry Rowland of
Camden, former speaker, took the
floor and in a loud tone rebuked the
remark of the Hudson man, declar-
ing:
IT for one will not sit here and
hear the clergy Of the state de-
nounced in this manner"
Speaker Evans ruled that George
would have to ~confine his remarks
to the particular Jersey City man if
the privilege of the floor was to be
his.
Rowland suggested that the ESQ
luton be laid over until next Mon
day night so that every member
could think more carefully before
voting on the measure, although he
added that he had no personal OPP
position to the measure n that he
would vote for it If 1t were put to
q vote. The vote was Al for and
8 against.
In appointing the committee OF
three to represent the house, Speaker
Evans picked Harry Harbourt, OF
Mercer. and Edward A. Sexsmith,
of Monmouth, both of whom voted
against the resolution and both of
whom are Republicans. Democratic
Leader George was appointed as the
third member. The other seven who
voted mo" on the resolution for an
investigation included: Barktman,
Morris, Campbell, Monmouth; Har-
bourt, Mercer; Mccullough, Somer-
set; Powell. Burlington; Robbins,
Mercer; Sexsmith, Monmouth; Stew
ems. Cape May: Stratton. Gloucester.
All are Republicans.
Senate President Wallworth will
appoint the members of the commit
tee to represent the upper house
next Monday night. 1t Is understood
that prompt action in the way of an
investigation will follow.
Bond Issue Repeater
Senator Alexander Simpson, DEM
ocrat, of Hudson, introduced a bill
in the senate yesterday, calling for
the repeal of the $40,000,000 high
way bond act. The act was favor
ably passed upon by the voters at
the last election. Senator Simpson
said the repeater was his own
thought and that no one requested
that he get back of such a bill. Gov
ernor Silzer recently declared that
it was his opinion that a repeater to
the bond act should be passed, as
the act received such a scant ma
jority in the last election, compar-
ed with the number of ballots cast In
the election. Senator Simpson quot
ed officials of the State Chamber OF
Commerce to the effect that the re-
ferendum on the bill vas made a
success by false advertising.
1t was also said that to make the
act effective a total of $64,O00,000
would have to be spent to take care
OF the financing of the project, such
as bonds to take care of the inter-
est on the original bonds and the
like. The act calls for the expendi-
ture of $S.000.000 yearly for five
years until the $40,000.000 is spent
on the states road system.
Senator Simpson said there was
so much opposition to the bond act
that in order at least to get a dis
cussion on the merits of the plan
he introduced the bill. He said in
his opinion the pay-as-you-go plan
was the best way to finance state
highway building.
saux AZ GazsEnaE SilxaE " gaanact