The Penn's Grove record., 1923-03-09

Gratis and some Republicans based OBJ
~jections to the bill on the ground that
1t takes the appointive power from
the governor.
The house passed the Randolph an
%ti-lynching bill, which is similar to
the laws now in effect in Ohio and Il
linois.
Mr.. George, the minority leader,
served notice that he would invoke
the rule of fifteen days by Offering Il
the proper time resolutions to relieve
the house Judiciary Committee OF
further consideration of three of the
George bills aimed at liberalizing the
manufacture and sale of liquor.
Immediately after Mr.. George had
announced his intentions with respect
to the three measures, which have
been kept in committee since the
opening of the session, Mr.. Corio, he
majority leader, called a conference
Of the Republican members.
Highway Board Sued
Co%incident with the filing of a suit
in the court of %chancery by Attorney
General McCran, alleging fraud in
purchase of land for the Amboy bridge
by the State Highway Commission,
Republican Senate Leader Stevens
announced a legislative committee
would pursue an Independent investi-
cation of the oust d board. The suit
was brought at the instance Of Gov
Silzer.
The highway board was dismissed
January %. Republican State Chair
man E. C. Stokes suggested the legis-
lative probe, which was indorsed by
majority senator's. Mr.. Stevens said
q committee of three senators and
three assemblymen would undertake
the work, with Attorney General Nc
Gran as counsel,
The attorney general charges that
the highway commissioners and the
w. J.. Connell Lumber Company OF
South Amboy combined and conspired
to defraud and cheat the state.
The information charges that the
commission. through its agents, OBJ.
tanned appraisals of the company's
land, consisting of SO . and one-half
acres, for S12, 600 an acre. or a total
value of $50. 600. The commission
paid $780, 600 for the lands.
Other Accusations
Other allegations are:
That the commission purchased ad-
joining lands from other wner for
a price approximating the appraisals
obtained in the Donnell case.
That the commission on March 2S.
1922, authorized the condemnation Of
the lands of the Donnell Lumber Com
pany and subsequently rescinded such
action; that on May 10, 1922, Chair
man George L. Burton of South River
at a meeting of the commission called
to the attention of the commission:
THAT it was not possible to make
considerable progress with the con
struction of the Amboy bridge and
suggested that some disposition be
made of the property matters" The
attorney general says Burton further
advised the commission that 1t would
be desirable to acquire all the proper
ty of the Donnell Lumber Company in
order that the state highway depart
ment may make such use of the addi-
tional property as may be necessary
for storage pace, the excess property
to be disposed of by the state if it
was found that 1t could mo- all be
used for road purposes"
The bill charges Burton further ad.
vfsed the commission that he had Sc
cured appraisals upon the Donnell
property, and he therefore felt that
the amount of $3.50, 600 which was
asked by the Donnell Lumber Compa,
ny was not eXorbitant."
The bill then r~ecites:
That the State Highway Commits
sion, with full knowledge of the ap-
praisals obtained by its agents and
with full knowledge of contracts en-
tered into with the National Fire
prooing Company and the c. Pardee
Tile Company for the purchase of
land contiguous to the property of
the Donnell Lumber Company at a
price of S12, 900 per acre, did adopt a
resolution authorizing the purchase Of
the entire property of the Donnell
Lumber Company for $3.50, 900.
"Ihdt the DOnnell MI COmpd-
ny did convey to the state of New
Jersey on June %, 1922, the said
lands, and the State Highway Com
mission did pay therefore the full
sum of $3.50, 900; that the deed of the
Donnell Lumber Company to the state
of New Jersey was acknowledged be
fore State Highway Commissioner
George l.. Burton as a master in chan
Gerry"
individuals Named
The information expressly charges
that Mr.. Burton, as chairman, when
he informed the commission that he
had secured appraisals of $4,000 and
1927, 900 respectively on value Of land,
knew that the same were untrue and
that the said ~appraisals were ap-
praisals secured by the Donnell Com
pany at it's special instance and re
quest. The information further
charges that the members of the
State Highway Commission present
at the meeting had knowledge that
the statements were untrue.
Tho hill charges the commissioners