The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-03-29

mately $2,000,000 for improvements at
the Morris Plains Hospital; requiring
holding companies to submit books to
the Public Utility Commission in rate
Investigations of subsidiaries.
The Stevens Senate joint resolution
providing for an investigation by the
Legislature of contracts for the Perth
Amboy and Hackensack bridge ap-
proaches is also before the governor.
Governor Silzer has approved bills
requiring three months notice for
raising Of rents, and authorizing an
appropriation of $200,000 for the pro-
posed Washington's Crossing memo
rial bridge. Pennsylvania will be
urged to appropriate a like sum and
the Federal government 100000.
Stokes Lambastes Shields
Former Governor E. 6. Stokes.
chairman Of the Republican State
Committee, made stinging reply to
criticism directed at him Saturday by
James X. Shields, superintendent of
the New Jersey Anti-Saloon League.
in an address before the Laymen's
Association Of the New Jersey NJ. e.
Conference at Asbury Park.
May Gust Special Engineer
The commission decided to ask At
torney General McCran to report upon
the binding character Of the contract
made between the former highway
commission and Clarence w. Hudson,
an engineer, of Montclair The con-
tract relates to supervision Of plans
for the approaches to the new bridge
across the Raritan River between the
Amboys. It is the impression that IL
the contract is not an ironclad one
the commission will dispense with the
services OF Mr.. Hudson
Favor Hudson Highway Route
The Interstate Palisades Park Com
mission through Ebert w. King. its
secretary, urged the commission to
ask Governor Silzer to approve the
bill by Assemblyman Crawford OF Hud-
son county for the addition to the
state highway system OF a route from
Newark, and through Hudson and Ber-
gen counties. The Interstate Park
Commission is interested because the
route would give an additional i'm
proved approach to the great play
ground.
Another interesting item of the COM
mission proceedings was the appear
ance before 1t OF Frederick s. Smith
of Morristown to make a personal
application for appointment as state
highway engineer, the position vacant
since Thomas ]. Wasser resigned.
The board heard Mr.. Smith but gave
no indication OF any intention to fill
the place for the present
Referendum on Liquor
In long, hard battle the assembly
put through the Republican program
to pass up the beer and wine issue by
adoption Of referendum resolution.
The original vote was 80 to 2S, 10
Republicans voting with the 16 Demo.
Gratis to knock 1t, but Assemblyman
Hanson, Republican, of Middlesex,
changed from no to aye, giving the
required majority. The other Repub-
licans who "bucked" the party line
were Barkman, Cliff, Campbell, Har-
boart, Hoffman, Lyons, Parker, Pow
ell, Robbins, Sexsmith and Stiles.
1t came up in the form of report
from the Committee on Miscellaneous
Business Of the Roegner resolution
calling upon Congress to modify the
Volstead act, but with q substitute
providing a referendum at the polls
at the next election. Democratic
Leader George at once attempted to
get in another substitute calling upon
Congress to call constitutional con-
vention to amend the Eighteenth
amendment, and in support OF it he
flayed, the Republicans for evading a
clear duty to the people, who had
clearly expressed a desire for such
legislation.
Assemblyman Negus, Republican, of
Passaic. said he desired to vote wet"
as representing the voters of his
county. but that 1t was necessary to
find the real sentiment of all the peo-
pie of the state In this respect and
the only way to get that was by the
referendum. Assemblyman George
came back with the assertion that the
people had given voice on the ques-
ton last fall and he prodded the Re-
publicans with continued fear and
domination of the Anti-Saloon League,
with not enough courage or backbone
to take a stand upon their own be-
Iiefs
The Senate defeated the referendum
by a vote Of II to 2, Wallworth and
Reeves voting for it.
Senate Passed Appropriation
The Senate passed the appropria-
tion bill without dissenting vote, al
though it was necessary for its spon-
sors to make number of explana-
lions. Senator Simpson asked Sem
ator Bright, a member of the Appro-
priation Committee. what was the to-
tai amount granted the Department of
Institutions and Agencies, and the an
swer was that 1t was $5,650,000. It
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