The Penn's Grove record., 1923-04-13
MANY ROAD ACTS
MAY Be WIPED OUT
Governor SiIzer orders Attorney
General to Attack Mathis Law
in Supreme Court.
AFFECTS 200 MILES OR MORE
Seven Measures May Be Dead-Last
Highway Bill to Become "a"
Seems to Have Upset Those
Preceding It.

Preceding It.
Trenton.-Gvernor Silzer has d.
rected Attorney General McCran to
start proceedings in the Supreme
Court to upset the Mathis road act,
which was passed by a House roll
call in the closing moments OF the
session of the Legislature. AT the
same time a question was raised as to
the validity of eight road plans, total
ina more than 200 of the 29I miles
of new highway provided by TINS
years Legislature. The Mathis Bill IS
included.
In his communication to the Attor-
ney General for the court action the
Governor invokes the provision OF the
act of 1873, providing a method Tor
setting aside laws improperly passed,
The Mathis bill is intended to estab-
fish a route in the state highway sys-
TEN So miles long between Toms
River and Camden.
Mr.. McCran is officially advised in
the Governors communication re
specting the Irregularities accompany
ing the passage of the road measure
over the Governors veto in the House
by recording afirmatively members
not actually present when the vote
was taken. The Governor suggests
that, in addition to petitioning the
court to investigate the circumstances
surrounding the passage of the bill,
Mr.. MeCran should take such further
steps as he may deem to be in the
public interest. calling for aid from
such other public officials as may be
required.
Governor silzer's instructions
The full text Of Governor Silzer's
communication follows:
Il have been informed that Chapter
1874 of the laws of 1923, popularity
known as the Mathis bill, was not
duly passed by both houses of the
Legislature, as required by the Con
stitution of the State.
81 have been advised by persons
present that at the session of the Leg
islature when the bill came before the
House of Assembly, on the motion to
pass the bill so that the same might
become a law Notwithstanding the OBJ
iections Of the Governor thereto, the
required number of votes OF members
of the House Of Assembly was net, in
fact, obtained, and that certain mem
bers Of the House were recorded as
voting in the affirmative when, as a
matter of fact, they were not present
or voting.
Therefore, by virtue of the power
and authority conferred upon me, as
Governor of the State of New Jersey.
by the pamphlet laws of 1873, page p,
l do hereby direct you, as attorney
general, to present a petition to the
Supreme Court OF this State, setting
forth the facts and circumstances re
lating to the passage of this bill, as
above related, and praying, in said pc
tition that said law may be decreed to
be null and void.
81 would also suggest that you take
such further steps as you may deem
TO be in the public interest, and to en-
list such other public officers whose
aid may be required"
Newark Plank Road Affected
IF the views of those who have scru-
tinized the road plans is correct, only
three of the road acts can survive.
These are House 256, now Chapter
1879, and House 421 and IS, now Chap
tiers 201 and POP, respectively, which
became law subsequent to House 256.
House 256, which was fathered bv
Assemblyman Stratton, Of Gloucester.
not only sets up a new highway route.
but gives in detail what shall be the
State highway system. Seven OF the
bills that became laws previously are
not included. and one of them. a com.
bination of Senate 104 and 10 is in.
cluded in part. Also the StrattoD bin
eliminates stretches Of the highway
provided by enactments in previous
years, so that these acts may be re-.
garded as repealed.
Included in the latter class is tho
road between Elizabeth and the en-
trance to the new yehicuIar tunnels
in Jersey City, the road to connect
with the new Delaware River bridge
in Camden and a spur on the Trenton.
Camden route. The first removes the
Newark plank road from the State
highway system and leaves open to
legal question whether Essex ana