The Penn's Grove record., 1923-04-06

bIv William w. Evans, of Passaie, has
nuIlifed the action Of the Legislature
by failing to aHix his signature to
Senator Blackweifs bill Tor heavy
fines and 30-day Jail sentences for EN-
ployers who refuse to take out work
mems compensation insurance. The
bill, despite approval by Senate and
Assembly, goes by default through the
failure of the speaker TO conform to
the usual procedure of signing it and
permitting it to be forwarded to Gov
ernor Silver.
The measure, known as Senate "A,
was adopted by the Senate March
u and by the Assembly March 16.
Assembiyman Harry Harbout Of Mer-
Ger piloted the bill through the As
sembly on the last day for consider
alton of general legislation.
Following its passage, Clerk of the
House Upton S. Jefferys Of Camden
delivered the bill to Speaker Evans
The Speaker did not sign the meas
ure, but held it in his custody until
Saturday, when the Legislature had
adjourned for the year.
In its ordinary course. the speaker
should have signed the bill, where
upon Clerk Jefferys would have re
turned it to the Senate, where it orig
mated. 1t was not returned to the
Senate Secretary, William H. AL
br;ub+ opd +barofora could NOT bo do
livered to Governor Silzer, along with
other passed bills. Clerk Jefferys
said he would file the measure with
State Librarian Creasdale.
There vas a strong CONTRACTORS
organization opposed to the bill be
cause of the provision making con-
tractors liable for workmen's compen-
sation damages when contracts were
farmed out to su~bcontractors. Henry
F.. Hilfers, secretary of the State Fed
GRAFTON of Labor, was interested in
the measure and prompted Assembly
man Harbourt when the latter was
warding off attacks on the measure.
Discovery Too Late
The bills fate was not discovered
until the Workmen's Compensation
Bureau Of the State Department Of
Labor inquired what had become of it.
The act provided that ANY EN-
ployer who shall fail to provide the
protection prescribed in this act shah
be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon
7 conviction thereof shall be punished
tor a first offense by a fine of not
more than $500, and for a subsequent
offense by a fine of not more than
$500, or by Imprisonment for not
more than 80 days, or by both such
tine and Imprisonment.
ANY contractor placing work with
a subcontractor shall, in the event
Of the subcOntractors failing to carry
workmen's compensation insurance
as required by this act, become liable
for any compensation which may BE-
due an employe or the dependents of
4 deceased employee of said sub
contractor. Such contractor shall
then have a right of action against
such subcontractOr for reimburse
ment. All fines collected by the Com
missioner of Banking and Insurance
lnder the terms of this clause shall
be paid by him to the State Treasurer
and credited on the records of the
State Comptroller to the account of
he Rehabilitation Commission for
Physically Handicapped Persons, to be
used in carrying out the purposes of
the act creating the ~aboye-named
commission, approved April 10, 1919.
Highway Board Orders
At a meeting of the State Highway
Commission, construction Of approx
mately so miles of new roads the
present year was decided upon. The
commission, which had a late start
for the year because of the Spnate's
delay in confirming the appointment
Of its members, has been working in
tensively for two weeks and is almost
in a position to get engineers est.
mates on numerous jobs and to adver
tise for contracts. When the work is
in such shape as to permit of an esti
mate of the amount of money to be
expended, the commissioners will an
ply to the State Highway Commits
sion for issuance of bonds under the
$40, 000, 900 bond referendum law.
Proposed work for this year. ap
proved by the commission, follows:
Railway avenue, from west city line
Of Elizabeth to Cherry street; pro
posed grade crossing elimination over
Lehigh & Hudson Railway at Great
Meadows; Shirley to Gloucester
Salem county line, State labor: Som
arset county line at Passaic River t.
Norris township line.
In the northern division these job.
we're decided upon: Musconetcon.
river bridge, to beginning of concrete
pavement only; overhead bridge a
Netcong to Landing road at CuIvert
grading only; brick APPROACH, Lacka
wanna Railroad viaduct to Rockawa,
River bridge, Dover, sheet asphalt
Morris turnpike, from Farmers no
tel to Seven Bridges road; Sever
Bridges road, from Morris turnpike t
Springfield avenue; Smith Mills t
} westerly line of Morris county, nea,
Newfoundland; Bluff road, at Har