The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-03-15

it 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 It
the proper time resolutions to relieve
the house Judiciary Committee Of
further consideration of three of the
George bills aimed at nberalizing 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. the
majority leader, called conference
of the Republican members.
Highway Board Sued
Coincident with the filing OF 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 GUST board. The suit
was brought at the instance of Gov
ernor Silzer
The highway board was dismissed
January % Republican State Chair
: M NJ CfaIrac c,,ouorfo1 ha
latiye probe, which was Endorsed by
majority senators. Mr.. Stevens said
committee of three senators and
three assemblymen would undertake
the work, with Attorney General Me-
Gran as counsel.
The attorney general charges that
the highway commissioners and the
w. J. Cornell Lumber Company of
South Amboy combined and conspired
to defraEd and cheat the state.
The information charges that the
commission, through its agents, OBJ
] tanned appraisals of the company's
land, consisting of Sc. On and one-half
acres, for $4,000 an acre, or a total
value of $4,000. The commission
paid $4,000 for the lands.
Other Accusations
! Other allegations are:
That the commission purchased adj
joining lands from other owners for
price approximating the appraisals
| obtained in the Donnell case.
That the commission on March %,
| 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pany and subsequently rescinded such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-
| tionaI property as may be Necessary
for storage space, the excess property
to be disposed of by the state if it
was found that it could not all be
used for road purposes"
| The bill charges Burton further adj
vised the commission that he had Sc
cured appraisals upon the Donnell
property, and he therefore felt that
the amount of $230,OO0 which was
! asked by the Donnell Lumber Compa-
ny was not exorbitant."
The bill then recites:
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
proofng 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 $4,000 per acre, did adopt a
resolution authorizing the purchase of
the entire property of the Donnell
Lumber Company for $3.50 900.
THAT the Donnell Lumber Compa-
ny did convey to the state of New
J d
lands, and the State Highway Com
mission did pay therefore the full
sum of s230,000; 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 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 s240,00O 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 its special instance and re-
quest. The information further
charges that the members OF the
! State Highway Commission present
ar tha meeting had knowledge that