The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1924-12-25

these changes would add materially
to the simplicity of the election sys-
tenn, but neither party has had the
courage to project them into the Leg
islation phase of consideration.
What the commission will probably
be most concerned in, therefore, will
be establishments to meet conflicts in
the present law as have been encount-
cred from time to time. These have
been found so numerous that it will
require very careful attention and
study to work out their solution. but
with the aid of members of county
election boards and those who are
charged with the conduct of the cleo
ton machinery the investigators
should have little difficulty in arriving
at definite conclusions in these re-
spects.
One of the hopes of some of the
leaders is that changes in the election
law will include revision Of the hours
for the primary, whether it be shifted
to spring or left to the fall. 1t is now
a general nuisance, serving no good
purpose by keeping the polls open I'M
til nine o'clock at night The vote of
the State shows constant increase.
In November more than 100000 resi-
dents cast ballots. breaking all records
for New Jersey. That, too, was more
than SO per cent of the registration,
which showed that the movement for
getting the people out had succeeded
in part, at least. Sentiment of the
public is strongly arrayed on the side
of reform in this respect, especially
since election officers, number of
whom are women are obliged to sit
from Z A. M. to 8 P. M. to receive the
ballots and then spend weary hours
in the counting, often carrying them
to- the next day
Speaking of his plan for getting the
revision matter before the next Legis-
lature Senator Mackay said:
II have found many voters and polit-
ical leaders who believe the spring.
primary idea should be adopted. I'm.
der the present system candidates are
no more than through their strenuous
primary campaign than they are
forced into new fight for election
Also, from party standpoint, the idea
of getting the primaries out of the
way early is desirable. fractional
fights usually occur for statewide
nominations. in Congressional dis
tricts and for county positions, and
the frequent result is inter-party dis.
turbances. If the primaries were
held in the spring the successful candi
dates would be, given an opportunity
for rest before the genera! election
campaigns, the public would not be
wearied by politics and the party or
CARNATIONS would have a chance 20
heal the differences.
Il believe the spring primary plan
would have gone through the Legisla-
ture when the bill was first intro
duced if it had not become involved
in fractional situation There was
opposition to it because it was held
by some politicians to be intended as
an aid to Senator Edge as candidate
for denomination, and in addition it
was involved in the fight over the
Ramapo water bills. AS a part Of
the revision of the election law it
would be sure to obtain more thought
full consideration
Liability Bill for Motorists
Beginning with 1926, every automo
bile owner, as prerequisite to OBJ
tanning registration for his machine,
must first satisfy the Commissioner
of Motor Vehicles or his lawful agent
that he is financially able to respond
ii. damages of at least $4,000 for any
the sum of at least $4,000 for any
rumber of persons more than one in
jured or killed in any one accident
and in the sum of at least $1,000 for
property damage in any one accident
as the result of or because of the neg
ligent maintenance or operation of his
automobile.
This in brief is the tentative pro.
posal which will be submitted to the
incoming session of the legislature by
the commission, created under the
House joint resolution at the 1924
session, to investigate the question Of
compensation for personal injuries or
death resulting from the operation OF
otor vehicles, which met here.
This financial responsibility may be
either in the form of cash or securi.
ties satisfactory to the Commissioner
o. Motor Vehicles or liability pol.
icy furnished through a responsible
surety company. In the case of large
concerns or corporations operating
several machines it is proposed that
the maximum liability shall be fixed
a. 100000. 1t was also decided by the
commission to invite Commissioner
Edward E. Maxson, of the banking
and insurance department, to attend
the next meeting for the purpose Of
discussing the rates to be charged by
the various companies for liability in
surance under the proposed act.
That such a law would go long
way toward eliminating the irrespon-
sible driver was the declaration of DR..
S S. Huebner, who holds the chair o.
insurance at the University of Penn.