Jury Reform Wins, Road Ripper Loses

Legislature Adopts Bill to Make Governor Boss of State Finances

Trenton, June 22 — The Senate early today approved Senator Joseph G. Wolber's jury reform bill providing for appointment of jury commissioners by Supreme Court Justices.

Senate President Emerson L. Richards, of Atlantic, failed to muster enough votes to pass the amendment to the state constitution to permit lotteries, a companion to the horse racing bill approved Monday night. He laid it over when he could obtain only four votes in its favor.

The Assembly killed the Civil Service "ripper" bill affecting the State Highway Department, which was passed by the Senate Monday night. The vote was 22 for and 34 against.

Two Named to Board

Senator David Young, of Morris, and Mayor Frank Dorsay,of Perth Amboy, were nominated and immediately confirmed to succeed Firman M. Reeves and Abraham Jelin on the State Highway Commission when their resignations become effective September 1.

The key bill of the Princeton survey fiscal reform measures was adopted by the Assembly and is ready for Governor Moore's signature. Sponsored by Senator Dryden Kusel, of Somerset, it will make the governor virtual czar over state spending by provision for a state finance commissioner who will be directly responsible only to the governor. The vote was 40 to 10.

A snag was reached, however, on one of the other fiscal bills.Four were passed by the Assembly Monday night as adopted by the Senate two weeks ago, but a fifth, creating a new budgeting system, was amended in the Assembly to remove legislative control of funds of professional boards.

The Senate by a vote of 5 to 9, refused to concur in the amendment. Senate and Assembly leaders were in conference in an effort to reach an agreement.

A minor Assembly amendment in Kuser's bill was approved by the Senate. It eliminated the provision that the state finance commissioner should act as secretary of the state sinking fund commission.

Assemblyman F. Stanley Bleakly, of Camden, aided by Assemblyman Marcus W. Newcomb, of Burlington, led the unsuccessful opposition to the Kuser bill.

Assemblywoman Isobella C. Reinert and Assemblyman Frank M. Travaline,Jr., the other Camden members, joined Bleakly in voting against the bill.

Assemblyman Joseph Altman, of Atlantic, handled the bill on the floor and engaged in a lively verbal tilt with Bleakly.

"The bill does not honestly carry out the Princeton Survey recommendations but merely adds another group of jobs, Including that of the finance commissioner at $10,000 a year,to the state government," said Bleakly.

Supporters of the bill pointed out that the Princeton Survey recommendations begin as follows:

1. The creation of a department of fiscal control, consisting of a division of purchasing, accounting and budgeting.

2.Transfer of certain functions of the state house commission to the commissioner of fiscal control, who shall be the direct agent of the governor."

Deal Charged

"This is part of the general scheme or deals which has marked this session of the Legislature," Bleakly continued. "We have plenty of machinery now to check on the state's finances and expenditures. There is the budget department, the purchasing department and the civil service department on salaries. This only adds another unnecessary department with about $30,000 in salaries."

In reply Altman said the bill was an economy measure, that it did follow the Princeton Survey recommendations and that no politics were involved.

In addition to the Camden members and Newcomb, Gurk, of Gloucester; King, of Morris; Klnzley, of Bergen; Mutchler, of Morris; Platts, of Essex, and Willis, of Ocean, all Republicans, voted in the negative.