Abstract

Hoffman of New Jersey

In this article, the author focuses on Governor of New Jersey Harold G. Hoffman. In his inaugural address, however, the new Republican Governor did promise to strengthen the almost important Public Utility Commission of the state, and soon after the inauguration the consumers' group presented a series of bills designed to accomplish this purpose. Most of the Hoffman utility measures were meaningless. Two of them made future prosecution of rate cases by New Jersey consumers next to impossible. In his inaugural address, Hoffman had come out for a sales tax, and he pressed at once for its enactment. After a long-drawn-out fight the tax was passed. The tax proved so unpopular, that after a few months trial the Governor was forced to sign a repealer.