NJ Attorney General targets ‘obscene material’: From the Asbury Park Press Archives

Thursday, March 9, 1950 — 75 Years Ago

Welcome to the 1950s. The state attorney general targets “obscene” material. The Oceanport Board of Education contemplates starting its first-ever special education class. And amid a particularly cold winter (who in the future could relate to that?), Lakewood hotel owners ask the township to make the most of its reputation as a winter resort.

NJ Attorney General summons all county prosecutors

TRENTON — New Jersey Attorney General Theodore D. Parsons announced today that he will meet with all 21 county prosecutors tomorrow in the Statehouse, the Associated Press reports in an article published on the front page of the Asbury Park Press.

He declined to discuss the agenda at the conference, which he holds with county law enforcement officials every six months. Last week, Parsons said a campaign against obscene literature would be mapped with the prosecutors, according to the AP article.

Wind causes mercury to fall

Gusty, blustery March winds and cold weather today showed winter hasn’t given up yet.

From a high of 55 degrees early last night, the mercury took a tumble to 27 degrees at 6 a.m. today. Strong west winds kicked up last night and reached a maximum velocity of 44 miles an hour early today.

The weathermen predicted fair conditions today, tonight and tomorrow. It will turn colder tonight. Temperatures are expected to range from 15 to 20 degrees on the coast and near 10 degrees in the interior section. Strong northwest winds will diminish by tomorrow. Northwest storm warnings were posted last night from Block Island to Cape Hatteras.

Heavy rain and lightning storms struck parts of New Jersey last night, causing one power line break at the Clinton Reformatory for Women, an institution without walls. The superintendent’s office said that although the reformatory was without lights for three hours, no one tried to escape in the dark.

Deficient pupil class discussed

OCEANPORT — The local Board of Education last night discussed the possibility of starting a class for deficient students.

The class, if introduced into the school system, would be designed to aid the pupils who have trouble keeping up with their studies. Those who have fallen two or three years behind their normal age group would be placed in the special class.

The possibility of making the class a cooperative venture to include pupils in similar difficulties from nearby communities was also discussed. The number of students in such a class would be very limited to enable the teacher to give each pupil a great deal of individual attention. No action was taken last night.

Central to restore full train service

JERSEY CITY — The Central Railroad of New Jersey announced today that effective at 12:01 a.m. Monday, all of the line’s trains removed because of the soft coal shortage will be restored to service.

Joseph Sullivan, company public relations director, said this will bring the Jersey Central’s service up to normal.

Hotel men endorse tax for new rink

LAKEWOOD — The Lakewood Hotel Association has unanimously approved a plan to add a $5-a-room tax on hotel stays, provided that the municipal government undertake erection of a recreation center and skating rink.

Executive Secretary Sidney Zweben of the association said today the tax would continue until the project was completed and paid for. He said there are about 3,000 hotel rooms here making a $15,000-a-year contribution.

A high estimate for the skating rink proposal, Mr. Zweben said, is $100,000. The Township Committee is to receive notice of the association’s action at a regular meeting tonight.