The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1881-02-18

and wives to testify in their own behalf
and against each other in adultery cases.
also bills cutting off all emoluments of
every kind from the Secretary of State,
except his salary OF $4,000 and allowance
of 81, 900 for clerk hire.
HOUSE.
At the Monday evening session there
was quite an anxious lobby awaiting de>
yelopments concerning the Washington
street bridge bill.
The business Of the week may be sum,
med up as follows:
A petition offered by Mr.. Parrot, from
the Home Missionary Society, of Eliza
beth, relating to the miingling of all
classes of defendants in the prisons of
the State.
A member offereda resolution proyid
ing for sine die adjournment on Friday,
March 18th, on motion Of Mr.. Potts, i'll
was laid on the table.
The joint resolution providing for a
reduction of interest to six per cent on
loans and investments of the Commits
sioners OF the Sinking Fund, and for the
support of the public schools, after a
sharp debate was indefinitely postponed.
The bill providing for the refunding of
the money paid by Messrs Ripley and
Durand, as securities on the bond of
Josephus Sooy, late State Treasurer,
Mr.. Lindsey moved to lay over for one
week. Mr.. Wilkinson opposed delay,
saying the bill was simple and easy to
understand, and there was no necessity
Tor such delay. Mr.. Lindsey said there
must be some motive at the bottom of
this bill, when Mr.. Bonsall said there was
motive, and it was to dojustice to the
parties concerned. Mr.. Williams moved
to lay over-until Tuesday morning at ten
o'clock. A member moved that it be
indefinitely postponed, and said it was
simply bill for the relief of men who
went as sureties for man who had rob-
bed the State. Mr.. Williams remarked
| that if the State had been robbed, that
was no reason why individuals should be
robbed. The parties concerned would
establish clear case of equity. The
member went into history of the Sooy
case, and insisted that the Legislature
should not interfere in case upon which
| the courts had already adjudicated. The
courts had held the bond good, and the
sureties accordingly amenable and res
ponsible. The motion to indefinitely
postpone was then put, and declared lost
by vote of l6 to 81. The motion to
postpone to Monday night was lost, and
motion then prevailed to lay over until
| Wednesday evening.
/ The Governor vetoed the Hoboken ems
CINE house bill, on the ground that it
was ridiculous and unmeaning. Also the
bill giving the Fire Board power to ex~
pend $1,000 in the repair of the fire
alarm telegraph. The Governor also yes
toed the bill restoring to citizenship Ed
mund Teel, one of the Warren County
Ring robbers. There are four other bills
of similar nature pending, all from
Warren County, but it Is believed that
| this is settler for the whole of them
| Brummer's bottle bill, providing pun>
ishment for traficing in stamped beer
bottles was likely to die, but was the
subject of considerable sport among the
members. One claiming that the "bot-
| tie" should not be regarded in the light
of party measure, as both parties were
more or less addicted, &c.
The bill was subsequently reconsidered
and passed.
| Acts were passed providing seats for
horse car drivers, and authorizing the
payment of the expenses of the New Jer~
sey Rifle Team.
On Tuesday the Washington street
Jersey City,) bridge bill came up, and a
crushing amendment being offered was
lost after considerable debate. This was,
by some, considered test vote for the
bill, while others thought it Of no espe>
cial significance. The general opinion,
however, seems to be that the bill will
not pass this session. The bill was or
dered 10 third reading.
A bill providing for a Constitutional
Convention, next May, was passed by a
vote of 81 70 25.
WilIzinson's tax bill-an elaborate act
| providing for an appointive tax board
instead of an elective one, was lost by a
vote of 25 to 90.
A bill was passed fixing the boundary
| line between Essex and Union counties.
Among the new lawyers made on Wed>
nesday was the genial Clerk of the House,
Mr.. Cummins O. Cooper, upon which the
House passed a congratulatory resolu-
| ton.
A bill was introduced repeating the act
to define and suppress tramps. The
present law upon the subject has become
SO mixed up it is difficult to tell just
what it does mean.