New-York tribune., 1885-02-19
THE NEW-JERSEY LEGISLATURE.

CONVICT RELIEF BILL UNCONS
INTEREST BILL SUFFERS REVERSE.
[rRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
TRENTON, Feb. 18.-The bill authorizing
tho prison authorities remit twofhs of the sentence
OF any convict not second term not imprisoned fol-
murder passed the Senate week 1t has been more
less discussed about the lObbies. and In modified
form would probably have received favorable consdera'
ton there general desire to secure reform In the
punishment criminals and TO add 10 the reform
atOry features OF the institution The bill was, however
referred to the who to-day sent In the
following opinion on the measure and the general SUD-
ject involved
In my opinion the Legislature has not the constitl,
toual power authorize the Board or Inspectors OF
the state Prison to remit Ia convict any portion OF
the term for which such convict has been sentenced III
would be Interference with the Judgment OF the
Court sentencing the criminal and therefore uncosu
era rule OF law that does vt affect previous udci de
cslons. such a rule when it operates ON future ,.
cases and retrospectively Is legltl-
The act for the Government and regulation or the
state Prison. approved on April u 1876 was prospccc
tive N its provisions and declared that all sentences OF
imprisonment in the state Prison made by any court OF
thi. State term of years months shall be con
srned and understood to be made uhder ana SUBJECT u
the provisions Of tins act"
am also OF The opinion that Senate bill No. 80, does In
propose 20 give such power TO the Board OF III
spectO 1t is retrospective In its character IL proposes
remit TO any convict serving first term OF IN
prison nrn wOfths or the term FOR whch such coh'o'
may be sentenced.
The opinion probably ends the career Of tho bill. but
effort may be made to secure mobilization OF tne
statutes IN the direction Of securing uniformity OF pun
i.nmcnt and encouraging effort the part OF prisoners
10 reform.
The Assembly bill to remodel the government or the
Bureau OF Labor and statistics and tho Bureau OF Ch
Labor placing them under the control OF single oisa M
zaton and cooifynS the laws relating % Gnrnonn
cl,scd second reading In the House TINS
Mr. Chapman Drm) moved to strike out the tntc',s W ~ :
natc of lh, new bureau charities aud corrections In
the Subsequent debate, Mr. OCpnh0r AShcu tho IN IN
trdr- union. ami received some sharp replies from
Messrs Corbn and Baker who declared tha tne lsls &
laturc made the laws not the tries u0T; ;h . ~ smn
they felt convinced that measure was worthy OK sup
port they did propose to ask the consent o. n per
taiivcs railroad officials Orany other persons INC o,iV u
To strike the eudctng clause Was lost 3y VOC Oh -
To 10 aud the bill ord red to have third reading
Tho Assembly recOusidrrel the second realm 0I .h
bl mn.in the rate of per cent. and MrlPakcr
nrr an Durlmeut permitting contracts at the rate of q
per He supported the amendment lh all "De aI
dress and II was n opted after strong opposition from
the supporters OF the bill. who had achieved decided
success yesterday. The vote was ~ To- % ibo 'nige
IN sentiment was probably due 10 the debate wren
the hlh proSoAeI, ia which TIL eNll effects
generally considered narrow one, frinSht with much
political consequence. ,
krkpatrck ~ E.-cN. and Jonn W ""Fe"it, OF thui'
den. Common Pleas Judges IN ther respective cou
tics. There was no objection, 1t being geheiAiy con,
c"lcd Thar me uomh'tou> are SA,'l'on.
uf Judge McCMter. succeeded hy MI hlrkPalnck;
have attacked the Governor bitterly ana have pbl,hei
ulmh"l oi tl' cit 7 cent 10 th' Governor o" Ju'e
NcCrtr- behalf IN slcw of th'- has been sugges ed
that the Governor should puDi III the papers hh ot.r
,tlrrr which lee has received against the nomination
II Is believed that they would make hyrly reading
The bii ahri~hng The veto power OF the director OF
the Hudson County Board of FrrchOicrs was passed
by the ,,.mely aud tnat providing for the ef
Z Hudson County discussed at length me
measure va, idtOclttd by Mr.. Lre Of Hudson warmly
upo,od by Mr-.rs le,-on aud Parker AMI finally lyrecOm-
mttcd IN, bin To prohibit stock speculation was re-
ported adversely and indefinitely postponed
Ihr Committee ON Reform school W Wit that insti-
tuition Tomorrow and that A>yuus Will visit the
IuuIuc As um ~ Morn, Plains on friday Inc senate
adjourned this afternoon FOR the week.