Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-03-12
Bridgeton, N. j., March II, 1885.
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS.
TRENTON, March IL, 1885.

of Hon. Isaac Wildrick, one of the AS
semblvmen from Warren County. The
aged gentleman was presented with a
handsome clock on behalf of the mem
bers of the House. The presentation
speech made by Speaker Armstrong,
was very eloquently and forcibly de-
livered. Mr.. Wildrick returned thanks
for the kind remembrance, and wished
the doners long lives and much happi-
ness. Notwithstanding his advanced
years Mr.. Wildrick is we'll preserved,
walks without cane, and takes more
interest in the proceedings of the
House than most of the other members.
High License was debated in the As
sembly recently. This is a bill offered
by Mr.. Corbin. of Union County. Mr..
Wayne Parker of Essex, who has
steadily opposed all prohibition meas
ures, made a strong argument for the
measure. and wanted the bill amended
to fix the lowest license for liquor sell
ing at one hundred dollars, the highest
five hundred dollars. The amendment,
however, was not agreed to, only re-
ceiving six votes. Another amend
ment dispensing with freeholders' peti-
tion, was also lost. The bill was Or
dered to be engrossed and have a third
reading.
Three Republican caucus bills were
sent up to the Clerks desk in the
House Thursday afternoon, providing
severally for the election of the State
Superintendent of Public Instruction,
Managers of the Morristown Asylum,
and Commissioners of Pilotage, in joint
meeting. All these positions are now
gubernatorial patronage. Of course
these several acts will prolong the ses-
sion, but the Republican majority in
both Houses propose to stay until they
get through, if it does take time.
Assemblyman Banks, from the Sec
ond District of Cumberland, had his
desk decorated with an elegant floral
tribute one day last week. a gift from
lady friends. Banks is favorite in
the Assembly, and is making friends
all the time.
In the Senate Monday evening, there
was a spirited debate over Mr.. Nichols
Riparian bill. The Senator from Hud-
son, Mr.. Brinkerhoff, vigorously as
sailed it, but it was just as vigorously
defended The Senator from Cumber-
land said that the bill was eminently
proper and right. 1t abolished the life
tenure of the Riparian Commissioners,
and made them subject to removal at
the end of five years. He asked Dem
ocratic Senators why they should op-
pose so fair a proposition, because they
certainly knew that the holding of Of
flee for life was contrary to the spirit
of our institutions, and highly repug-
nant to the good sense of the Ameri-
can people. The bill had other praise
worthy features the one concerning a
non-partisan formation of the Board
being especially commendable. The
Governor had made Objectionable ap-
pointments, until now this custodian
of the great Riparian interests of the
State had become intensely partisan.
1t was time that something should be
done toward divesting the Board of it's
party character. There was still an
other reason why the Riparian act
should be amended OF late all the
Riparian Commissioners had been
taken from one section of the State,
while South Jersey had been entirely
deprived of representation in the
Board. The important oyster inter
ests of the seaboard counties were un-
represented, and he (Nichols) demand
ed that the oystermen of the State
should have some representation in a
Board which held power so important
to their protection and well being.
The discussion of the Riparian bill
took wide range, and was finally
ended by the adoption of a motion
that the measure lie over temporarily.
1t will be taken up, however, later in
the week, and pressed to vote.
The fight over the State Superin-
tendency of Public Schools is waxing