New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-04
THE yEWJERsEY REPEAL BILL IN DOUBT
DEMOCRATS AND LIQUOR MEN LESS HOPEFUL
pALr or rErORM MAKING PROGRESS

DEMOCRATS AND LIQUOR MEN LESS HOPEFUL
BALLOT REFORM MAKING PROGRESS
Trenton, y. j., March 3.The Legislature Will be-
gin the ninth week of its session tomorrow morn
ing and the remoteneSs Of adjournment at tlmc
when members naturally expect TO be soon relieved
from their abo1S IS causing no lltte grumbllng Tn
less the LIQUOR law IS passed, there VIII DO
disappointment in store fol- the Democrats IN The
matter of their partisan measures So far, they have
succeeded with only their smallest schemes and fhe
radical changes they had proposed lie dormant pending
decision on tho LIQUOR business The customary an
nouncenent IS now made that the bill Will surely be
passed this week but, while it may 60 through the
Senate It is exceedingly unsatisfactory 10 the House
Democrats. With much reason the liquor men Want
to know what advantage there IS I'm repeating county
option If township option Is 70 take its place Re
publcans are Strengthened in their opinion that the
Legislature do nothing the subject this year.
and general collapse of the majority is predicted
The Australian BallotReform bill is in excellent
position and IT, Will DO brought up on second reading
this week. amended in slight particulars, and Will
come up on final passage soon after There have
been indications abundant show thai there is al
overwhelming public sentiment in It's favor, ana the
majority leaders, who have made no cc1ceament Oh
their aversion 70 the plan have confessed that inc
bill must be passed The scnae's concurrence IN the
measure and the Governors approval are both be-
lieved TO be assured The danger TO the measure VIII
be delay.
The BIN to meet the deficiency in tho states IN
come will be- presented this week. The state needs
5000 900, and # is proposed TO take it out OF the
School Fund in some way, although that fund Is pro-
teced by constitutional provision from just such raids
The fund is overgrown and ha, been badly manager
IN the past but the needs Of education are growing
so much rapidly than the ability OF the 0cateS
10 supply them, that the fund should be applied 10
strictly constitutional The difficulty with the
state Treasury that tho expenses have Increased
two or three hundred thousand dollars within a iew
years, while the income has not grown 50 rspuN'
The increase has been due to extravaganza III one
form or another, and IL IS suggested that economy
would be the natural and legitimate remedy, ana IL
cOnld be exercised without hardship
Divorce statistics covering the period OF zen years
have been prepared by Tho State Board 81 health;
those Of the last five years having been asceraned
bv a recent examination OF the Chancery 'Onrt
minutes From 1873 TO 1882 the first I'VE years,
there we're 7ss divorces granted In Ncw-Jersey, or
one divorce 10 about every fifty -four MARRIAGES
From $50 TO 1858 the number Of divorces was lF3,
or one divorce 10 about every forty->X marriages.
The Increase Is ascrbed to various causes. among
them the ease with which cases secure secret
hearing in tho Court of Chanccry at low cost OF
litigation. The condition of the laws In New-Jersey
as regards divorce Is satisfactory, but the marriage
laws are not so wcll framed.