The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1894-04-07
BUSY LAWMAKERS.
400 BILLS IN THE HOUSE, $50 IN THE
SENATE.

The Offices of State Comptroller and
Treasurer in Republican Hands-Rumors
About the Morris Plains Asylum.
Special Correspondence of THE CHRONICLE.
TRENTON, April 1.-The Senate closed
a busy week to-day, and adjourned until
Monday evening.
The House labored industISously until
well nigh midnight and took a recess uni
til Wednesday morning, in consequence
of elections ON Tuesday in many localities
of the State.
With one exception we have had three
sessions day during the week and the
legislative mill has ground rapidly and
constantly. Nearly 400 bills have been
introduced in the House, and $50 in the
Senate, of which not more than one-third
have passed At the most rapid pace
conceivable, the work in hand cannot
possibly be disposed Of before May 10,
unless many committees prove supulchres
for quite a number of measures. The
final adjournment may not take place
until the middle of May or later. The
members, especially those from rural
localities, are anxious to get home, and
transfer their attention from lawmaking
to tilling of the soil. They have spent
the meagre pittance allowed them as
compensation by the State, and as every
day in attendance increases their expens-
es and diminishes their bank accounts,
they see no profit, and less satisfaction,
than the Capitol afforded at the opening
of the session.
Proceedings in the Senate have been
somewhat retarded by trifing objections,
of frequent occurrence, lnterposed by Sem
ator Bill DAILY, McDermott's partner in
the 'Rump" Senate conspiracy. DAILY
got dressed down in magnificent style on
Monday evening, however, since which
time he has been little better behaved.
It was in connection with the Freebooter
bill, which the Republicans sought to
pass in time to be in operation at the APP
preaching election, on Tuesday next.
DAILY sailed into the Republicans on the
question Of partisan legislation. This
brought Senators VOORHEES, and Storrs to
the front. When they had concluded
their remarks there was little left of
DAILY, and the party of which he is not by
any means fair representative suffered
severely by way Of criticism. 1t was all
merited, however, as a resume of legis-
lation enacted by recent Democratic
Legislatures amply substantiates.
Governor Werts has had the pleasure
of being relieved of just little of his
appointiye power. 1t was the beginning
of action in this direction. On Tuesday,
in joint caucus, the Republicans decided
to shake the Executive up little on this
line, and commenced at the State Prison
Of the half hundred or more officials and
employees there are but two Republi-
cans. In the past the Governor has con-
trolled the prison appointments. Hence
forth they will be made in joint session.
Argument upon the proposed change
showed that the list of keepers has in
creased twenty-one, while the number
of inmates has been of about even ratio
In four years the expense of maintenance
and salary list has increased over $40,-
900 per annum. This state of affairs
will exist no longer than it is possible for
ton, and apply the wedding out process.
The illustrious Barney Ford is still in
charge of the State House, but he is
packing up his belongings and getting
ready to move Ex-SheriH Rice of Mer-
Ger IS slated for the place, and better
selection or more popular appointment
could not be made. Some of the useless
place holders will soon be sent adrift, and
the economic system, under Republican
rule, will go into effect. Since Col.
Toffeys time, only a few years ago, the
expense attending the maintenance of
the State House has increased from $685.
900 to 1858, 900. Where the money goes
cannot be ascertained until the books are
in the past, the Governor has had I'M
limited authority in the expenditure of
funds for State House expenses.
The new Treasurer and Comptroller
assumed office on Monday, when trans
fer of authority took place. The &C
counts was found to be correct, and the
funds, about 81 900, 900, in good shape.
Rumors have been rife to the effect
that Senator Bradley is inclined to kick
over the Republican traces on some of
the anticipated measures. AS yet there
seems to be no grounds for the report.
Even if he does, the ship will sail along
under full sheets, as it is no secret here
that the majority has been numerically
increased within a few days. This may
be interpreted to mean that the Repub-
hcans have corralled some of the stray
minority, who have got under cover.
This will be trifie consoling for the loss
of that $25, 200 which four of the con-
spiracy Senators wanted, to terminate
the disgraceful deadlock, shattered to
atoms by that sweeping and annihilating
Supreme Court decision.
In both Houses there are uneasy Dem
ocrats who hunger and thirst after some
thing beside righteousness. For instance,
the manufacturer of a new patent ballot
box, one of the best yet devised, and
which would battle the skill of ''stuffers"
of less note than the illustrious Tom
Trotter of Jersey City, or some of the
Duke of Gloucester's cohorts, has had
one on exhibition here for week. The
patentee resides in Camden. He brought
his box here last winter, but inasmuch as
it designed to purify the ballot and in
sure honest elections, a Democratic Leg
islature had no use for it. A bill adopt
ing the box was introduced and got as
far as committee. The story goes that
Teddy Carroll, Democrat, from Hudson,
demanded $500 to pull the bill out of
committee, which not being forthcoming,
the bill remained smothered. Carr oil
has showed his grabbing propensities
again this session. and although he is not
on the Election Committee, he has init
mated that $500 will insure silence on the |
Democratic side of the House. The
patentee is onto Teddy, as well as some
of the Republicans, and they will never
see any portion of that $500.
The corporations and monopolists are
having hard time of it. They find
plenty to do, but meet with little success.
They have, however, succeeded in keep
ing Salinger's dollar gas bill under cover,
also the two cent ferriage bills. They
have failed, thus far in pushing desired
insurance bills to any stage of progress.
For such measures it is an off year.
The g State of Essex" delegation re-
ceiyed set back to-day, which they did
not relish. Mr.. Murphy, a few days ago,