The Monitor-register., 1896-02-07
NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE.

|
been passed, though large number have
been introduced. 1t is, perhaps, no
serious matter that so few bills have been
passed, if this tardiness be in accordance
with Gov. Griggs' suggestion, that the
volume of laws be curtailed; but the
danger is, with the large number of bills
introduced, that in the hurry incident to
the closing days, measures may get
through without proper scrutiny and
which had better sleep in committee.
There is an evident intention, however,
on the part of the leaders, to keep down
the volume Of legislation this session.
Senator DAILY, the forlorn Democratic
leader, made heroic attempt on Monday
night to get off speech on resolution
which he introduced endorsing President
! Cleveland's stand on the Monroe doctrine,
but in reality to strike at Senator Sewell,
for opposing the Presidents course, but
he was promptly choked off.
Senator Voorhees, introduced and had
passed a concurrent resolution which
promises to straighten out the intermin-
able confusion caused by the multitude
of laws passed for many years regarding
boroughs. ..-.
Its provisions are as follows: There
shall be appointed joint committee to
be composed of three members of the
Senate, named by the President, and five
members of the House of Assembly,
named by the Speaker, who shall revise,
simplify, arrange and consolidate all the
general statutes applying or relating to
boroughs and borough commissions and
report to this or the next session of the
Legislature such new acts or parts of acts
as, in their Judgment, may appear neces.
sary or expedient; shall form a simple
and consistent code of laws for the gov
ernment of all boroughs and borough
commissions in this State; and that the
committee shall have power to employ
such legal or clerical assistants and incur
such necessary expenses as to them may
seem proper.
At the suggestion of the Rev. DR..
Kempshall, and for the purpose of pull
verizing the ossible legislation reopen
ing the race tracks, Senator Voorhees,
presented the following proposed amend
ment to the Constitution, which was
passed last year, and asked for its re-
passage:
"No lottery shall be authorized by this
State and no ticket in any lottery shall be
bought or sold within this State, nor
shall pool-selling, book-making or gamb-
ling of any kind be authorized or allowed
within this State, nor shall any gambling
device, practice or game of chance now
prohibited by law be legalized. or the
remedy, penalty or punishment, now pro-
vided therefor, be in any way dimin-
ished."
Senator Rogers introduced bill to
make emphatic what many regard as the
spirit of the law in the matter of signing
| applications for liquor licenses. His
measure provides that the 12 freeholders
who sign an application are barred from
signing any other similar paper.
Senator Voorhees, introduced a bill to
legislate out of office the Lay Judges of
the Courts of Common Pleas of the
various counties. 1t provides for single
Judge for such courts, to be appointed by
the Governor for term of five years.
The salaries of the Judges are as follows:
Counties with population over 200. 1000.
$1,000; over 100000. $4,000; over O,oO0,
$4,000; over 10000, $500; over $4,000,
$4,000; over %, 900, $4,000, and less than
10000, $1,000.
A petition was submitted by Mr.. WALL
ing, asking for the passage of law
"reducing official salaries of State officers
receiving over $4,000 year by sum of
s25 on every s100 in excess of $2000."
The petitioners represent that the
lowering of values of all kinds of
property that has taken place within the
past ten years has been accompanied by
a reduction In the incomes and earnings
of all classes of people except the Office
holders. The proposed reduction will, in
five years, pay the cost of State institu-
tion for the blind, or furnish much needed
Increased accommodation for other
afflicted wards of the State. The petit
tion was, on motion of Leader Robertson,
referred to the Committee on Game and
Fisheries.
Mr.. Stanger, of Gloucester, put in
several petitions asking for the passage
of an amendment to the State Road law,
giving Boards of Chosen Freeholders
discretionary power.
Assemblyman Lloyd, of Camden, has
introduced bill providing for system
of marriage licenses throughout the State
If passed, the law will take effect on July
| 1st. Licenses ia cities must be issued by
City Clerks, who will receive one dollar
for issuing certificate, which must be
presented to the officiating clergyman or
Magistrate. A form is provided where
the parties marry according to the
Friends ceremony. When the applicant
1 for license is not from city the license
is to be obtained from the County Clerk.
No license can be issued unless one of
the contracting parties is a resident of
the State. Any minister marrying a
couple without the official certificate is
liable to a fine of &lO0, and the penalty
for party who get married without
license is fine of 5000 or imprisonment
for six months.
| The applicant for a license nnst
answer certain questions to show that
there is no legal impedent to the
marriage, and these answers must be
kept as a matter of record, open for
| inspection by the public. A minor will
not be given certificate without the
consent of parent or guardian. No
licenses caa be granted where both appli-
\ cants are under the age of II.
| The bill further psovides that no mar
riage shall be rendered 7oid by failure
to take out license.
The Virginians who came mare to
investigate the States Road Improve
ment laws and Inspect the new stone
roads helped the legislators to put in the
day on Tuesday. There were about
sixty of the visitors, headed by Lieut.
Gov. Kent and comprising members
of the Legislature and of the Road
improvement Association. The snow
| storm had covered the Mercer county
roads, and the visitors spent the morning