The Monitor-register., 1896-02-28
NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE.
TRENTON, Feb. 81, 1896.

AhENIoN, FeD. ~, 1910.
The members of the Legislature have
hardly eaFned their pay yet, II the amount
OF work done in the way of practical
legislation is to determine the compensa-
lion Tor their services. This ia the sew
entn week since the present session began.
and as yet but little has been accom-
piished in the direction of fulfilling the
pledges of reduction of government
expenses. to curtail excessive and ex.
travagant salaries, to equalize the bur
dens OF taxation and restore municipal
home rule. There may be sufficient rea-
sons for the slow progress, but they are
not apparent to the casual observer.
The people are taking CAREFUL note of
this delay, and If the present Legislature
does not keep faith with the people, the
party leaders will find it uphill work to
secure majority in the next Legislature.
seven weeks ought to be ample time to
harmonize the most adverse elements and
find out what legislation is needed and
enact it with business dispatch. There is
no impeachment in the present session
because OF a close majority or opposing
party tactics, which renders the dilatory
methods all the more conspicuous.
The galleries and lobbies were filled on
Monday night with the hope of seeing
something done, but the wheels moved
sluggishly and the sight.seers were dis.
appointed.
In the Senate Senator Voorhees, bill,
giving salary Of $4,000 per annum, In
lieu of fees. to the Clerks of the Supreme
Court and Court of Chancery, was passed.
Senator Voorhees, also introduced an
other amendment to the Constitution,
bearing on the judiciary. The lawyers
want the judicial system of the State
changed, but they are unable to agree
upon any feasible plan, so the matter has
finally been committed to a committee of
leading lawyers, with the hope that they
may solve the difficulty, but the prospect
is scarcely more hopeful that they will
succeed. A resolution for this purpose
was introduced on Tuesday by Senator
VOORHEES,, providing that the Senate shall
request Messrs. Thomas N. McCarter,
Samuel H. Grey, Gilbert Collins, Frank
Bergen, Frank W. Stevens, ]. Frank
Fort, G. d. W. Vroom, Eugene Steven
son and David ]. Paneoast to formulate
and submit to the Senate on Tuesday,
March Sd, draft of an amendment to the
judiciary article of the State Constitution,
and also an amendment to Article w.
relative to the election of members to the
Senate and General Assembly, looking to
an apportionment of members of the
House of Assembly to the several count
les into assembly districts.
The oystermen and fishermen of south
Jersey nonopolized attention on Tuesday
in both Houses. In the Senate hearing
was given before the Committee on Game
and Fisheries on Senator Parry's bill
regulating pound fishing. 1t requires
these fishermen to pay a license of 800,
to fix their nets not less than 1000 feet
| from the shore at low tide, to have nets
with meshes four inches large and with
twc-inch nleshes in the pockets, to raise
the nets on Saturday Moons and not drop
them until Monday moons. No one
appeared in favor of the bill.
Edmund Wilson, of Red Bank, rep
resenting the pound fishermen, said the
bill would work hardship. 1t was i'm
possible to take out the nets on Satur-
days at noon and put them down on
Mondays at noon without great LOSE.
Often they would lose much more time
because of storms. To change the size
of the meshes would involve an expense
of $50, 900 on the New Jersey fishermen,
and it was doubtful whether they could
get the nets then. These pounds did
not interfere, he said, with the line fisher
men. They needed the pounds to furnish
them with bait. Captain p otsss; Captain e
Low and many other fishermen pleaded
that no change should be made in the
law. They thought it unfair for men
residing iu brownstone mansions to come
down to the seashore to dictate to those
who were trying to get living.
The House, by vote of 80 to "a, sus-
tanned the adverse report of the Game
and Fish Committee on Assemblyman
Austin's bill to create State Commission
to supervise the planting and dredging of
oysters, the commission to be appointed
by the Governor, and to supersede the
present Executive Committee of the
Oystermen's Association, which is now
invested with certain authority by the
State. There was a minority report 10
favor of the bill.
Senator Rogers presented petition
from the W. G. T. U. of the State with
1000 signatures, asking for the passage
of his bill requiring the signatures of 12
freeholders to every application for
license. This bill was vigorously opposed
in committee by Senator Daily. who
declared that it would bankrupt Jersey
City and other municipalities by reducing
the number of saloons and decreasing the
revenue from them. Mrs. Emma Bourne,
president of the State Woman's Christian
Temperance Union. and others vigorously
defended the bill, claiming, among other
things, that reducing the number of
saloons would itself reduce the expenses
of government. There will be another
hearing next Monday afternoon.
Senator Parry offered an amendment
TO his Oleomeargarine bill, striking from
the same all reference to Board of
Animal Industry. which he sought to
have established. The bill, as It now
stands, prohibits the colering of oleo-
margarine. The bill was laid over.
There was another hearing on the re-
pealer to the Township School law Tues
day afternoon. State Superintendent Pc.
land made an extended address, setting
forth the advantages of the new law.
At a recent meeting of State Superip-
tendents, where twenty-four were pres
ent, he said not single one favored the
present district system. 1t created no any
small and poor districts. A number of
members of Boards of Education from
various counties were introduced, and
spoke In favor of the law. A long
petition was presented in favor of the
repeater. A strong fight is being made
by the State Board of Education for the
Township act.
Superintendent Poland, It is said, is
about to resign, to accept position as
superintendent of the schools of New