The Monitor-register., 1897-02-19
NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE,
TRENTON, Feb. II, 1897

There was an unusually large crowd of
politicians at the State House on Monday
night, but nothing specially new develop.
ed, their presence here being occasioned
by their interest in local legislation. Very
little business was transacted in either
House outside the introduction of bills.
Among the measures introduced in the
House was the Equal Taxation BILL"
recommended by the majority of the
special committee appointed to consider
that subject by Governor Griggs. 1t
amends the Railroad Tax act of 1884, SO
that the one half of one per cent. tax
shall be applied to the uses of the State,
excepting that assessed upon the real
estate used for railroad or canal purposes
in each taxing district, which tax is
appropriated and allotted to the various
taxing districts through which said rail-
roads or canals run, giving to eacl such
district the total amount of tax so derived
from such property. 1t was presented by
Leader Derousse for the Speaker, and as
| it bears the Endorsement Of the Equal
Taxation Commission, it will probably be
reported instead of Assembly No. l by
the Committee on Railroads and Canals,
| to which it was referred. If enacted it
would take about 5000, 1000 from the
State fund annually and distribute it
among the several municipalities, giving
Jersey City about $114,000. This is
expected to meet with the approval of the
Hudson delegation.
Nearly all the other bills introduced in
the House were by Hudson members and
the most important was one by Mr.. Mo
Arthur, fixing penalty of $50 fine on
any tax assessor returning less than the
full and true value Of property assessed.
Senator Voorhees, introduced in tie
Senate measure embodying the ideas of
Mrs. Ballington Booth with respect to
the care of conviots after they shall have
served their sentences or shall have pro.
fessed religion. The bill provides for the
| appointment of probation officers and an
advisory board of parole, to consist OF
five mem bers. including the keeper of
the New Jersey State Prison and two
moral Instructors. This board will
recommend to the Board of Pardons
those prisoners most entitled by their
conduct to be released upon parole.
When released Mrs. Booths idea is for
the Salvation Army to establish home
and provide places for the paroled con-
victs.
Lloyd's Marriage License bill was
reported in the House on Tuesday with
an amendment by the Committee on
Judiciary The amendment provides
that Justice of the Peace may take affi
davits from parties desiring to be mar
ried, and obtain for them license from
the County Clerk. This is to obviate the
necessity of journeying to the county
seat for license. The amendment was
agreed to, and the bill was ordered to a
third reading.
The House was in an unusual mood for
| UuoiuOoo VI L uCcu6Jy bulcO oObbIOu6 U6IuR
held, mostly taken up with routine work.
Only brief session was held by the
Senate. President Williams calling that
body to order and Immediately adjourn.
ing it because of the tardiness of the
| Senators.
| Gossip concerning executive appoint.
ments was renewed on Tuesday because
of the appearance at the State House of
William BEETLE. Governor Griggs said
he was not quite ready to submit the
remaining appointments, but admitted
that they might be presented at an earlier
date than anticipated. There appears tu
be no longer any doubt of the appoint
ment of William BEETLE as Commissioner
of Banking and Insurance. George T
Wurts has withdrawn his objection to
filling the office of Secretary of State and
will accept that, leaving Lewis A.
Thompson in the Office OF Clerk oil
Cbancery. Joseph L. Mum, of ESSEX,
has been rendered. and has not ytt
accepted, the position of Clerk of TIE
Supreme Court. AS soon as he arrives al
decision 1t is expected all the nomina
sions will be made.
The bill introduced by Senator Voor
hees appropriating $500 to pay the
expense of transportation of one of the
New Jersey regiments, and for the main-
tenance of the soldiers while staying al
the Federal Capital to attend the inaugur.
alton, was defeated in the Senate after
the warmest debate of the session,
| Senator Voorhees, said, after the vote had
been announced, that he accepted it as a
permanent defeat of the bill. Even if the
Fighter bill appropriating $4,000 for
the same purpose, should be pushed
through. Senator Voorhees, thought it
could not be passed before the latter part
of next week. This would not give the
State Military Board sufficient time to
arrange for the transportation and care
of the troops.
The defeat of the bill was something of
surprise, although there has been con-
siderable opposition to the sending of
troops to Washington from the time the
matter was first suggested. Senator
Parry, of Burlington county, who opened
the opposition this morning when the
| measure came up, had no idea that the
measure would be killed. Senator Stokes,
OF the Appropriation Committee, reported
| the measure at the request of Senator
Voorhees,, and it was promptly passed to
second reading, and later to final passage.
Although may stand alone in this
matter, | feel it my duty to protest
against any appropriation for sending
troops to Washington for any purpose, !"
| said Senator Parry, when the measure
came up on final passage. 1.-THE sending
Ut paid troops to Washington marks a
new departure in New Jersey, and
regard it as both unwise and unnec ecessary,
especially just now when business is
generally depressed everywhere"
Mr. Parry said that there was strong
opposition to any unnecessary expenditure
at this time, aud he did not think troops
were necessary, because be understood
the people of Washington were making
most liberal arrangements for the proper
celebration Of the Inauguration.
There is no need Of calling upon an
already over burdened State to send lis
National Guard to Washington" said the
Senator, "aDd the Legislature that insists
upon doing SO will have to answer to the