Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-03-18

ruruner unat fuller vote can always Dc uu-
tanned at the fall election, when state or
national issues are at stake than in the
spring, when only purely local questions
are under consideration. Many Of the
voters in the two cities named are employ
ed In New York city and give only sec
ondary attention to matters affecting local
government, SO that often they pay no heed
at all to the spring campaign 1t is adj
mitted that the Republicans expect to gain
by securing this class of voters, who are
usually to be depended upon to deposit
their ballots when state and national Off
GERS are up for election in November and
hence the desire TO have local officials
chosen at the same time.
The Democratic arguments against the
bill are it's partisanship. its unconstitu-
tionality in combining the legislation to one
class of cities and finally its extension of
the terms of the city officers now in power
till next November. Senators DAILY and
Kuhl (Dem. led the attack on the bill
Monday night. The latter declared that it
was dangerous precedent to extend by
legislative enactment any official term be-
yond what had been voted by the people
He asked if the legislature could extend
terms eight months, why they could not
extend them for eight years. Senator DAILY
spoke for over an hour and insisted that if
the bill was good for first class cities it
was good for all classes, but that partisan
needs in first class cities really dictated it's
introduction. He said the Republicans
were trying to forestall the popular verdict
against them this spring. He quoted James
Bryce and other authorities on municipal
government in favor of separating local
and general issues at elections Senator
johnson of Bergen rep also opposed the
bill
Its defense was made by Senator Ketch.
am of Essex, who argued ably along the
lines above indicated to show that the bill
was in the interest of good government by
insuring full expression from the voters.
The bill passed with bare majority-11
to 8. Several Republicans voted against
the bill. The house next day agreed to
the senate amendments, and the measure
now goes to the governor, who is expected
to sign it. 1t is understood that in Jersey
City the Democrats will carry the matter
into court on the ground of unconstitu-
tionality. Senator Ketcham has intro
duced supplementary bill providing for
separate ballot boxes for the local and gen
eral ballots
Other Bills Passed.
Among the bills passed in the senate
were the following:
Enabling the freeholders of Morris coun-
ty to increase the amount they have been
spending for the Improvement of public
roads from $3.50, 600 to $500, 600.
The commuters bill, enabling passen-
gers on railroad to carry packages of per-
sonal property, provided they do not oc-
cupy space intended for other passengers
Senator DAILY, in advocating the measure,
read decision by Judge Van Syckel of
the supreme court, holding in recent
case that under the law as it has stood up
to the present time a passenger has no
right to carry few groceries home on a
train for his own family.
Authorizing the mailing of the annual
report of the state board of health to ply
sicians W no make returns of vital statistics
Prohibiting the catching of oysters in
Delaware bay and its tributaries between
sunset and sunrise.
Authorizing the appointment of an Ital-
ian interpreter in the Hudson and Essex
county courts at salary of $7s0 year.
The senate declined to concur in the as
sembly concurrent resolution to supply
each new member of this years legislature
with copy of the revised statutes. The
revised statutes come in three volumes,
| worth about So volume. Fifty members
would receive sets under the resolution.
The bills passed by the assembly SO far
this week include the following:
Authorizing Union county to raise $50,
900 by bonds for the purchase of lands for
county purposes.
Providing that the polls at all elections
shall open at a. m. and close at 5 p. m.
Authorizing local boards of health to
adopt and alter >ordinances prohibiting the
sale of milk containing any unhealthy in
gredient
Authorizing the governor to appoint two
persons to erect monument at Anderson
vile, Ga, in honor of New Jersey soldiers
who died there.
The Asbury Park and Ocean City char
ter bills, and also bills fixing the boun-
daries of the two cities.