The Monitor-register., 1897-03-12
NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE.
TRENTON. Mar. II, 1S9

measures, but not much headw way made. |
The session has gone along very smoothly
so far, but there are some Indications of
breakers head before all interests are
harmonzed on the leading bills now
before both Houses, and on which final
action is yet to be taken. This was indi
Gated in the discussion in the Senate
yesterday morning on the Constitutional
amendments, they being the special order.
The Senate on Monday night confirmed
the nominations of Gilbert Collius, of
Jersey City, to be Associate Justice of
the Supreme Court, aud Samuel 81, Grey,
of Camden. to be Attorney General.
Senator Ketcham's bill. appropriating
$40, 600 to industrial schools, providing
the cities in which they are located
appropriate like amount, was lost after
long debate. Senator Ketcham cham
pioned the measure, but it was beaten
after Senators Voorhees,, Skirm and DAILY
had opposed it. The principal argument
of the opposition was that when
the State had given child first class
common-school education it had com
pleted its duties.
The House, after long debate, adopted
the minority report of the judiciary
Committee on Assemblyman Wildes's bill
which seeks to reduce the salaries of all
State officers when they exceed $4,000.
r; 20 r;u hn LOT,
siderable trouble. Nearly every member
of the House representing country
district has been urged by his constitu-
| ents to vote for the bill and. although
nearly all of the members oppose the
measure, few care to go on record against
it. The House probably will pass it, and
it will likely be strangled N the Senate.
Nearly every Senator is opposed to the
bill and on Monday night both Senator
Voorhees, and Senator Daily openly
expressed their opposition to it. Both
said that horizontal reductions in the pay
of State officials was uuwise and unjustifi
able. Senator Voorhees, said that he
would gladly vote for bill reducing the
salary of some officials or for bill
abolishing several offices, but that he
was opposed to the cutting down of the
incomes in offices which Re publicans
already have reduced nearly four fifths.
The Lloyd marriage license bill went
through the House on Monday night with
bells on, there being only one vote against
it, and that being recorded by Mr.
Wildes, the only one openly opposing the
measure. Assemblyman Lloyd. the
introduoer of the bill, explained the con.
ditions that exist in Camden, " hioh made
the enactment OF such law a necessity.
He took the breath of some of the rural
members, when he told them that there
were upward of 1000 couples who dodge
the marriage license law of Pennsyl
vania, and come across the Delaware
River to get cheap and easy marriage ir
Camden. He thought it was a safe
inference that if 1000 couples ran away
from the Pennsylvania law, that many il
this State with it's population of 100000
we're illegally welded. He said he was
sorry to announce the fact that the mair
opposition of the bill came from men who
are sworn to protect the morals of so
ciety.
Assem- blyman Qerousse seconded Mr.
Lloyd in his efforts to get the bill
through. He amused the House by tell
ing the stories of sharp competition be
tween the ministers who gave hack
drivers who found customers so pei
cent. of the fees. One preacher had a
peach tree planted in his yard and sigu
"By an apple Adam and Eve fell. but
by a peach they shall be united again. HI
told story of recent street scene il
Camden, where three persons actually
fought to capture couple who were
wandering around the street looking fol
the peach tree.
The chances of this bill getting through
the Senate are not very bright.
Mr.. Gledhill's bicycle baggage bill was
1amended at the instance of the represen'
tatives of the wheelman. These amend
ments make the bill more acceptable t.
the railroads, and we're offered in the
hope of facilitating the passage of th'
bill when it reaches the Senate. 1best
provide that wheels do not have to go OF
the same trains as passengers, and thai
the companies shall not be liable fol
damages to lanterns or cyclometers.
The House was not in session on Tues
day, the members desiring to be at home
for town meeting.
There wa an interesting discussion OF
the bill of Senator Reed on Tuesday
which, if it becomes a law, will enable
school boards 10 scho oil districts to cleo
treasurer and secretary of their owr
members, who would have in charge the
moneys appropriated for school purposes
The bill was opposed on final passage by
several Senators. Mr.. Reed said the
sole object of the measure was to secure
to the boards of education immediate
custody of the moneys. Senator Stokes,
who is an authority upon school laws
oppot ed the bill, saying that its passage
would compel the townships to pay un
necessary interest, while having money
in tile hands of separate body of the
township. He explained the present
system, by which the warrant of the
treasurer of the school board was bon.
ored by the county treasurer when pre-.
seDted. The measure was laid over.
Gov. Griggs has signed the bill requir.
ing election envelopes hereafter to be
blue instead of white
Senator Miller on Tuesday presente
two bills. Oae prevents, under a pen
atty, the distribution of tobacco in any
form to be inmates of an asylum, peni.
tentiary, alTshouse, or other public iLsti.
tions. The other makes it misdemeanor
punishable BY a fine of 500 or six
months imprisonment for any company
or individual to manufacture or sell Gig
srettes, made wholly or in part of tobacco
The Constitutional A mendments were
the special order yesterday, and notable
debate took place between Senators Voor
hees and johnson on the judicial Amend
ment, EACH havirga special plan. The
Voorhees, plan, the came as was passed
by the Legislature last winter, provides
for Court of Pardons, to consist of the
Governor, Attorney General and Pesidirg
Judge of the Supreme Court; abolishing