Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-02-10

orK Guys sensarlonaI newspapers g..
at their wits ends for good stories"
1t was probably one of them that start
ed the report that United States Sena-
tor Smith was to be hauled over the
Goals in the legislature Monday night
for betraying his constituents by voting
for the Teller resolution in congress.
The attempt to castigate the senator
did not materialize on Monday night.
however and at last accounts nobody
could be found who would stand spon-
sor for the movement
Possibly II was for the lack of some
thing more exciting that Assembiyman
Weller yesterday introduced bill pro-
viding for a tax Of 80 per annum on
bachelors. Mr.. Weller. however. insists
that the bill was offered at the request
Of some of his constituents who think
marriage ought to be promoted. Speak
er Watkins, who Is bachelor, referred
the bill to the committee on lunatic asy-
lums.
The committee appointed to investi-
gate the get rich quick building con-
Germs expect to begin operations in
Newark this week
The agriculture committee of the SEN
ate Is to give hearing next Tuesday
afternoon on the bill to prevent the in
PRODUCTION of the San Jose scale and
other dangerous insects into the state.
This bill has met with opposition from
some of the nurserymen outside the
state and has been modified somewhat
to suit their views. 1t is well known
that our farmers have suffered a good
deal from poisonous insects of late
years. and as the present bill is to try
and abate the evil it is likely that sew
eral speakers will appear here in its
favor.
There is quite a division of sentiment
in the Grand Army over the bill pro-
viding for a change in the board of
managers of the New Jersey Soldiers
home General John p. Ramsay spoke
before the house committee this week,
claiming that it's purpose was a good
one, so that the soldiers might have
something to say in the appointment
of the board. He attacked the present
management. Several other veterans
praised the present board highly.
The Tax Hearing.
An interesting hearing was had this
week before the senate committee on re-
vision of laws on the tax bills intro
duced at the request of the state board
of taxation. They strike blow at tax
exemptions now allowed to firemen, SOL
| diers and militiamen, restrict the amount
of church property to be exempted, tend
to secure the full taxation of bank stock
require property to be taxed at its full
value and provide means for removing
| local assessors who insist on fixing a
three fourths, two-thirds or one-half
valuation on the property of their neigh
bors.
Commissioner Shape of the state board
of taxation said that the boards atten-
ton was called to the necessity for such
| legislation by the enormous increase
each year in exemptions. The exemp-
lions for the year 1897 had increased
over 81, 600, 900 from 1896 The total ex-
emptions for 1897 amounted to 1882, 69S
and were made up as follows: School
property, $11,430. 1923; public property.
s26. 965 $50: church and charitable prop
erty. $50, 061. 1853; cemeteries. $3.803,286;
veterans and wives of veterans, $5,415,-
S43; firemen. 50. 337 .954; members of mi
iitia. $37S.595.
Mayor Carl LEM of Newark and Com
missioner Black also spoke but, owing
to the Importance of the subject, it will
| be taken up again next week.
Odds and Ends.
James S. Erwin of Jersey City has
been nominated by Acting Governor
voorhees, to succeed Charles H. Win
field, who resigned as prosecutor of
Hudson county owing to i'll health.
This was the acting governors first
nomination to the senate.
The senate has passed the bill en-
abling Essex county to issue park bonds
to the amount of $1,50O,00O, in addition
to the $2500,000 already issued
| Among other bills passed by the sem
ate were these: Providing for the trans
fer of the naval reserve to the national
guard; Incorporating the borough of
Branchville. Sussex county.
The assembly passed the police pen
sion bill, which provides for the pen
sioning of policemen in cities, towns
and boroughs when they are disabled
after 20 years service, the pension to
be half the amount they had been re-
ceiving as salary.