The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-04-01
THE LEGISLATIVE RECORD.
Review of the Work Of the I2zd
Session.


Session.
Nearly Six Hundred Bills introduced and
Half Become Laws-Resume of the Big
Bills and Appropriations-some of the
Measures that Failed-work of Morris
County Senator and Representatives.
Special Correspondence of the CHRONICLE.
TRENTON, N. j., March Scarcely
a week has passed since the one hundred
and twenty-second session of the Legisla-
ture adjourned sine die, and resume of
its work will at this time perhaps be of
some interest. The record established
by the Legislature of 1898 cannot fail to
receive the endorsement of the people at
the next state election.
There is no attempt to lay claim to
any brilliant feats in lawmaking, but the
fact that radical legislation was tabooed
will receive a popular verdict. The
strictest economy in the appropriation of
the states money was exercised.
In all, there were 593 bills introduced,
293 in the Senate and 300 in the House of
Assembly. About 800 succeeded in pass
ing the two branches and so far the
Governor has approved less than half.
Many of those signed provide for the
codification of the various laws. Cover
nor Voorhees, has not written a single
veto. The same may be said of ex-
Governor Griggs. The most important
work of the Legislature consisted of the
enactment of laws confirming the lease
of the New York, Susquehaena and
Western Railroad Company. the con-
firming of power on the Court of Chan
Gerry to decide questions as to the abolition
of railroad grade crossings; appropriat-
ing $4,000 for the establishment of a
village for epileptics giving the sugar
beet industry bounty of $4,000 year
for five years; the electric light pole bill:
providing for the establishment of
home for veteran soldiers and their
wives; appropriating $150,000 for public
road improvements; providing for the
Delaware Dam law; providing for the
establishment of home for INDECENT and
disabled firemen; appropriating $47. 900
for the better armament of the State
militia; prohibiting traffic in trading
stamps; providing for the public sale of
trolley franchises (relating particularly
to Union county,; various codifcation
laws; several amendments to the game
laws: amending the marriage license
law SO that non-residents of the State
only shall be required to obtain licenses;
appropriating $150,000 to the Morris
Plains State Hospital; $4,000 for the
erection of chapel at the State Reform
School for Boys and $50, 900 to the New
ark armory; providing salaries instead
of fees for the county officials in Hudson
and Essex.
The most important measures that
failed of passage were as follows: The
Hudson County equal taxation plan;
prohibiting political parties from using
the American flag as a campaign en-
blem, and protecting it from advertising
purposes; appropriating $250,000 for
war purposes; for the creation of greater
cities of Newark and Jersey City; reor-
ganizing Boards of Freeholders; permit
ting Normal School pupils to practice
teaching in the public schools; the Della
ware Dam repeater; providing for con-
stitutional convention; the railroad COM
mission bill; providing for the pension
ing of disabled and aged policemen;
compelling the erection of school houses
to accommodate rs per cent. of the chill
dren of school ages; for the protection of
the Palisades: reducing the Governors
salary; for a change in the management
of the Kearney Soldiers Home; for the
establishment of State Board with
branches for taking care of dependent
children; for the better regulation of
primary elections; for the appointment
of an additional Common Pleas judge in
Hudson and Essex; for a uniform fare of
five cents on all trolley roads; making
the legal rate of interest five per cent;
prohibiting the licensing of hotels or
saloons within 200 feet of church,
school or charitable institution.
In the matter of the introduction of
bills Senator Vreeland holds the record
for having presented the greatest num-
Senator W. M. johnson. the Republican
leader, was close second in this matter,
he having introduced a total Of forty-one
bills. Of course greater portion of
those introduced by Senator Vreeland
were for the codiicatiou of various laws
as well as commissionE bills. The most
important bills introduced by. Mr.. Vree-
land were as follows: Amending the
Teachers Retirement Fund. empower
ing the commander in chief Of the
National Guard to organize an additional
Gatling gun company or companies when
he deems it wise, regulating the practice
of writs Of habeas corpus sued out on be-
half of persons confined in any hospital
for the insane, concerning the commit
ment of persons to insane hospitals; the
Erie merger bill; gives Court of Chan
cerv mower TO designate fha stroets t,f