The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-05
MISERABLE RECORD
No Important Measure Dis
posed of by the Present
Legislature.
FIVE HUNDRED BILLS IN
Opposition 10 the Scheme 10 Place
County officials on a
Salary
FIVE HUNDRED BILLS IN
Especial to .Arhe Jersey city News.

H lGRSCidt u 1ic 4Sc Why ~
TRENTON. March ). 1S9S.-The eighth
week of this DO Nothing Legislature
has concluded with nothing to the credit
OF the Republican majority.
Not one of the bills recommended by
the several commissions on revision and
c%odlhcation of existing laws mas passed
either House. IL is likely, however, tina.
within the next two weeks most of them
will so through. The jury commission
bill will be the principal exception. The
passage OF this very desirable measure
is extremely doubtful. The excuse that
is most effectively urged by its enemies
for not pushing it is that there is no pub
lie demand for it.
The bill eodifying the election laws Of
the State, which is the result of the la
hors of The commission composed of
Senator William NJ. Johnson. Judge Rob-
ert q. Woodruff and ex-Judge Joseph
Cross, contains a few changes. but
straishtens out the confusion which the
present laws create, because of the more
or less conflicting provisions of the gem
eral election law and the Werts ballot re-
form law. The commission was anxious
to insert a requirement of residence for
a given period in a particular election
precinct or district before the right 10
vote could be exercised. but Attorney
General Grey advised against it on con-
stituiionai grounds.
Another change. important because of
the effect the present law might have on
a Presidential election, is that relating to
the filing of vacancies in the electoral
college from this State. Vacancies are
now filed by the remaining electors. A
possible condition would be where the
electors chosen are not all of one political
party. and n vacancy might be filled by
the remaining electors choosing 4 person
not of the same political faith as the abb
sent member. TO overcome this it is pro-
vided thai vacancies shall be filed by
those electors belonging to the same party
as the elector causing the vacancy.
On Tuesday afternoon next a hearing
will be given on Senator Ketcham's bill
placing S~urrogates, County Clerks and
Registers of Deeds upon a salary basis.
There is considerable uncertainty as TO
the passage of the bill. The fees are
very large in most of the counties. in
some of them averaging from $4,000 10
$4,000 a year. The bill proposes to III
vert these fees into the county treasury
and pay salaries to these officials in ae-
eordance with the population The pres
ent incumbents are not affected by the
bill. The following are the salaries which
would be received in the various couneies
under Ketcham's bill: Atlantic, $2,2os =,
Bergen. $500; Burlington, si.5oo; Camden,
s.. 30; Cape May, $500; Cumberland,
5000; Essex, $500; Gloucester. s2,a Hud-
son, $500. Hunterdon, $500; Mercer,
81. 900; Middlesex, 81. 100; Monmouth, 81, 100;
Morris, 81. 500; Ocean. $500; Passaic, 5000:
Salem, $i.s00; Somerset, $4,000; Sussex,
81. 800; Union, s4. 800; Warren, $500.
The party leaders outside of Essex
county, where the measure is popular,
have not yet i~ntinated their views on the
subject, and until they do and signify APP
prevail, the bill is not likely to mako
much progress. A prominent Senator SAID
yesterday that he doubted the wisdom of
passing the bill. He thought it would
be a good thing in the larger counties
on account of the danger Of too great an
allowance by Boards of Freeholders for
clerical assistants, for the S~urrogates ara
County Clerks. who now pay their as
sistants out of their fees.
Since the introduction early in ..he sea
son by Senator Francis of the bill pro-
hibiting the licensing of any saloon here
after within 200 feet of a church, pubic
school or charitable institution. there has
been a steady influx of petitions in both
Houses urging The passage of the meas
ure. The petitions came from all over
the State and are chiefly from branches
of the W. c. T. Z.
1.-THE bin becomes a law * would have
little or no application to Trenton, as
There is at the present time an ordinance
prohibiting the licensing of any saloon
within zoo feet of a church or school.
AssemblyHnan F~iumnerfeit of Warren
county has introduced q measure wliicn.
il enacted into law. would tend to greatly
increase the watering troughs along the
highways. Tho bill provides that any per-
son maintaining a trough shall receive a
deduction OF $500 from his or her taxes.
A~sscmblyman Gienther of Essex in-
reduced d bill which. il passed, VIII give
City Clerk Murray a few hundred dollars |
more each year. The bill provides for in
The salary of excise commission
clerks in ~second-class cities TO $500 a year.
Mr.. Murray Is clerk to the local commits
sion.