The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-03-31
Close of the / legislature.
INTERESTING RESUME OF THE sEs-
SION'S WORK.

Ihefe were over DJO DillS 1btlOtAuS-
ed altogether, 204 in the Senate and
302 in the House. About 300 passed
both houses, and so far the Governor
has given mis- approval to about l20.
MANY of those approved provide for
the eoditication of various laws.
Governor Voorhees, has nof written
single veto message, and neither did
Governor (iriggs.
The only partisan legislation OF the
session was the passage of the bill
providing for the annexation OF the
borough of Wilbur to the city OF
Trenton, and the Republicans did not
make that caucus measure. They
all voted for it, however, while the
Democrats were counted i'll the
negative.
The important work of the session
consisted of the enactment of laws
confirming the lease of the New
York, Susquehanna and Western
railroad and other companies to the
Erie Railroad Company; conferring
power on the Court OF Chancery to
decide questions as to the abolition
of railroad grade crossings; giving the
sugar beet industry a bounty of fifty
thousand dollars a year for five years,
the electric light pole bill; appropriat-
| ing $4,000 for the founding of a viii
! lage for epileptics; appropriating
/ $3.50. 600 for public road improve
ments; providing for the taxation of
franchise granted under the Dele
ware dam law; providing for the es-
| tablishment of home for veteran
soldiers and their wives; for the estab-
/ lishlnent 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 Gre
lating particularly to Union county,;
various codification 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 dec
Grating the Executive and Assembly
chambers, $4,000 for the erecting OF
a chapel at the State Reform School
for BOYS and $50, 900 to the Newark
armory; providing salaries for county
| officials in Essex and Hudson.
The important measures that failed
of passage were as follows: Appro-
priating $250,000 for war purposes;
The Hudson county equal taxation
scheme; the Delaware Dam repeater;
providing for constitutional con
/ vention; the railroad commission bill:
for pensioning disabled and aged
policemen; for the protection OF the
4 Palisades: reducing the Governors S
4 salary; for the establishment OF
/ State board. with county branches,
i Il an h II 1
4 fixing stated salaries in lieu of fees for
county officials; for the better regula-
I tion of primary elections for uniform
/ fare of five cents on all trolley roads;
i making the legal rate of interest five
/ per cent: reorganizing Boards of
i Freeholders; for the appointment OF
an additional Common Pleas Judge
/ in Essex and Hudson counties; for
change in the management OF the
Soldiers Home; permitting Normal
4 School pupils to practice teaching in
the public schools, compelling the
erection of school houses to accoin-
tnodate rs per cent. of the children
Of school ages: for the creation of the
/ greater cities of Newark and Jersey
I City; prohibiting political parties
i from using the American flag as a
/ campaign emblem, and also protect
4 ing it from advertising purposes.
The closing scenes were orderly,
and good nature prevailed among all
4 the Senators and Assemblymen.
/ Their leave-taking the farewells were
1 expressed in the most friendly Ian
+ guage and for the time being partisan
/ ship was buried to make. room for an
I exhibition of fraternal feeling. At
1 the afternoon session the Speaker
was presented with a costly diamond
ring as O. token of regard from all the
members. Mr. Allen the minority
| leader, made graceful speech when
+ presenting the gift, during which he
/ laid stress on the marked impartiality
which the Speaker had shown
1 throughout the session, and the
/ friendly way in which he had always
/ treated the minority. The Speaker
replied in fitting language. He was
so overcome with emotion that he
! found it impossible to proceed any
further
! The Speaker was also the recipient
of another gift from the Captain
1 Kidd Club. social organization
which had been formed at the begin
ming of the session. The members of
the club were grouped in front OF the
| Speakers desk, and Senator DAILY and
Assemblyman Benny acted as spokes-
men Each made humorous speech
which at intervals was applauded to
! the echo, and then Mr.. Benny handed
to the Speaker valuable pearl scarf
pin studded with diamonds and
emeralds The Speaker returned his
thanks in a brief speech interspersed
with wit and hulnor.
Sergeant at Arms Flavel was pre-
sented with gold watch by Mr.. Por-
ter, in behalf of the doorkeepers and
minor officers of the House, and the
usual complimentary resolutions We're
passed for the officers of both houses.
In the Senate, President Skirm was
highly and deservedly complimented
for the able and impartial manner in
which he had presided during the
session Tile officers Of the Senate
were also complimented for their
ability. faithfuIness and courtesy on
all occasions.
The Senate confirmed all the nomi-
nations sent 10 by the Governor on
Thursday night There was no fric-