The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-04
LEGISLATION AT TRENTON.
NO APPROPRIATION FoR TIE oMA-
ma ExPOSITION.

The Grade Dressing NH 70 ne Reported Ravor-
ably-Iiveiy MearinE on the NIL ts Mako
TradiuE Stamp Giving nIeral-The New
Codincation Of Criminal 1aws-Biiis Passed.
TRENTON, March at was announced to-day
that the Committee on Appropriations 10 OPP
posed TO granting tho appropriation Of $4,000
asked for by tho Commissioner to the Trans
Mississippi Exposition at Omaha, to erect a
New Jersey building and secure a proper repre-
sentation to the State. The committeeman
think the request 10 unreasonable at this time,
whom large sums are needed to erect extensions
to accommodate tho patients in the State hos
pitfalls at Morris Plains and Trenton; to finish
the new reformatory at Railway. work on which
has been suspended for moro than a year be-
cause Of lack Of funds, and for other homo
enterprises, the demands Of which are urgent.
Tho committee, 1t is said. will take formal
action next week, refusing the appropriation.
Senator w. NJ. Johnson's grade crossing bill 10
to be reported next week by the Committee on
Railroads and Canals. 1t has been amended to
satisfy the railroad companies. Tho Court Of
Chancery is to have jurisdiction to decide as to
the necessity Of protection of crossing by gates
and fiagmen when asked for by tho municipal
authorities. and also to apportion between tho
municipalities and the companies interested the
expense of abolishing a crossing at grade. but
on the old roads the companies must bear the
whole expense.
Tho Senate Committee on judiciary gave n
brief hearing at noon on Senator Francis's bill
making 1t illegal to give trading stamps. Major
Carl Lentz, who represents sixty retail dealers
in Newark who have organized a trading stamp
company Of their own. opposed the bill. He said
IL. as Is contendcd, the use Of the stamps 10 a
form Of gambling. there ls ample law to reach
the offenders. Tho small stores which give
stamps are compelled to do so as n matter of
protection against tho big department stores.
which are driving the small dealers out Of bust
moss. In Newark. no said. Ave or six depart
ment stores are doing all the business. and he
thought it should be the policy Of tho State to
have as many small dealers as possible.
Linton Salterthwait, who appeared for =
Wholesale grocery firm, doubted tho c%onstitu-
tionality of any law which sought to prevent a
firm from giving away presents, and he pro-
dealers in giving away presents to customers,
provided stamps or tokens woro not issued
Senator Francis. who introduced the bill, said
he had been appealed to by many largo dealers
to wipe out the entire system of giving presents.
merits. The bill was intended to reach trading
stamp concerns. tea stores. Wholesale grocers,
and manufacturers Of soap and other articles:
James Gibson OF Paterson, President of tho
Retail Merchants Association of Paterson. said
he represented, 3 300 retail dealers in the State.
and to Q man they are in favor OF the Francis
bill. They. believe that the trading-stamp
scheme is vicious. and EFFORTS money from the
the handling of cheap and imperfect goods.
Persons are often induced to purchase articles
they cannot afford and do not need.
Chairman Johnson said several lawyers who
were engaged in tho Court Of Chancery to-day
had asked for another hearing. as they wanted
to argue against the constitutionality Of the
proposed law. and the committee adjourned to
next Tuesday at noon.
the ten bills submitted by the commission to re-
wise and codify the laws relating to crimes and
mitted a resolution, which was adopted. provid.
ing that the printed copies Of the bills shat be
avoid the errors that inevitably creep into en-
crossed bills Of such great length. lie said there
was no law or rule requiring the ongrossing of
Legislature, and an anti9uated ono that he
hoped would soon be abolished to tho benefit of
the State in many ways,
The Senate passed these bills:
Senator vreelnnd's. authorizing ithe Governor to
have organized three companies Of the National
Guard to be drilled in the use of the Calling and sim.
Senator H; ". John.on.'. prohibiting cities from
bles as assessed for taxes.
,s se anpqep HGa%nn fsr tassTs1i,ns the se s4 t;eGo per 1f . n aSS,
ers' institutes In the counties. Tho amount now al
nppropriates $50 to each school that shall raise va a ike
amount FOR a library: and 0l9 annually thereafter II
Senator vreeland introduced a bill providing
for the licensing by the State Board Of Pharmacy
OF all drug clerks who have received a diploma
from an Incorporated institute Of pharmacy.
Senator Martin notified the Judiciary Com
mittee that he was anxious to have reported his
bill reducing from $1,000 to 49, 900 tho salary
of the Governor. and said that II it was not
soon reported he would move to have the com-
mittee discharged from its further consid ira
ton. The notice caused q smile from the older
Senators. as such a motion Is unknown in par.
liamsntary practice in the Senate. and, when
sugG ested, 10 always discountenanced.
There will probably be q recess on Tuesday to
allow the Senators aud members to attend tho
township elections.