Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-02-24
NO HURRY At TRENTON.
Business Is Slow and Holidays
Are Observed.
A WEEK TO HONOR WASHINGTON

AIe observed.
A WEEK TO HONOR WASHINGTON.
Plenty of Bills TO Regulate Game and
Education A Civil Service Regulation
Proposed In Regard to School EN-.
ployees.
Especial Correspondence
Trenton, Feb 23.-The legislature re-
assembled today after full weeks re-
cess, and the slow grind of the state
house mill was resumed. If anything
further than ordinary observation were
needed to show that there is no press
Ing business before the legislature, it
Is afforded by this whole week of adj
Iournment in the middle of the session.
Washingtons birthday, which was the
pretext, never interrupts the work of
the solons when there is anything to do.
Very few measures of great public in
terest are pending, and these, as rule,
will not come to a final vote, for the
policy evidently is to create no unnec-
essary campaign issues for the coming
fall. Included in the proposed radical
legislation which has already fallen by
the wayside is the act providing for a
railroad commission on the subject of
grade crossings, and following close on
Its heels was the series of bills suggest
ed by the state board Of taxation with
view to securing a fuller and more
equitable assessment upon all property
throughout the state. These schemes
have fallen through by means of adj
verse committee reports. The proposal
for a constitutional convention, it is
quite clear, will meet similar fate.
Owing to the fear of the smaller coun-
ties of the state, which are in the ma
jority that the balance of power would
be transferred from them to the large
counties if a constitutional convention
once got into session, it is next to i'm
possible ever to realize the desire which
many people entertain of seeing the
constitution amended through a popu-
lar convention. Besides this distrust of
the smaller counties, which always pre-
walls, there is this year the added hos
tility of the Republican leaders to the
project, for the reason limited above.
About ITS bills have been introduced
in each house, but the great bulk of
them are designed rather to meet the
needs Of various small communities or
special necessities of one kind or an
other than in response to any general
demand.
Some school Bills.
Two subjects which have inspired the
Introduction of rather large number of
bills are education and game. Game
bills are always plentiful, but this year
is unusually fruitful with respect to ed
ucationa1 measures. OF the latter class
one of the most interesting is that pro-
viding for life tenure of office for school
employees generally, including teach
ers, clerks, janitors, etc. An attempt is
made to regulate the salaries as well.
There is quite some opposition to the
principle of the measure, however,
among those who claim that there is no
danger at present of the dismissal of
good teachers, but that if this bill passes
it will make it extremely difficult to re-
move incompetents in many cases. Fol-
lowing is the most important clause in
the bill:
'tIt shall not be lawful for any board
of education appointed in accordance
with the provisions of the act to which
this act is a supplement to remove from
office or employment in the educational
department of any city any employee or
employees for political reasons or for
any other cause than incompetency, i'm
morality, physical disability or disobe-
dience of just rules and regulations es-
tablished or which may be established
for the good of the department by said
t1rar n +.
office or employment shall be made for
cause as heretofore stated except after
trial before said board and by resolu-
ton, but all persons in the employ of
the board of education of any such city
at the time of the passage of this act,
whether appointed for specific term or
at the pleasure of the board shall hold
their several positions and continue in
their respective employment during good
behavior and efficiency"
Senator Hoffman, who is chairman of
the committee on education, has intro
duced bill which seems to have a good
deal to commend it. 1t empowers the
state superintendent of public instruc-
ton to procure architects plans and
specifications for series of school
buildings to cost sums ranging from
$500 to $4,000, together with full detail
working plans and directions for their
erection. In the preparation of the plans
due regard shall be given to the proper
heating, lighting, ventilating and other
hygienic requirements. These plans and
specifications shall be approved by the
state board of education and shall be
loaned to any district desiring to erect
a new school building. At present many
buildings are erected imperfectly by dis
trict school boards which try to econo-
mize by not hiring an architect.
Under another bill it is proposed to
establish an annual fund of $4,000 to
draw upon for teachers Institutes. At
present the annual expense is 81, 100, be-
ing 500 for each county. 1t is proposed
also to extend further state assistance
where schools desire to establish Ii
braries.
A bill is pending to complete the leg
lslation needed for the thorough opera
ton of the teachers pension fund sys-
tenn. Several amendments to the pres
ent law are included with respect to
the constitution of the governing board
and other matters. The teachers fund
is made up by assessments upon it's
members.
Still another educational bill is one
designed to give the pupils of the
state normal school an opportunity for
practical instruction in teaching during
their graduating year. The state SUI
perintendent is given power to desig-
nate certain public schools which these
embryo teachers may visit and in
which, with the permission of the local
board, they may assist in teaching 1t
Is further proposed to establish one or
more summer schools for the benefit of
the teachers
Senator Stokes has in one or two bills
providing for the more prompt payment
Of district school moneys and also look
ing to more punctual payment of teach
ers' salaries, and Senator Reed is try
ing to have present legislation read
justed so as to prevent an abuse under
which it Is claimed some of the counties
undervalue individual properties with
their own confines and so get off with
light school tax while receiving an
undue share in return of state school
moneys.
Several other bills affecting educa-
tional matters are also pending, but
they chiefly concern special localities
The Game Laws.
The game question is one Of the most
vexatious that the legislature has to
handle. Every session somebody hobs
up with a scheme to upset all existing
rules and TO eSfa hIish navy onan md