The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-03-25
LEGISLATION CLOSING.
A Complete Summary of the
Work of the Week.

$780, 0O-Bergen Trolley Bill Passed
$4,000 to Establish Village for EpiIep-
tics-Latest Legislative Probabilities.
Special Correspondence of the CHRONICLE.
TRENTON, Mar 24.-With final adj
journment almost upon them, the legis-
lators find an over abundance of work
piled up about them. most of which
might easily have been disposed of long
ago.
More important matters have been
taken up. discussed and passed within
the past fortnight than during the entire
first nine weeks of the session. One of
these was the Squire trolley bill, which
threatened peck of trouble. 1t was
brought up on second reading Monday
night and amended so as to provide that
the sale of a trolley franchise shall not
be for more than seventy-tive years and
that certain percentage of the gross re-
ceipts shall be paid annually for the
franchise and the sale of the franchise
shall be ordered by ordinance instead of
by resolution of each municipal body
having authority to act in the matter
All these amendments were adopted and
sweet harmony prevailed. although a
clash was anticipated. The bill passed
by vote of 80 to 10. Messrs. Poole and
Welsh of Morris voted in the negative.
Although the officials at the Morris
Plains Insane Hospital for the Insane
would like to have secured 1925, 900
to complete the improvement at that
institution, they will have to be con
tent with $150,000 which amount has
been included in the Appropriation
bill. They may consider themselves
very fortunate in securing this amount.
because the Appropriations Commit
tee has drawn fine economical lines
this year and Morris Plains has no
reason to complain. There was con-
siderable opposition to this sum, how
ever, and an effort was made to reduce
it, but Mr.. Fairchild of Essex, with COM
mendable shrewdness, explained how
the state would profit by allowing the
Morris Plains authorities enough money
to complete enough of their building to
accommodate 600 patients, thus relieving
, the crowded condition of that institution.
Patients could be then transferred from
the Trenton Asylum and that institution
could be put off this year with much
less sum then had been asked for, and
their proposed additions and improve
ments delayed for year or two. If the
sum was split up between the two hos
pitfalls, neither would have what they
wanted, and next year the Legislature
would again be asked for heavy appro-
priations from each. The State Reform
atory Commission has been disappointed.
They asked for 1926, 900 to complete their
plan of reformatory, the central build
ing of which was erected few years ago
at cost of over $780, Five thousand
dollars have been set aside for them, to
be used in caring for the building al
ready erected until such time as the
Legislature can see its way clear to carry
out the reformatory plans.
| Governor Voorhees, advised the Appro-
priation Committee to insert provision
in the bill forbidding all departments
and institutions to exceed their state APP
preparations under a penalty, and also
that all contracts entered into for extern
sions and improvements to state build
| ings be hereafter submitted to the Gov
ernor for his examination and approval.
Furthermore, he wanted some provision
made so that contractors should be made
to give a guarantee that they would not
charge more for their work than the
amount mentioned in their agreement.
With these provisions inserted in the
appropriation law it is believed that
hereafter there will not be any deficien-
cies aud that the Legislature will not be
called upon to appropriate money to save
the credit of the state.
The Senate on Monday night passed
the bill permitting the New York Sas-
quehanna and Western Railroad to
merge with the Erie by vote of 10 to 6.
Considerable discussion occurred on
Tuesday over Senate No. 178, which al
lows each of the State Hospital Boards to
hire secretary at a salary not to exceed
$500, when it came up on third reading.
Mr.. Skirm did not want the bill passed
because the Trenton board paid its Sec
rotary $3.50, and this he thought was
ample for the work and there was no de-
sire to increase it. Inc bill was finally
recommltted to the Committee on Re-
vision of Laws.
Among the most important Senate
bills introduced were the Following:
By Mr.. Francis. Providing for dis
trict courts in counties where there are
no city district courts.
| By Mr.. Engle. Providing that no
turnpike toll charge shall exceed one
cent for each one horse vehicle and that
bicycles &c. shall go free.
The bill prohibiting the erection or
licensing of saloon or hotel within
two hundred feet of school, church or
charitable institution, has at last passed
the Senate. Messrs. Francis, Vreeland
and w. M. johnson advocated it.
Among the other important measures
to pass the Senate was House No. "a, in
troduced by Mr.. Porter, which revises
and codifies the District Court laws, the