The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-20

FOURTEEN new LAWS.
Governor Voorhees, Finds
Time to Sign Many
Passed Bills.
PALISADES MEASURE APPROVED
Explanation Why Crispen's
Pole Bill Is Made a
Statute.
PALISADES MEASURE APPROVED
Especial to "The Jersey city News-"l

~ LII Elm IONs MAY 1s 4ooc.01oFciho
Voorhees, yesterday signed fourteen bills,
FIVE Senate and and nine House measures.
There We're two bills signed which cree
ated considerable discussion in the Legis-
lature. the Crispen Pole bill and the
Palisades bill. The former bill was at
tackled IN the ground that it was con-
ferring extraordinary rightjon munieipali-
ties against the rights of property owners,
but at the hearing before the Governor
this claim was in no way sustained. The
fact OF the measure having been intro
duced by A~ssenlblyman Crispen, who rep
resents one of the few counties of the
State in which no electric light company
is located, directed particular attention, to
the measure and tended to arouse a sus-
picion that it possessed a hidden object.
Mr.. McCaSter declared that such was
not the case. and that the sole object Of
the measure was clearly expressed. 1t
was. he said. for the purpose of remov-
ing all doubt as to the validity of fran
chises heretofore granted and contracts
mad between the several municipalities
of the State and electric companies, and
to vest In those companies he unin-
terrupted use of those franchises for
private or commercial as well as public
purposes.
Governor Voorhees, referred the meas
ura to Attorney General Grey, and the
latter indorsed the Interpretation of the
advocates of the bill.
Governor Voorhees,, in speaking of the
bill yesterday, said
II have been advised that it's provi-
sions do not invade the~ rights of muni-
cipalities and deprive them of their con-
troll over franchises hereafter to be grant
ed, nor of their rights to determine the
conditions under which poles may be
erected. Consents of property owners
must be acquired as heretofore. The law
simply confirms the companies in those
rights which they supposed they had ac-
quired under proceedings had and taken
under color of law, and which the NUM-
cipalIties supposed they had granted. The
erection of poles without municipal con-
sent is not ratified"
The Governor said in reference to the
Palisades act which he signed
There are many owners who have
acquired lands with the understanding
that the ownership carried with 1t the
rights to acquire the riparian rights of
the State to the lands under the waters
of the river, and to erect thereon docks
and Wharves, or to otherwise improve
them. The nature of the lands is such
that if the owners are prohibited from
removing the talus, the value of the
lands so acquired would be very much
reduced. This would amount to virtual
confiscation. BY the provisions of the
bill the owners are restricted to the re-
movaI of this so-called talus for certain
purposes only, which include the land
improvements. 1t does not, by its terms,
deprive the Riparian Commissioners OF
their right to prevent the blasting of the
Palisades simply for commercial pur-
poses
Assembly bill No. las, which was also
signed by the Governor, and which was
introduced by Mr.. Porter, authorizes the
Board of Works of Newark to expend
the surplus of water revenue for the ex-
tension of water mains, and also to issue
bonds annually for the same purpose,
not to exceed $4,000 in any year. The
act further provides that the interest and
sinking fund for the bonds SO issued
revenue.
Another bill signed, Assembly No. Sc,
was introduced by Mr.. Guenther, of
Essex, at the request of the State FEEDER
alton of Trades It's object is to compel
proprietors Of stores employing women
and girls in their sales department to
provide chairs for the use OF such en-
ployes during working hours.
The other bills signed we're
Senate No. $50 prevent the adulter-
alton of linseed or f1axseed oil. Dealers
violating the law shall be subject to a
fine of $50 to $500. or in default thereof to
thirty days imprisonment. The State
Dairy COMMISSIONS enforces the law.
Senate No. 243-Requiring the approval
of the Board of Freeholders for the re-
building or repairing of any bridge by a
committee where the expense is over 500.
Assembly No. 15-Provides for payment
of claims incurred in constructing and
maintaining water works in any city.
Assembly No. 124-Provisions of the
Martin act extended to boroughs.
Assembly No. 16~S-Supplement to the
Tax act to suspend the two years limit
alton during tendency of certiorari or
other legal proceedings to set aside as
sessments.
Assembly No. Unemployment to the
Tax act for the enforcement of liens.
Assembly No. 197-Validates defects in
deeds recorded more than thirty years.
Senate No. 2-0S-Supplement to act incor-
porating insurance companies. 1t ex-
tends the list Of securities in which they
may invest.
Senate No. 239-Extending time Limit
for the completion of street railways.
mate No. 234-Making the rate for
legal publications in counties of the first
class ten cents per agate line for the
first insertion. and five cents for each
subsequent insertion.