, 1899-01-20

are INIT dIIOtIltl jill VI
from the Republican side of the hou1s
or else that Mr.. Braun's measur will
be considerably pruned. In Massachu-
setts an allowance Of 81 a month is
made to the volunteers. and 1t Is consid-
cred quite fair. The Braun bill would
not affect those who enlisted directly In
the United States army, but only those
who Joined some one of the states -four
regiments. Governor voorhees, strongly
fayors some sort of compensation to the
Jersey soldiers.
enato Martin put in a bill provid-
ing for 5 per cent interest, and this may
cause some discussion. For years past
such a bill has been regularly shelved
or promptly killed on the ground that
1t would drive capital out of New Jer-
sew were this state to fix a lower rate
of interest thar is allowed in %neighbor-
ing states, but the present plethora of
money weakens that argument. AS a
matter of fact, n when borrowed
in large amounts, can now be a read
ily at 5 per cent and often at 4 per cent.
1t Is only the very small borrower and
the borrower from the banks that are
required to pay 6 per e Why these
latter should be shut out from the adj
vantage of a 8 per cent rate does not
clearly appear. 1t is said, too, that
there IL a disposition to establish a D
per cent rate in all the eastern states
not now allowing it, so that Jersey
would probably be only joining the pro-
cession if Senator Martins bill prevails.
Senator Martin represents an agricul-
tural section, and the armer all in
dorse his step.
Senator Packer, another Democrat,
has put in a bill tending to restrict the
employment of state convicts on arti-
cles for the general trade. His bill pro-
poses that so far as possible only such
goods shall be manufactured as are re-
uuired for use in state institutions, such
as clothing and the like. The convicts
not thus employed are to be worked on
the piece price or public account
system. Only hand or foot power shall
be used in the manufacture of goods
that enter into competition with the
product of honest labor. Assemblyman
Horner went al the subject even more
radically, offering a bill to prohibit the
sale of any prison made goods. Both
Messrs. Packer and Iforner are from
Burlington county. which is the seat of
the present agitation against convict
labor.
Mr.. Carroll has introduced a bill In
the assembly making 1t a misdemeanor
to use the flag or any standard, color
or ensign of the United States for ad-
vertisihg purposes.
The Hudson county consolidation bill
has made Its appearance. 1t authorizes
the governor to appoint eleven persons
as a commission to inquire into the ex-
pediency of consolidating the various
municipalities of Hudson county. The
commissioners shall be the mayors of
Jersey City. Hoboken. Bayonne and
East Newark. councilman at large OF
West Hoboken, and the chairman of the
township committees in Harrison,
Kearny. Weehawken, ~Gutenburg,
Union, North Bergen and tbwn OF
Union, The efforts TO get the building
and loan associations Of the state under
closer official surveillance has also ma
terialixed. Mr.. Bell has INTRODUCED a
bill placing all building. loan ard home
stead associations under this supervision
OF the banking and insurance pepart-
ment, and requiring them to fi4reports
.nnuss,s, The department isAuthor-
,yed TO make examination of asso-
citation whenever the bank f1UiiSS-
sloner desires. -