New-York tribune., 1899-02-28
NEW-JERSEi LEGISLATURE.
THE SENATE PASSES TWO BI-wEEKLY
WAGE BILLS.
ONE TO PREVENT EMPLOYEES FROM SIGNING
AWAY THEIR RIGHTS; THE OTHER TO CON-
PEI PAYMENT TO BE MADE
IN LAWFUL MONEY.
IN LAWFUL MONEY.


Trenton Feb q (specaD.-In the House tonight
Mr.. Quad moved that the Committee on Corpora
tions be relieved OF further consideration OF his
Company Store bill. The motion was lost by a
vote OF "a TO 3l. The same action was tnSen rela-
tive to Mr.. Abbett's Franchise Tax BILL MI Ao-
belts bill providing for the payment 70 the various
municpalitiea OF the taxes now assessed against
ralroad and canal property In slcn places ana hss
oil enarsing tho meaning Of he woros re. rs.i
estate IN the general tax act 50 that NnhLFe
piers. pipes. condu!ts etc. shall be assessed as
such. In each instance the motion TO relieve was
lost, and the Bills viii he allowed TO sleep "h''o
The House passed with lit;le or no debate the bill
power 70 examine dispatches on file IN the teie-
graph offices whore there is any suspicion o, mes
business
meat inspectors iY cities having Board OF Health;
prohibiting husband from administering upon tns
separation FOR twer'v years and allowing safe de-
post companies 20 Increase their capital stock.
BI-WEEKLY WAGE BILLS PASSED
The principal feature OF the nights session Of
the Senate was an extended debate on the BIZ
weekly wage bills % Senators Stokes and stanger.
Both were finally passed
Senator sianger's bill was first considered ana
advocated by the introducer. Several Sena-
tors. however. sought additional explanation az
10 its significance
Senator P.;ney explained that the bin amends
the act Of 1896 which. while requiring the pay
mttine special contracts to the contrary to be
entered into by employer and employe. The bill
also ratlfes contracts of that Ind now in ex-
istence hut prohibits the empioye from entering
into such agreements hereafter
Senator McDermott also favored the bill. say
Ing that the act of 1896 permitted such an agree
ment between employer and empioye as IS some
times entered into between the lion and the lamb.
terminating in the presence OF the lamb inside
the lion. The bill was passed by vote of l6 10 Q.
WAGES TO BE PAID N LAWFUL MONEY
Senator stokes's BILL providing for the fortnighty
payment OF wages In lawful money. was taken uD
later Senator Stokes spoke in rs favor at length.
He referred the shameful character OF the store
order system stnl prevailed IN HIS county. and
under which employees received a book 70 keep
record Of their purchases up the amour; OF their
wage credit. The employees were required 10 deal
in the company store. They are at the mercy OF the
company The temptation thus afforded TO the en-
rioyer and the duress which the employe is sub
ject are against a good public policy and invite
redress. PU0lic meetings Of citizens IN the SEN
tenn. and mSry petitions FOR remedial legislation
had been sent 10 the Legislature
bts1 Senator Sa % .d e4s %4y h Re e Doyes SS "o Of
railroads and other corporations exempted?
WHY EXEMPT RAILROADS?
Senator Stokes said that such exemptions had
always been made in legislation OF this character
and that railroad employees did not seek fortnightly
men in TWO weeks over so wide territory as
railroad covers
Senator McDermott replied that II was not be-
the engineers. aremen. etc. in railroad SER
vice did not want their money every two weeks
for the demand OF the grocer. the baker and the
butcher. The real reason was the notorious tact
that such bill in favor of railroad employees could
be passed through the New-Jersey Legislature
Senator St0kes-The Senator IS speaking Tor MIN
self
Senator McDermott-I am not. 7 am willing TO
offer such amendment a. any time dont
think Nev-Jersey il suCn big state tnat tney
cannot run a Iaycar from end 10 end N one day,
I would Ike 10 SEE an classes benefited under the
b.ll. The bill. however, would have 70 be amended
10 hold water. As Il stands. there Is nothing 10
prevent an employer from paying cash. and then
compelling the en- poye 20 wax right INTO me EN-
ployers store and settle his book account Inc
proper thing would be 10 prevent the employer
from demanding any profit out OF the wages OK
his empoye. 80, - 81, .s
ment. would not effect what he desired lie TOOK
occasion 10 add that be considered tnat much OF
what Senator McDermott said had force. but ne
would say that he had been waited on Dy ran.
road employees asking that they be lett OUT OF
his bill He made his bill nearly general as
possible and suggested that senator McDermot
incorporate his own ideas IN a bill of his own