The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-02-24
LEGISLATIVE
DOINGS
Senator Francis Would Fix the
Hours Of Labor.

Bill to Change the Method Of
Selecting Grand Jurors MANY
Protests Against the DoubIe-Bar
BilI-AssembIyman Albeit Wants
United States Senators Elected
by Direct Vote of PeopIe-Tren-
ton Clubs Reception.
TRENTON, Feb 81 The sessions of the
Legislature for the week, while not
lengthy, were exceedingly busy ones.
The various committees are hard at
work; several hearings were held, includ-
ing an informal one on the ssgame"
bills, on Wednesday afternoon.
Among those from Morris county who
came down to attend the reception given
by the Republican Club in honor of
General Sewell and Senator. elect Kean
were Judge Vreeland, County Clerk
VOORHEES,, Alderman Owens, Hon. Chas.
A. Baker and Albert c. Richards. Sem
ator Pitney and Assemblymen Poole and
Welsh were also present.
The hospitality of the members of the
Trenton Republican Club is proverbial
throughout the State. On this occasion,
] however, the club fairly eclipsed previous
records. The Morris county guests were
promptly taken in hand by Comptroller
Hancock, Senator Hutchinson and other
members of the Reception Committee,
with the remark by the former that
nothing was too good for Pitney's Nor
ris county friends"
The absence of General Sewell, who
was detained in Washington by impor-
tant matters connected with the Army
bill. was very generally regretted.
Mr. Kean, with Congressman Gardner
and Loudenslager, were kept busy re-
ceiving their friends until long after
midnight.
In the Senate on Monday night twenty
five bills were presented within quarter
of an hour and as promptly referred by
President Reed to the various commit
tees, from which, it is safe to say,
number, including some previously com
mltted will never see the light of day.
Among the measures introduced on
Monday night, No. SO, by Mr.. Francis,
is of local interest throughout the State.
1t provides that "ten hours labor to be
, performed in ten consecutive hours dur
ing each week day except Saturday, from
December 26 to June 10, and from the
first Monday in September, or Labor day,
to December 10. and that twelve hours
labor performed in twelve consecutive
. hours every week day, Saturday ex-
cepted, from June 10 to the first Monday
q in September shall constitute a days
labor, in the operation of all department
: stores and shops employing more than
: five people; stores for the sale Of drugs
9 and medicines excepted" Penalty for
. violation not exceeding $500 fine or six
s months imprisonment or both.
3 The bill introduced by Senator Stokes,
and referred to Mr. Pitney's committee,
) takes from Sheriffs the power of desig-
mating who shall be grand jurors, and
provides that grand jurors and petit
Jurors must be drawn from list of all
: persons in the county eligible for Jury
duty. Each Sheriff. at the beginning
of his term, shall make up and file with
the County Clerk list of those eligible
} to jury duty, accompanied by an affida-
Wit that he has not knowingly omitted
: from the list any eligible to jury duty.
> The list ia subject to revision by the
Court
: No. 81 incorporates the township of
Summit as borough. This was a COM
promise measure, as large number of
the residents wanted to incorporate as a
} city.
Several bills were introduced incor-
porating boroughs and in the interests
of the oyster interest in South Jersey. 1t
would seem that an oyster commission
were needed. judging by the large
amount of legislation each year affecting
, the bivalve industry.
Mr.. Pitney introduced for President
Reed bills No. 81, 98, so and 100, which
were prepared by the commission APP
, pointed to codify the township laws.
No. 102, by the Senator from Morris,
and which is in the interest of Dover and
other towns, as well as cities of the third
class, provides for the formation of
wards in Incorporated towns and cities.
No. 90, by Mr.. Hand of Cape May
J county, provides that the expenses for
improving public roads shall be raised
by taxation in the township in which the
road is located.
Another measure, and somewhat SINH
lar, by the Senator from Bergen, author
ICES township committees and borough
councils, ETC., to permanently improve
public roads, upon petition of the owners
of at least two-thirds of the lineal feet of
the admitting land
MI. aChei Oil IS IL Tue luIoh est "
stock raisers and dairymen. 1t provides
for the inspection of dairy cows and
meat cattle brought into the State for
breeding purposes.
Several belated remonstrances against
the "Billy" Thompson bill, which has
already passed the Senate, were
presented
A large number of resolutions repre-
senting several hundred signers, was
presented by Senator Johnson of Bergen,
petitioning the Legislature to enact a law
designed to protect the American flag
from all desecration or misuse.
*~*
In the House, the petitions against the
"Billy" Thompson double-bar bill began
to accumulate, and the impression is
quite general that it will not pass
Hnuavar Thnrnnson and his side narf-