The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-03-20
MANY PROBLEMS.
Legislators Perplexed By
the Present Situa-
ton.
FINAL ADJOURNMENT IN DOUBT
Niggardly Pasrimony Will
Characterize the Ap-
preparation Bill Again.
rspecial q ..rbe Jersey city Newa.r1

TRENTON, March 20, lS99.-The in
formation was given out yesterday by
responsible persons that the Legislature
will surely adjourn by Friday night. In
structions have been given to the COM
mittees to meet to get down to work to-
day. The Joint Committee on Appropri-
atoms will sit all day and by Tuesday
the appropriation bill will be ready to in
troduce. This is the most important
matter that the Legislature has to con-
slider.
There will be a larger number of APP
pointments made during the coming
week. such as Reform Commission,
Board of Inspectors of State Prison.
Game Commissioners inc other minor
appointments.
1t is currently reported that there will
be an appropriation made for the Rah-
way Reformatory. There is a clash be-
tween the Joint Committee on Appro-
priations and the Railway Reformatory
Commission. The Governor has been ask
ed to intercede, but he does not care to
assume the responsibility of arbitrat-
ing. The outcome of the unp~leasantness
will be no appropriation for Railway
Lille year, dl ltdSl, lO IlOKC tlulh q SildA
sum to pay for watching the work al
ready completed.
There is also some doubt now o
any appropriation for the volunteers
gratuity. The Ketcham bill passed the
Senate, but in the House it was amended
SO that there would be an allowance of
$40 for manufactured clothing and arti-
cles purchased. This would be more in
some cases than the ~gratuity would
amount to, and increases the amount
about 100 per cent. The bill has gone
pack to the Senate, but the Senators
are not disposed to concur on the amend
ment.
The bill to change the political complex
ion of the deputies and keepers of the
State Prison is still in the hands Of the
Senate Committee and will not he re-
ported. The Governor has announced that
that he would not sign the bill if passed.
The bill for the Improvement of the State
Prison has been reported and will pass.
The Board of Inspectors of the State
Prison are now investigating the circun-
stances of a free fight among some of the
deputies recently. The bills prohibiting
the sale of convict mad goods within the
State are practically dead. hat which
was introduced by Senator Parker was
never reported by the committee. while
passed the House, but was killed IN the
Senate. The administration was against
both bills.
There is now a brisk fight TO save the
appointed teachers retirement fund bill.
This bill makes it compulsory npon teach
ers to join the fund after 1900. Many of
the teachers themselves are opposing the
bill.
Miss Elizabeth Allen, the secretary of
the fund, has been in Trenton lobbying for
the bill. Some of the Republicans will
not vote for it because Miss Allen and
others who are connected with the fund
openly declared against Governor Voor-
hees and e~ndeavored to secure his defeat
at the recent State election. Miss Allen
gave the bill this year to Leon Abbot,
and he fought it through the House, but
there seems to be some rocks ahead for
the bill, and Miss Allen is doing much
buttonholing in the corridors of the State
House.
There is a hitch over the awarding of
the contract for the sword which is to be
given to Admiral Sampson by the State.
award has been practically made to
a Philadelphia firm, but the committee
favor a New York House, which has made
a very liberal offer.
Assemblyman Benny, of Hudson, where
they have SO much trouble to hang men,
and where they ave lots of them to hang,
n a q iy1fro111rnd a Kill In tho Ho.rca xrhioh
abolishes capital punishment, and which
provides for life Imprisonment for those
convicted Of murder in the first degree. 1t
is a last attempt to save Murderer Clifford
from the gallows by providing that it
shall be retroactive.
The majority leaders are becoming anx-
ious over the situation. They fear that
if the session is prolonged beyond this
week that there will be a heap of trouble
caused by the minority and some Republic
can recalcitrants Last week there were
many evidences of revolt with dilatoryl
tactics in both Houses. and there IS dam
ger that the trouble arising from such
sources may increase to a serious extent
unless a inal adjournment occurs this
week. Senator johnson, the majority
leader, has expressed his belief that five
days Industrious work, together with
night sessions, will clear the calendars
and pave the way for a dissolution next
Friday. Senators Stokes and Hutchin-
son do not share in that belief, however,
because they canno see the pr~acticability
of adjournment until next week.
The Governors uitimatum that all bills
passed by the Legislature must be sub
unifted 70 him hefora q final adjournment