The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-28
WEEKLY
WAGES.
Two Bills Regulating the
Payment Of Employees
Discussed in the
Senate.
STANGER'S MEASURE PASSED.
Allan McDermott Wants Rail-
road Employees Included In
Senator Stokes Bill.
rsnecial 70 ..rhe Jersey city News.''l

M IN Ely YIN, FSD. 70
OF the Legislature went to work last
night with a vim which merited better re-
suits than were achieved. Yet the work
of both chambers was a great improve
ment over tina of any previous Monday
of the session. even though neither SEES
sion sat over an hour.
The greater part of the session OF the
Senate was taken up with a DEBATE On
the fortnightly payment bills. These
measures are badly wanted by the labor
ing people of South Jersey ana senator
Stokes of Cumberland and Stranger OF
Gloucester. candidates for denomination,
and Speaker watkins candidate Tor SEN
ator from Gloucester, candidate Tor sen
ator. all nave bills in, and it is NIP ana
tuck between them as to whose bill shaii
pass and pass first. !.
The two Senate bills came up on ina.
passage last evening. Senator Strangers
First. This provides that the bi-WeeKly
payment bill of 1896 shall not aHect any
contract previously entered into between
employer and employe, but prohibits such
contracts hereafter. Senator Pitney salu
that the pending bill amended the act OF
1896 by %forbidding the making hereafter
of any contracts that do away with the
payment of wages every two weeks.
Senator McDermott also favored the bill
saving the act of 1896 permitted such an
agreement between employer and empioye
as is sometimes entered into between the
lion and the lamb, terminating IN the
presence of the lamb inside the lion. Inc
bill passed 16 to 0.
Later. Senator Stokes bill providing Tor
the fortnightly payment of wages IN law
full money, was taken up. Senator STOKES
spoke in its favor at length. He referfeu
to the shameful character OF the store
order system still prevailing in his county
and under which employees received a BOOK
to keep a record of their purchases up ~
the amount of their wage credit. Tne
employees were required to deal IN the
comnanv store. They are at the mercy
~ tbe comnany. The temptation thus at
forded the employer and the duress 10
which the employe is subject, are against
a good public policy and invite redress.
Public meetings of citizens in the Sena-
TORS county has denounced the store or
der system and many petitions Ior
remedial legislation had been sent TO the
Legislature. -,
Senator McDermott asked why the Dill
had not been made general? why were
the employees of railroads and other cor
porations exempted?
Senator Stokes said that such exemp-
lions had always been made in legislation
of this character and that railroad en-
ploves did not seek fortnightly pay, owing
to the difficulties incident to paying on
men over so wide a territory as a rail-
road covers, in two weeks.
Senator McDermott replied that 1t was
not because the engineers, fremen, etc,
in railroad service did not want their
money every two weeks, for the de-
mands of the grocer, the baker and the
butcher. The real reason was the no
torious fact that such a bill, in favor OF
railroad employees, could not be passed
through the New Jersey Legislature.
Senator Stokes-eThe Senator is speak
ing for himself"
Senator McDermott-"I am not l am
willing to offer such an amendment at
any time. / don't hin New Jersey is
such a big State that they can't run a
nay-car from end to end of it in one
dav would like to see all classes bene-
flied under the bill. The bill, however,
wo,ld have to be amended to hold water.
AS it stands, there is nothing to prevent
an EMPLOYER from paying cash and then
compelling the employee to walk right into
the EMPLOYERS store and settle his book
account. The proper thing would be TO
nravent the EMPLOYER from demanding
any profit out of the wages of his en-
ploye."
Senator Pitney wanted to know why
Senator Stokes pressed this bill and did
not favor the Stanger bill.
Senator Stokes said the Stranger bill, IN
his Judgment. would not effect what ne
desired. He took occasion to add hat ne
considered much of Senator McDermott's
remarks as having force, but he would
say that he had been waited on by rail-
road employees, asking that they be LETT
ont of his bill. He made his bill as nearly
general as possible, and suggested that
Senator McDermott incorporate his W
ideas in a bill of his own.
Other bills passed were:-
Senate 56-Authorizes ommon councls
to provide, in the general tax levy, ioi
fbe expense of relaying sewers, etc.
Senate 57-Giving the Mercer County
Sheriff SO for each convict taken TO the
Senate n-Providing for a clerk and
deputy to Boards of Freeholders in coun-
ties of less than 70,o00 Inhabitants, the
expense not to exceed $500 a year:
The Governor sent to the Senate THESE
Observation-Disclosures of the State Hos
pitaI for the Insane, George Richards
Dover. Romeo T. &IdOCil,
Rev. DR.. James M. Buckley. MorristoWn;
Patrick Farrelly, Morristown; John z,
Fisele. Newark, all reappointed. state
Board of Medical Examiners, E.. L II
Godfrey. Camden; Charles A. Graves,
Newark. and Davis p. Borden, Paterson
also reappointed. - -
The nomination of Chandler Rike fo
be Prosecutor of the Pleas of Essex coun-
ty and General Richard A. Donnelly &c
be Major-General of National Guard were
confirmed in executive session.
Senator Ketcham presented a pefltloI
from the Jersey City and Newark Boards
OF Trade requesting the passage OF ms
bill for the reclamation of the meadows
This is a measure which has many
friends and if it can be clearly demon
strated that the work can be done at the
cost Mr.. Ketcham claims-$250 an acre
il will have an excellent chance of pass
ing. The idea of reclaiming all that waste
land which lies between the two big cities
is very tempting and has many friends.
Several bills passed second readlng
Among them was Senator Hutchinson
measure for a new wing to the Industrial
School for Girls. The Republicans are &C
have much trouble with this Dill. Tney
are afraid If passed, the proposed WING
viii become another Railway Reforma-
tory. which gives them conniption nts
every time it shows its head. Senator
Hutchinson had 1t almost through Wnef
old economy mad Johnson, OF Bergen
raised objections to its cost. He SAID Int
cost was not limited and II they didng