Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-01-19

population Hudson ana Essex com
ties think It is unfair that their large
populations should have only the same
representation in the senate as counties
like Ocean and Cape May. The smaller
counties, however, are masters Of the
situation, and are not likely to yield
their advantage. This is one view of
the constitutional convention matter;
there are others.
Democrats Making Work.
The Democratic senator's seem deslr-
Gus of mapping out work for the Re-
publican majority. Not alone Senator
McDermott. but Senators Braun. Mar
tin and others are also introducing
measures that may cause vexation later
on. Senator Brauns thoughts have run
in the direction of compensation for the
Jerseymen who enlisted during the
Spanish war either in the regiments or
in the naval reserve. and bill he intro
duced proposes to allow them 81 per day
during the term of enlistment but not
more than 500 toany one volunteer. The
money is to be paid out of the franchise
taxes levied on corporations. Alittle fig
uring shows that either Senator Braunis
very liberal with the public funds or
that he has not considered the full effect
of his proposition. 1t viii neeessitate
an outlay of about $500 900 The chances
are that another bill Will be introduced
from the Republican side of the house
or else that Mr.. Braun's measure will
be considerably pruned In Massachu-
sets an allowance of 81 month is
made to the volunteers, and it 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
favors some sort of compensation to the
Jersey soldiers.
Senator Martin put in bill provid-
ing for 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
it would drive capital out of New Jer-
sey were this state to fix a lower rate
Of interest than is allowed in neighbor-
ing states, but the present plethora of
money weakens that argument. AS a
matter of fact, money. when borrowed
in large amounts, can now be had read
lily at per cent and often at per cent.
1t is only the very small borrower and
the borrower from the banks that are
required to pay per cent. Why these
latter should be shut out from the adj
vantage of a per cent rate does not
clearly appear. 1t is said, too, that
there is a disposition to establish a 5
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 farmers ell. 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-
quired 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 at the subject even more
radically, offering bill to prohibit the
sale of any prison made goods Both
Messrs. Packer and Horner are from
Burlington county which is the seat of
the present agitation against convict
labor.
Mr.. Carroll has introduced bill in
the assembly making it misdemeanor
to use the flag or any standard, color
or ensign of the United States for ad-
vertising purposes.
The Hudson county consolidation bill
4
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, Gutenberg,
Union. North Bergen and town of
Union The efforts to get the building
and loan associations of the state under
closer official surveillance has also ma
terialized. Mr.. Bell has introduced a
bill placing all building. loan and home
stead associations under the supervision
of the banking and insurance depart
ment, and requiring them to file reports
annually The department is author
lied to make examination of any asso-
citation whenever the bank commits
sioner desires.