The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-18
ONE BILL PASSED
After Six Weeks Session a
Single Measure Passes
Both Houses.
TO STRENGTHEN ARBITRATION BOARD
Chilly" Thompson Apparently
the Most Important Issue
Before the Legislature.
TO STRENGTHEN ARBITRATION BOARD

Especial to 9Th Jersey City News."J
TRENTON, Feb. Is, 1S9S.-Six weeks of
the legislative session have gone and not
a single bill has yet reached the Cover
nor, although one, Senate No. 2, by Sem
ator Johnson of Bergen, providing for
the appointment, on application to the
Court, Of three persons to appor-
ton the indebtedness and liabili-
ties of a township where a borough or
boroughs have been set off, has passed
both Houses. True, several bills have
passed each Chamber, but this bill of
Senator Johnson's appears to be the
only one that has managed to squeeze
through. both Houses. This is a record
for delay which, if ever made
by a Democratic Legislature, would
have brought down upon the
party the righteous wrath and in
dignation of the virtuous Republicans.
But as this is a Republican Legislature
this shameless conduct goes by unnoticed
by the G. o. P. press.
A suspicion is growing in the minds of
many that this course of the Legisla-
ture is by design and not by accident.
The slightest excuse for an adjournment
or to hold short sessions, they say, has
been seized upon and if one-half of the
effort had been made by the members to
do the work they were sent to Trenton
to do; that has been made to keep
from doing anything, the present Legis-
lature would not deserve the censure it
does. There are many who talk like this
generally, but none of them can go into
particulars or give any details. What the
design can be in this delay no n APP
pears to be able or, if he is, won't tell
Henry J. Gottlojb, who represents the
State Federation of Trade and Labor, has
been at the State House all the week with
two bills in regard to labor troubles. The
first relates to the State Board of Arbi-
tration and is in accordance with the ap-
peal made by that body in its last re-
port when the board asked the Legisla-
ture to clothe it with authority to issue
subpoenas to compel the attendance of
witnesses to give testimony in any matter
of the arbitration of trouble between en-
ployer and employees, which the board
may undertake to settle. The bill is en-
titled
A further supplement to an act en-
titled, San act to provide for the ami
cable adjustment of grievances and dis
putes that may arise between employ
ers and employees, and to authorize the
creation of a State Board of Arbitra-
tom approved March "a, 1892 (Gen-
eral Statutes, page 49,
The act provides that "every board
of arbitration designated, selected or
appointed under the above entitled act
Of an act amendatory thereof or sup
Elementary thereto, whenever they are
ready to investigate or inquire into any
grievance, dispute or controversy, n
at all times during the tendency of the
same, shall have power, by the CHAIR
man or clerk, to issue subpoenas and
testificandum or duces tecum to any
person within this State, summonlng
such person to appear before it.. pro-
duce evidence or furnish thestimony re-
lating to any of the said matters to be
investigated. inquired into, heard or
determined by such board.
The second section provides that in case
any person shall refuse to obey such
subpoena or to give testimony or answer
questions or to produce such books,
papers. documents or evidence as required,
the board sha1 have the power to apply
to any Justice of the Supreme Court,
Judge of the Circuit Courts or Law Judge
of the Court of Common Pleas of the
county in which such recalcitrant person
shall be found for an attachment against
such person as for a contempt; the Judges
before whom such proceedings may be
taken are authorized in the act to compel
such persons to obey such or
subpoena, give testimony, answer ques-
tions and produce any and all papers,
books and documents that may be re-
CURED by the board.
The authority is also vested in the
court to compel such person to pay all
the costs of the proceedings in the con-
tempt case.
He has been talking with members
about the bills, and when he is convinced
they have some chance of passing he will
have them introduced.
Apparently the most important bill,
Judging from the interest taken in any
single measure by the public now before
the LEGISLATURE, is BILLY Thompson's
Double Bar BILL
h bill is the direct result Of a de-
ciSlon rendered by judge JeSsup' ~ the
Camden County Court, denying to
Thompson a renewal of his license for
Washington park.
The law under which the original Ii
cense was granted is regarded by men of
legal attachments as rather obscure and
open to various constructions. Thonp-
sons counsel maintain that under its pro-
visions the ~proprietors of h park have
the right to sell beer or other drinks at
more than one bar On the grounds, under
the single license. The courts ruled other
wise the park people consulted their
counsel. who advised them togo right on
doing business. This they did until the