The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-01

WORK NEGLECTED.
Legislature Has Been in SEES
IS sion Four Weeks and Ac-
complished Nothing.
MERCER PRODUCES AN ORATOR
No Diminution in the Flood
of Bills-New Meas
ures Yesterday.
Isr,scial to ..rhe Jersey city News."l

hdAC SAPCCtS ~ pass
bills which nave been introduced thus
far and have the short session the Repuo-
lican leaders are talking about, it will
have to get to work very soon. Four
weeks of the session have passed and not
a law has been enacted. True each
chamber has passed a number of bills,
but none has yet passed both Houses.
This dilatory course is beginning to wor-
ry the leaders so much so that it was
deemed necessary to do something about
1t. Accordingly the Senate held a eau
Gus Monday night to consider the matter,
and decided to hurry legislation along as
rapidly as possible. Speaker Watson
yesterday afternoon felt constrained to
make a pathetic appeal to the House
to get to work and report bills
so that the House can nave something to
do.
The sessions yesterday afternoon of both
Houses was very short, and by three
O'Clock the Legislature had adjourned for
the week. In the Senate the afternoon
session was productive of little Of im-
portance. Mr.. McDermott moved to take
from the table his resolution providing
for a State constitutional convention. Mr..
Johnson of Bergen moved that the reso-
luton be referred to the Judiciary Com
mittee, which should properly have the
consideration of the matter. Mr.. Nc
Dermott moved as an amendment that the
resolution be made a special order for
Monday evening at $50 o'clock. A vote
being taken the amendment was lost and
the resolution was ordered sent to the
Judiciary Committee. The House re-
solved itself into a ratification meeting in
the afternoon. Mr.. Mckee offered a set
----Jx:-- -xr-z:-.-- D,o.t1on+ aFoLyin-
ley and commencing his policy during the
war. Mr.. Wood of Mercer seized the OPP
portunity to make his maiden speech, and
made the white Hall'' ring with old
fashioned Republican stump ~eloquence.
Among other things he said
within the past ten months have been
written some of the most brilliant pages
of American history. Soul stirring events
have aroused the spirit of the American
people as it has not been aroused since
the lays of 81. For the first time within
fifty years we nave been engaged, invol-
unfairly on our part, in a foreign war.
What glorious achievement have been
realized. Within ninety days we smashed
the Spanish feet in two h-emispheres.
Within ninety days that proud, defiant,
harrassing and naughty monarchy was
brought to sue for peace. Within ninety
days we assumed our rightful position as
a power among the nations of the earth.
The valor and heroism of our American
soldiers and sailors have added new lus-
ire to the American name and fresh
glories to the American flag.
Since the close of the war the expan-
sion of our has been without
a parallel in the history of the American
people. The financial centre of the globe
has been shifted from London to New
York. In November, 1898, our exports
were larger than in any other month in
any other year in American history. Our
balance of trade for the year with for
eign nations reached the enormous pro-
portions of s617, 900, 900. The Treaty of
Peace is now before the Senate of the
United States for ratification. I believe
it should be ratified; that it should be
ratified promptly. I believe thai the
fruits of our marvellous victories on land
and sea should be speedily secured to the
American people,
In the Senate Mr.. Stokes school bin
was mended so as to require hat 500, 900
shall be the minimum allowance by the
Legislative Appropriation Committee an
nually under the provisions of the act.
However brief the business of the Leg
aslature was, there was diminution in the
number of bills which came in. In the
Senate, Mr.. Johnson, of Bergen, intro
duced a measure which makes it unlawful
to place any sewage, domestic or factory
refuse or polluting water of any kind
whatever in the waters of any river.
brook, etc., or tributary thereof, above
the point from which any municipality
obtains its water supply; also to place
such polluting matter on the banks of
any stream so described. A fine Of 800
IS imposed for every violation. but CITIES
~--
havlhg an outfet IN any stream al piee
emit are exempted. The State Board or
Healtq, 10 RI have general superyision.
-,n' -. ii, .naean ,harnas IN
Willis iocAi DodioS WALL Piehoi H"Ase Ia
the courts.
One nv mfr. Pitney enables each of the
a.. n.rni+a, pn,r5s 70 annoip+ a sacra-
oeale nospips1 ooaioo ~ appoA
nary at not exceeding so0U.
Other measures introduced were:-
Mr.. Ketcham-Authorlzlng the governor
to appoint seven commissioners 10 revise
and codify. the general statues OF TINS
State relating to cities or sucn parl tnere-
of as the Governor may olrect. lney
may appoint necessary clerical help ana
shall report to the next Legislature.
Mr.. Ketcham-Providing that any as
sessment of damages or benefits. caused or
hoard of commissioners appointed to make