Gloucester County Democrat., 1900-02-01
THE LEGISLATURE.
Two Interesting Measures Cause D.s-
eussion, and Tilt Over the Rules
Lends Some Excitement = Faithful
state officials Reelected More
Nominations by Governor VoOr-

Lends some excitement - n AithAuA
state officials Reelected More
Nominations by Governor vOOr-
hees.
Especial Correspondence
TRENTON, Jan. 31-Another week has
passed. and little advance has been
made in the work of legislation. Forty
one bills have been introduced in the
senate and about 80 in the assembly,
but not a single one has yet gone to
the governor. One of the most inter-
esting of the new measures this week
was the bill abolishfng the office of
state dairy commissioner and turning
the functions of that official over to
chief inspector, who shall be under the
immediate control of the state board
of health. George w. Mcclure, DEM
ocrat of Trenton, is the present dairy
commissioner, and there has been talk
for long time Of legislating him out
Of Office. The bill now presented is a
general health act providing for pure
foods, pure beverages, pure drugs, etc.
1t gives ample power for the inspection
of suspected goods and analysis of the
same and the arraignment of offend
ers. The state board may appoint all
the necessary help and shall have an
annual appropriation of $4,000 for the
work. Penalties are prescribed against
any one obstructing the officers of the
board. Senator Stokes introduced the
new bill.
Another measure of interest, if it had
any chance of adoption, would be Sen
ator Packers bill providing that in
mates of the state prison and of all
jails shall be employed on the piece
price plan" and that no machinery ex-
cept what is operated by hand or foot
shall be used Senator Packer intro
duced similar bill last year, but it
was not heard from subsequently, The
same fate doubtless awaits the present
measure. The movement against tht
use of modern machinery in the state
prison originates with the employees
of certain shoe factories in Burlington
county and is supported by the labor
unions, but its effect would probably
be to throw upon the taxpayers the
heavy burden of maintaining the
states 1000 prisoners in idleness. I'm
der such law as Senator Packer pro-
poses few contracts for the labor of
the convicts could be obtained. At
present the labor of the convicts is
considerable source of revenue.
New Legislative Rules.
The senate and house adopted new
rules this week, the only notable
change being in those rules affecting
the preparation of bills for the calen-
dar. The old custom of engrossing is
done away with, and hereafter all bills
will be printed. Senator Martin (Dem.l
of Sussex wanted the senate to adopt
rule allowing motions to relieve any
committee from further consideration
of a BILL The custom of the senate
from time immemorial has been to al
low committees supreme control of the
bills in their possession. Senator Mar
tin explained that this practically
mittee is a law unto himself and that
he can hold a bill against the wish of
the other 20 senators. He thought
that such a situation was intolerable
and declared that while he respected
the rights of committees and believed
they should have ample time to consid-
er all measures, still every senator
ought to have the privilege sooner or
later of discussing his bills before the
whole senate They should stand or
fall on their merits and not be smoth-
cred in committee.
Senator Pitney, replying for the Re
publicans, pointed out that the Demo
Gratis had considered the present rule
good enough for them when they were
in power 1t was also the rule of the
United States senate, and it operated
well there, as it did at Trenton. The
danger was not that good bills would
be smothered in committee but that
bad or unnecessary legislation would
get on the statute books. The proper
tendency, as matters stand, should be
to restrain rather than provoke addi-
tional legislation. He did not think
there was any fear that bill desired
by a majority of the senate would be
withheld by a committee.
Senator Martins amendment was de-
feated by party vote.
This matter being disposed of, the
senate proceeded to elect a supervisor
Of bills and an assistant under the
rules. Jesse r. Salmon of Essex was
elected supervisor and James Shoe
maker of Cape May assistant. The
Democrats nominated James O'Brien
of Passaic for the former office.
In the house Charles H. Folwell of
Burlington was made supervisor, and
he was allowed two assistants, Solo
mon Fl. Rogers of Mercer and Frank
P. Lockwood of Hudson.
A bill has been introduced repeating
the supervisor of bills law. recently de-
clared unconstitutional, and another
act has been offered regulating the sal,
aries of the new officials The senate
supervisor is to get $1,000 a year and
his assistants $500. The assembly su-
pOTflSOI VIII ItCtlNc 11sOoO anu cdtll
Of his assistants 5000.
state Officials Elected.
At a joint meeting of the Legislature
yesterday State Comptroller William
S. Hancock and State Treasurer
George B. Swain were reelected. They
now enter on their third terms of three
years each. The fact that they had no
opposition within their own party is
good evidence of their popularity and
of the fact that they have conducted
their responsible offices we'll The
Democrats gave honorary nominations
for comptroller and treasurer to Colo
mel John A. WiIdrick of Warren and
George r. Gray of Essex respectively.
Charles Bradley of Essex was elect
ed by party vote for state director
of railroads and canals The Demo-
cratic nominee was Patrick Doyle of
Hudson
After the joint meeting Messrs
Swain and Hancock held a reception
at the Trenton House.
Governor Voorhees, sent to the senate
this week the following nominations:
Judge Second district court of New
ark, Thomas ]. Lintott, vice Frederick
r. Guild, resigned.