The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-02-23
LEGISLATORS
HUSTLING
Many Visitors from Morris County
at the Capital.
Senator Pitney as Usual Working
Overtime Morristown Excise Bill
has a Rocky ROad-New Bruins
wick EpisOde-GirPs Industrial
School to be Investigated.
Especial Correspondence. J


was much in evidence during the past
legislative week. Nothing in particu-
lar happened except the presence of a
number of Morris County people at
the State Capitol. Sheriff Baker
dropped in on Monday night and
Tuesday. He came. down with a
group of evil doers who will learn the
lock step and have plenty of time for
meditation in the dark brown coffin
on the banks of the Delaware and
Raritan Canal. He could not resist
the temptation to come up to the
State House and look over his many
friends He certainly discovered that
he was not forgotten for the glad
hand was everywhere extended to him
and he was congratulated upon the
new honors that had so deservingly
came to him.
When the Supreme Court opened
Judge Vreeland appeared on some
private business, not directly associ-
ated with the Appellate Court. He
dropped in the Senate several times
to chat with his former contemporar-
les and he felt so much at home that
he remained over to participate in the
eventful joint memorial session held
in honor of the late Vice President
Garret A. Hobart He sat with the
Morris members, Garrison and Welsh,
during that solemn, but interesting
ceremony.
Rev. Albert Erdman, d. D., of the
South st. Presbyterian Church, Nor
ristown, made an impressive prayer
yesterday at the opening of the Sen
ate. 1t was dignified invocation,
that many of the Senators appre-
ciated.
Ex-Asemblyman Joseph A. Fighter
was one of the guests at the joint
memorial session. He was the cice-
rome for group of pretty girls from
the State Normal School, which still
attests that he is bachelor.
PITNEY'S BUSY WEEK.
Senator Pitney had busy week.
He added materially to the list of
bills which he has already under his
care. He has another distinctly Nor
ristown bill, which aroused more or
less suspicion. The Senator has had
some unique experiences with curative
acts. His last is to cure the title of
the Ward bill, under which Morris
The law itself is alright, but the title
of the act is not The courts have
decided, in parallel cases that the
title, is too ambiguous and does not
define the contents of the statute, so
the Senator is trying to effect the
cure, but as everybody down here stays
awake at night looking for mares
nests, it is not surprising that they
see evidences of calamity and con-
fusion in bill that changes the title
of law already on the statute act
This recalls another legislative Incl
dent, that Senator Pitney will never
forget, one equivalent in its purpose.
That is the correction, or as others
may say the cure of the Morristnwn
Excise Law. 1t is surprising to
know how much trouble this bill has
produced The Senator is receiving
letters almost daily to abandon the
bill. Those who write, seem to be
ignorant Of the fact that this bill is
already ON the statutes of the State,
and that the whole law has to be re-
stated in bill, to secure the very
insignificant changes that are neces-
sary to make the Morristown Excise
Law r-tight.
The Senator has impressed the COM
mittee, as to the status of this alleged
suspicious bill, 1t is possible that
the committee will release it next
week but it is altogether possible that
there will be fight ON the floor of the
Senate, for most Senators have been
urged to go against the bill. Any
violent opposition to the bill, will re-
suit in the Senator abandoning the
bill. Nothing is to be gained by that
opposition, because the act is opera
tive and on the statute book. Most
people do not seem to be able to com
prehend that fact The corrections
are needed, but the omission will not
disturb the peace of the State, as the
attempt at corrections seems to do
Senator Pitney caught the philoso-
pher of the Democracy, Allen L. Me-
Dermott, sleeping on Tuesday. The
New Brunswick ward e-districting
bill came up for passage Senator
Pitney urged its passage on the
ground that it was needed to equalize
the population in wards. Trenton,
having taken advantage of the law
last year, but New Brunswick held
off, as it is alleged because no money
was provided for the expense. Soma
tor Van Cleef, who was formerly the
mayor of New Brunswick, opposed it
because 1t gave power to the Republi-
can mayor of New Brunswick
Senator Pitney shut off all his par