The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-01-19
LEGISLATURE
SECOND WEEK
Attorney General Asked For An
Opinion as to New Office.
Democrats Pose as Obstructionists
in Senate and House Hobart Me-
mortal will be Held on the 3Oth-
Judge Fort Re-AppOinted Work
of Fish and Game Commission.
special Correspondencel.


Especial Correspondence.
Trenton, Jan. 18-The machinery
of the Legislature moved slowly this
week in both branches and little or
nothing was accomplished and very
little will be accomplished until the
muddle over the Supervision of Bills
: is settled. There is considerable doubt
about the legal status of this officer
and until it is settled,it would be un-
wise to proceed with any legislation,
because it might turn out to be labor
lost.
Before the next letter is written the
question Of the constitutionality Of
the law creating the new department
will be settled for the matter has been
referred to the Attorney General for
an opinion. 1t will be remembered
that the Republican caucus made a
General took no heed of the resolution
because it was asked by body of men
who had been only elected to Office
and had not taken the oath of office
under the conditions prescribed by
the constitution and in consequence
was not a branch of the State govern
ment. The last request is made under
different circumstances and as re-
quest of constitutional body, who
have perfect right to ask the law
officer of the State, to burn some
midnight oil and take peep at his
law book, it will be speedily done.
Should the Attorney General declare
that the office of Supervisor Of Bills,
as created under the act, by the ap-
pointment of the Governor is un-
constitutional, then the Legislature
would at once have to re-enact a
measure on different lines. 1t is not
settled definitely just what would be
the character of the bill. 1t is alto
gether possible that the Office will be
abolished, as General Supervisor is
thought by many to be superf1uity
and that the work of printing of bills
can be done by a printing clerk in
each branch a substitution of the en-
crossing clerk. Senator Thomas Nc
Carter, who is somewhat of fighter
when he gets started will not allow
any change if he can help it, but the
Governor has his thinking cap on and
will certainly urge a change if the
law has to be tampered with. There are
some who think the term of five years
too long and favor it being cut down
to three. If the law is not constitu-
tional and it is changed to meet the
demands of Major Lentz and the other
warm supporters of Mr.. Salmon, the
supervisor, then the appointment will
be given to the joint session of the
Legislature and the term will remain
five years.
In anticipation of these several
changes the Governor has never sent
the name of Mr.. Salmon to the Senate
for confirmation. He has simply
named him as an ad- interim officer
He will hold off making the perma-
nent appointment until the contro-
versy is settled. 1t is matter of re-
gret that all this trouble was not
avoided by somebody doing some
thinking at the end of last session
when the bill was under consideration
and the law passed. 1t is another
peculiar and damaging condition of
affairs which would warrant the Leg
islature of New Jersey, adopting as
it's motto, "Less haste means more
speed. -
TACTICS OF MINORITY.
The Democratic minority are very
clipper and go around with an air,
that they have lots of things up their
sleeves that will give the Republicans
uneasy sleep. Their actions so far
clearly indicated that they are jour
neying to the State House for no other
purpose, than to play the role of OBJ
structionists and out of the commo-
tion that they cause by obstructing
legislation gather together some
little political capital for a national
campaign. The Democratic House
leader, Mr.. Benny, made another un-
successful attempt on Monday night to
get the rules amended so that all bills
must be released from committees
fourteen days after their introduction
He frankly admitted that he desired
such rule, because some of his bills
were held up last session. He simply
made his speech for the purpose of
getting public thrust at a railroad
representative, with whom he had
quarrel over an annual pass on one of
the big railroads.
Leon Albeit, who aspires to follow in
the footsteps of his we'll l-known father
is playing heavy role so as to get to
the State Senate and then to Congress.
He introduced two bills which have
for their purpose an increase in the
income of the municipalities by giving
them share OF the franchise tax
Mr.. Benny has re-introduced the same
bill which caused the great rows of
last session. 1t is known as the camel
back locomotive bill. II requires adj
ditional help on engines of that
character and it is a bill that every
railroad man in the State, is familiar