The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-03-23
LAW MAKERS
ADJOURNMENT
l24th Legislature Finishes its
LabOrS.
Some Important Measures on
Statute Books--RepubIicans kept
Path by Passing Municipal Fran
chise BiII-Pitney Heavy Worker
Welsh and Garrison not Idle.
Especial Correspondence).

Especial Correspondence).
Trenton, March 22.-On the assur
anoes of the Governor and the leaders
of the both branches of the Legis-
lature. the statement is made that the
124th Legislature will be historical
"reminiscences by the time this letter
reaches the readers of the Morris
Chronicle.
1t has not been a remarkable session
as sessions have been going during
the past few years. The net result of
legislation is light and only a few
measures of far reaching consequence
have been enacted. There was but
little heavy legislation prepared for
the session, but this fact had no effect
in securing short session over light
one. There was multitude of small
legislation, and plentitude of small
calibre bills, only a few of which
reached the Governor. The number
of bills introduced was up to the
average, but the number that will go
in the statute book will be very small.
There were introduced in the two
branches about $50. The Senate had
over two hundred and the House about
three hundred and fifty. The figures
are indefinite because bills were being
introduced in patches of two and three
when this letter was prepared. Up
to Thursday morning, the Governor
had signed seventy with dozen
or so on his desk He was frequently
ahead of the Committee on Passed
Bills and had at times to urge the com
mittee TO bring in their bills, SO that
he would have work to do and would
be able TO fill his requirements of the
Legislature adjourns.
THE BILL EXPERIMENT.
This is the first wear of the new plan
over the old system of engrossed bills.
There is more or less doubt whether
the new plan has been a success. 1t
was trifie troublesome and it will
prove to be very expensive. Some
bills had to be reprinted as often as
three times and about 450 of the $50
bills reprinted twice will make an ex-
pensive item in the legislation ac-
count. Mistakes occurred just the
same but the worst feature was the
delay, because all corrections necessi-
tated reprint of the bill while under
the old system page only would have
to be done over.
A YOUNG MANS LEGISLATURE.
This Legislature goes into history
as the Young Mans Legislature. The
House in particular was full of bright
young men and all more or less able
to take care of themselves. At the
beginning of the session, there were
some misgivings about Speaker Jones,
but before the end of the session, he
was generally voted strong young
man of marked ability. He had good
Judgment at all times and was always
amiable and extremely obliging. 1t
was by word at the beginning of the
session, "What happened to Jones, !"
but everybody now says, "Jones is
the dandy speaker. f" Mr.. Wakelee
was overworked but he made good
leader.
In the Senate, the great introducer
of bills was Senator Pitney, the leader
of the majority. He and Senator
McCarter, of Newark, gave each other
chase for the honor, if it be such,
for many bills brings much worri-
ment.
The heavy legislation that was
promised never msterialized. The
merging of spring and fall elections,
which was doubtful issue at the be-
ginning of the session. was talked to
death and successfully entombed.
Track elevation had its own troubles,
stirred up of course by the railroad
folks, and that subject is matter of
future reference. The State Sewerage
Bill really got through, very much as
was hoped by the commission who
prepared it. The School Codification
bill, or other ise, the general school
bill introduced by Senator Stokes,
was generously showed from pillar to
post, but it's safe anchorage ON the
statute books, is guaranteed
GOVERNORS BILL.
The star bill Of the session is the
Governors municipal franchise bill,
which gives the localities the benefit
of the taxation on traction roads, tele-
graph and telephones pipe lines and
electric light and gas light companies
II will deprive the State of about
$ii8, 600 of income, while the munich
palities will receive about $500, 900,
not much for each community, but
guarantee of good faith on the part of
the Republican party, for the reduc-
tion Of local taxation. Morris County
has no trolleys now, so its benefits