Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-02-14
THE LEGISLATURE.
Especial Correspondence

The LEGISLATURE.
Especial Correspondence
TRENTON, Feb. 13.-After five week.
of comparative listlessness the IegisIa
ture pulled itself together" as it were
and got down to business this week
Notwithstanding that the senate hello
but two sessions, one Monday night ant
long one on Tuesday, and the house
observed Lincoln's birthday and me,
today instead Of yesterday. vast
amount Of work was disposed of. II
cannot be said that much ground was
gained, as the number of bills intro
duced this week far exceeded those
passed. On Monday night 81 bills were
presented in the senate and So in the
house. In fact, close to 100 bills were
introduced in the two houses this week
SO that while the lawmakers are show
ing an inclination to get down to ear.
nest work they are daily providing
fresh material to occupy their atten.
ton. But comparatively few of the
bills presented this week were of any
special Importance, and many of them
will go the way of hundreds of others
to the legislative graveyard via the
committees.
The most important measure intro.
duced so far this session and perhaps
the most important to be considered
this year was the biennial session
amendments to the constitution. which
were presented by Senator johnson of
Camden yesterday. If the amendments
are adopted, the legislature will follow
the custom of many other states and
hold session every other year instead
of annually. The assemblymen will be
elected for two years and the senators
for four years instead of three The
governors term will be increased from
three to four years. The scheme is
said to have the sanction and backing
of the big leaders, who have long want
ed biennial sessions of the legislature,
and unless the situation changes mate.
rally the amendments are very likely
to be adopted and referred to next
years legislature for approval
@10ACAaHS
The concurrent resolution presented
by Senator Reed for President Pitney
early in the session providing for the
constitutional amendments proposed
By Inc New Jersey Bar association was
passed by the senate on Tuesday and
ordered sent to the house for immediate
action. Under the amendments an in
dependent court of errors is provided
for, consisting of chief Judge and
four associate judges; the court of
chancery to consist of chancellor and
such number of vice chancellors as
may be required, and the court of par
dons to consist of the governor, chan
cellor and attorney general In ex-
planning the resolution President Pit
ney spoke of the growth of legal bust
ness, the fact that the courts as con-
stituted were formed to meet con-
ditions long outgrown and of the need
Of remodeling the judiciary on a
modern scientific basis. The resolution
was amended SO as to continue in office
the present vice chancellors until their
successors were appointed.
The governor on Tuesday sent to the
senate the following nominations:
Board of managers of the State Village
For pileptics-Howard p. Reynolds,
Plainfield; Theodore Foote, Vineland;
John R. Hardin. Newark; Thomas J.
'r.-.sh, Bridgss "a, A. w Mack,
Somerville, and John H. Ewing. Flem-
ington. They were confirmed, as were
also the nominations of the Interstate
Palisades commission, sent in last
week; Judge Joline of the Camden dis
trict court, Judge Vroom of the court of
errors, and John F. Dryden as mem
Der of the board of managers of the
state geological survey. The nomina-
tons Of the trustees of the State Home
For Girls were confirmed on Monday
night.
About the only appointments of any
consequence yet to be made by Gov
ernor voorhees, are clerk in chancery
and member of the state board of as
SCISSORS. The belief that Senator Stokes
Of Cumberland county will be selected
for the first named Office gains strength
daily, although the friends of Hon.
Lewis A. Thompson, the present in
cumbent, are hopeful that he will be
reappeinted. 1t is said to be practical
" decided that David Baird of Cam
den will be appointed as member Of
the state board of assessors to succeed
General Bird W. Spencer of Passaic,
and it is believed that the governor
will send Mr.. Baird's name to the sen
ate next week.
Senator Hand led large delegation
of Cape May county voters in to the
governor Monday night, the delegation
having come to Trenton to urge the ap-
pointment of Harrison VOORHEES, Of
Wildwood as county judge to succeed
Judge Douglass. Many of the Camden
visitors who were Iere in Mr.. Baird's
interests also spoke to the governor in
behalf of Mr.. Voorhees,, who has an Of
fee in that city.
New Conversational Districts.
A conference of the Republican SEN
ators was held on Monday night over
the proposed scheme to reapportion the
congressional districts. The only change
suggested from the Murphy plan was to
nut Mercer, Hunterdon and Somerset
Into a district and make another out of
Norris. Union, Warren and Sussex.
After considerable discussion it was
decided to place the matter in the
hands of a committee of five senators
TO confer with the members of the
house and the leading Republicans
with a view of ascertaining the mos
satisfactory plan. This committee com
prised Senators Reed, Pitney, Stokes
Cross and Francis. The antisprina
election bill was also discussed, and i
was decided to give a public hearing
on this much considered matter mex
Monday evening.
A bill introduced by Senator Mckee
would abolish the sale of cigarettes
making it a penalty of $50 fine to sell
cigarettes or cigarette paper or bring
them into the state.
Assemblyman Davidson introduced 9
bill limiting the amount to be spent in
counties for new bridges to $4,000 an.
nually unless drawbridges are to be
built. Another bill presented by this
gentleman provides that when $1,000,
900 has been spent on roads in any
county no more shall be expended.
The house has passed the bill appro-