Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-03-21


ly Adjourn at p. NJ, No Matter
What Common, Ordinary Clocks
May Indicate-ImpOrtnnt Measures
Taken Up Mt the Close.
Especial Correspondence
TRENTON, March 20.-When the pres
ent legislative week opened, there were
misgivings that the programme of
bringing about the end of the session
OF the New Jersey legislature on the
date recently named by the leaders
namely, Friday, March 22-could not
be carried out This apprehension
arose from the murmurings of the
friends of the Morris canal vacation
bill, which is of great Importance to
the residents of Jersey City and the
upper end of the state, the contract for
the water supply of that city and the
establishment of a terminal for the
Lehigh Valley railroad there, it is I'M
derstood, being involved in the bill.
Strong opposition to the measure had
practically sealed. Its supporters then
threatend to proIoug the life of the
session another week or longer if the
bill was not passed. They did not get
a>chance, however, to carry out their
threat. On Monday night Mr.. Reed.
leader of the Republican majority in
the senate, had the resolution fixing 3
o'clock Friday afternoon as the time
for final adjournment taken up and
adopted, which action settled the mat
ter of sine die adjournment once and
for all.
Therefore unless something unfore-
seen occurs, which is by no means like
ly, the present session. will wind up its
affairs on Friday. 1t is not likely,
of actual adjournment, as the legisla-
ture will have to wait until the govern
or reads the bills sent to him in the
last days of the session and determines
what action he shall take on them. The
clocks in the senate and assembly will
be stopped at about five minutes to 3
o'clock, and when the governor is
through with his work and sends word
to both houses that he has nothing fur
Their to communicate to them, though
the time be several hours later than the
hour appointed, the two houses will be
called to order, the clocks again start
ed, and when the hands point to the
figure on the clock dial the session
will be declared dissolved. From the
present outlook it will be in the neigh
borhood of midnight on Friday when
the legislature gives up the ghost"
Although the measure providing for
the abandonment of the Morris canal
has not passed, bill has gone through
giving Jersey City relief in the matter
of its water supply contract by ena-
bling the city and parties interested to
modify the contract to the satisfaction
of all concerned. Senator Pitney's bill
providing for the appointment Of
commission to investigate the Morris
canal vacation proposition, to report at
subsequent session of the legislature,
has passed the senate, but not without
a spirited discussion. Senators Pitney
and Hudspeth crossed oratorical swords
on the question, and the best debate of
the session resulted, the latter object
ing strenuously to the measure, hold
ing that consideration of it should be
deferred until his bill, known as SEN
ate bill 1852, is reported out of the COM
mittee, where it is calmly sleeping,
awaiting the end.
Another important measure which
has now passed both houses is the
biennial sessions amendment to the
constitution, which was sent to the
governor this week, the house having
passed it Monday night. If signed by
the governor it will be ready for action
by the next legislature. If favorably
considered next year the proposed
amendment will then be submitted to
the people, who shall have voice in
saying whether the legislature shall
meet every two years or annually.
Preservation of the Palisades.
The third most important work of the
legislatures final week was the pass
ing of the Palisades commission bill,
which provides for the creation of a
commission to act in conjunction with
a New York commission looking to
the preservation of the Palisades and
the construction of a boulevard along
the Hudson river at their base Sena-
tor Hudspeth vigorously opposed the
bill on the ground of economy and it
was earnestly advocated by Senators
Wakelee and Reed.
The appropriations committee held its
final meeting tonight and completed its
report, which will be submitted to the
senate tomorrow in the shape of two
bills, the regular appropriation and the
supplemental bills. At meeting of
the committee held on Monday it was
decided to give Trenton $4,000 for an
armory. The Railway refornatory
commissions request for $191 900 was
cut down by the committee to $134, 900.
The Morris Plains asylum board was
refused an appropriation for a build
ing which was erected last year with
out legislative authority 1t was
allowed $22, 900 out of the S57,0 900 asked
for. The Soldiers home at Keany
was allotted $4,000 to purchase addi-
tional land. The Epileptic villages
request for an appropriation of $4,000
was not acted upon. No final action
was taken at this meeting on the re-
quest of the Palisades commission for
100000 to acquire strip OF riparian
lands running along the base of the
Palisades. 1t was stated that New
York state would give 100000 and
that $4,000 had been raised upon
conditional private subscriptions for
this object.
The Meeker antispring election law
was before the court of errors and APP
peals on Monday, when arguments
were advanced as to the constitutions
atty of the measure by able lawyers.
A decision will be given next Monday.
On Tuesday the governor sent to
both houses a special message relative
to the violation of the gambling laws
at Long Branch. Accompanying the
message was a bill prepared by the
chief executive, which was introduced
by Leader Lewis, looking to remedy
Of the evil The bill makes it a misde-
meanor for the mayor or chief Of po-
lice, after complaint has been made to