Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-02-21


in the two branches Alb bills. In the
senate the number is 49, and in the
house there are 265 bills.
The Antispring Election Bill.
Assemblyman Meeker sprung sur
prise on the Republican leaders last
week with his antispring election bill,
and it very probably had the effect of
bringing the matter to focus more
quickly than would have been the case
otherwise Mr.. Meekers first bill was
clearly unconstitutional, and his sub
stitute bill has many of the objection
able features removed, but it is proba-
BILE that a new bill will be offered next
week having the approval of the party
leaders, and it will be rapidly pushed
to final passage. The Republicans will
caucus on this matter Monday night.
1t is not known whether the bill will
have a referendum clause permitting
the matter to go before the people, but
there is report to the effect that there
will be no referendum. At a confer
ence of the Republican senators held
on Monday night many views of the
antispring election proposition were ex-
pressed by the senators and prominent
h6puD1Cdn IedueFS. mo one ODpUSSu
it, however. The senators were of the
opinion that bill applying to all cit
les and not applying to townships
would be constitutional. Those who
spoke for the, plan said there would be
night. money and that in
Woodbury. Glaer vote could be got out
YESTERDAY because th,isfaction generally Civ
class. ocrats at a joint caucus
Justice of tie Peoso the passage of any
said to be ca : alshing spring elections.
Mayor Laid gressfonaI District Lines.
The legislators are giving considera
and the attention to the proposed changes
ing tn the congressional district lines A
committee composed of Senators Pit
ney, Reed, Stokes, Cross and Francis
and Assemblymen Lewis Bachelor,
Gill, Fleming and Foote has been ap-
pointed by the legislature to consider
the various plans for redistricting the
state The conference will probably
be held shortly and the district lines
finally determined. OF the many plans
so far suggested, that known as the
Potter plan" appears to meet with the
most favor. This plan divides south
Jersey into two districts, the First to
comprise Camden, Gloucester and Sa-
lem, and the Second to be made up of
Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic and
Burlington. The Third, according to
this plan, will have Ocean, Monmouth
and Middlesex. Mercer, Somerset and
Hunterdon make up the Fourth, Sus
sex, Warren and Morris the Fifth, Ber
gen and Passaic the Sixth, the coun-
ties of Essex and Hudson each to be
divided into two districts, making the
Seventh and Eighth in the latter and
the Ninth and Tenth in Essex. This
arrangement avoids grouping any two
present congressman in the same dis
trict.
Arrangements for the exercises to be
held at the statehouse on Washington's
birthday by the Society of the Cincin-
natl in honor of the late Adjutant Cen
eral Stryker, who was president of
that order, have been completed. At
torney General Grey will deliver an
address, and Governor Voorhees, may
make few remarks.
Appropriations Committee at Work
The appropriations committee met on
Monday afternoon, but only considered
the regular appropriations for the vari-
Gus departments, and few changes
were made. The committee will hold
two sessions next week for the purpose
of acting upon requests for extraordi-
nary allowances from the state treas
ury. Next Monday afternoon the COM
mittee will probably take up the ques-
ton Of an appropriation for the proper
representation of New Jersey at the
Pan-American exposition at Buffalo
The commissioners ask for $4,000, and
there is an impression that this sum
will be given to them.
1t is said that the amount asked for
by the Railway reformatory commits.
sion will not be appropriated and that
the sums asked for by many other in.
situations will be treated to the shaw.
ing process.
A bill introduced by Senator Stokes
this week aims at the prevention of
forest fires, appoints fire marshal,
who may select aids. and provides that
the state shall double the appropria.
fion Of any municipality for the pur-
pose of preventing such fires and fixes
the penalty for creating a forest fire.
A bill introduced by Senator Hand
changes the word majority to ''plu-
rality'' in the law respecting the cleo
ton of chosen freeholders in second
class counties.
To Change Riparian Control.
Senator Hudspeth offered a resolution
which provides for the drafting of a
bill to change the systems of control
ling the riparian lands so that they
shall be leased only and not sold. The
committee on riparian rights is in
structed to seek the aid of the attorney
general.
Mr.. Meeker of Union introduced two
bills affecting boards of freeholders. One
fixes the terms of clerks at two years
and the other fixes the salaries at $500,
the director to get $500.
Mr. Francis introduced brace Of
bills designed to compel the county col
lector and the municipal collectors and
treasurers in Monmouth county to pay
to the proper custodians their share of
the school tax. Another bill introduced