Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-02-07
SIGNS OF ACTIVITY.
Legislators at Trenton Wax
ing Up.
FIVE WEEKS OF SESSION GONE

FIVE WEEKS OF SESSION GONE.
LincoIn's Birthday Will Not Be OBJ
served, but Work Will Go on
as Usual - Nominations Confirmed.
Constitutional Amendments Pro-
posed by Bar Association Intro
duced.
Especial Correspondence
TRENTON, Feb. 6.-There was de-
cided inclination on the part of the
legislature to be up and doing this
week and evidences Of activity were
apparent An Indication that the law
makers are seriously considering the
work before them is to be found in the
fact that they will probably meet next
Tuesday, Lincoln's birthday, usually
observed as legislative holiday. Fall
ing as it does on the most important
day of the week, the members are not
holding no session. They evidently ap-
preciate the fact that the work ahead
of them is of no small proportions and
needs their prompt and energetic atten-
ton. Five weeks of the session have
passed by and the present period might
be designated as the middle of the
term The legislative session for the
past. three years has lasted II weeks,
and no one seems anxious to have the
present term extend over longer Pc
riod.
Nominations and Combinations.
The senate on Monday night confirm
ed the nomination of William s. Gum
mere as chief justice and Charles E.
Hendrickson as associate justice of the
supreme court. The nomination Of
Senator Mahlon Pitney as associate
justice of the supreme court was sent
to the senate on Tuesday and was i'm
mediately confirmed, President Pitney
purposely having absented himself
from the executive session at which his
nomination was considered. Senator
Francis; who was in the chair when
the senate went into executive session,
presided As the resignation of Chief
Justice Depue will not go into effect
until Nov. 16, Senator Pitney will con-
tinue to preside over the deliberations
of the upper house for the balance of
the session. Justice Gummere rendered
Ia 70
ON Tuesday as associate justice, to go
into effect ON Nov. 16, when he will be
sworn in as chief justice of the state.
There promises to be shake up
among the supreme court justices in
the distribution of districts when the
new chief justice assumes his office.
The latter will undoubtedly decide to
give up the circuit comprising Mercer,
kkunterdon and Warren, now presided
e. by him apAl-+sla--assz- th---ssa = 4
the retiring chief justice. namely Essex
county. Justice Hendrickson is likely
to be assigned to a circuit in the north
ern end of the state. in which event he
may change his residence so as to be
case it is said that Justice Pitney will
be assigned to the south Jersey circuit,
being the youngest member of the
bench in point of service.
Other nominations sent to the senate
this week were as follows:
For lay judge of the court of errors
and appeals, to fill the vacancy caused
by the promotion of Judge Hendrick-
son to the supreme bench, Carrot D.
W. Vroom of Trenton.
Judge, Camden district court, Charles
V. d. Joline (reappointe0.
Member board of managers of the
geological survey, John T. Dryden, vice
Thomas 7. Kinney, deceased.
Commissioners of Palisades Interstate
park-George w. Perkins, New York;
Abram S. Hewitt, Ringwood; D. Nc
Neeley Stauffer, New York; Edwin A.
Stevens, Hoboken; ]. Du Pratt White,
New York; Franklin w. Hopkins, AL
pine; Ralph Drautman, New York;
William A. Linn, Hackensack; Nathan
f. Barrett, New York, and Abram De
Ronde, Englewood These commits
sioners were ad interim appointments.
1t is whispered that the reappoint-
ment of General Spencer as a member
of the state board of assessors is some
what in doubt The governor is said
to be considering another man for the
place, but whether there is any truth
in this will probably develop next
week when the governor will send the
nomination to the senate.
Constitutional Amendments.
Amendments to the constitution were
submitted on Tuesday by Senator Reed
for the president, being those proposed
by the New Jersey Bar association.
The amendments are in the shape of a
concurrent resolution and provide for
an independent court of errors con-
sisting of chief judge and four asso-
ciate judges. The resolution makes
the vice chancellors constitutional Of
ficers and provides for their appoint
ment by the governor and declares that
the court of pardons shall consist of
the governor, chancellor and the attor-
ney general. The latter court now
comprises the governor. chancellor and
the lay judges of the court of errors
and appeals. The court of errors is
now made up of the chancellor, chief
justice, supreme court justices and six
special, or lay, judges.
A bill introduced this week by Sena-
tor Hudspeth provides for not more
than two additional vice chancellors, to
be appointed by the chancellor for
term of seven years, to have the same
powers and salary as the vice chancel-
lors now in Office. 1t is almost certain
that the constitutional amendments
will be passed and submitted to the
voters of the state at the next general
election. Senator Hudspeth's bill. even
IL it becomes a law, will scarcely have
any bearing ON the proposed changes
The joint assembly convened at noon
on Tuesday in the assembly chamber
to elect commissioners of deeds. SEN
ator Pitney was chairman of the meet
ing. The next session of the joint as
sembly will be held on Tuesday, Feb.
26, when the remainder Of the COM
missioners of deeds will be named.
Senator Francis presented bill on
Monday in which merchants generally
throughout the state are deeply con-
cerned 1t provides that where a judg-