The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-02-01
THE BILLS
NUMEROUS
Jersey Law Makers Getting
Down to Business.
Many New Measures introduced for
the States Welfare and Other
wise-Great Interest in the SUI
preme Court Appointments.

LHC StoNC w CioTC duu OthCE-
wise-Great Interest in the SUI
preme Court Appointments.
Governor Voorhees, and the Legis-
lature have made judicial history at
a break neck pace this week. Chief
Justice David A. Depue-the most
venerable of New Jersey jurists-has
resigned, his successor in the person
of Supreme Court Justice William A..
Gummere has been named and Judge
Charles E. Hendrickson has been ap-
pointed to the seat occupied by the
late Justice Ludlow. All these
charges have occurred in the short
space Of three days and if rumors here
in the capitol corridors are right
there are still more to follow. Mahlon
Pitney, president of the Senate is to be
raised to the Supreme Court bench
and in consequence is to retire from
the contest for Governor, leaving
Franklin Murphy, the wealthy Newark
varnish manufacturer and chairman
of the Republican State Committee the
field aIone. Then when Governor
voorhees, retires from Office he is to
be named to the Supreme Court bench
himself. Such are the whisperings
and they seem to be prophetic. The
Senate has had hand in these judi
cial G -snges in the confirmation of
the appointments. The real change
in Chief Justiceship, however, will
not occur until November 10th next,
when Justice Depue's resignation goes
into effect. Then Justice Gummere
steps into the next highest judicial
Offices in the State.
Already there are other candidates
than Franklin Murphy rising up,
among them being former Senator, now
First Assistant Postmaster General of
the United States, William M. john
son, of Bergen; Senator Edward @.
Stokes, of Cumberland; and Senator
Heed, of Somerset. AS long as Senator
Pitney remained prominently in the
field these persons were only barely
mentioned as possibilities. Now,
however. they are being more serious
ly considered.
Governor Talks.
Relative to the appointment of Mr..
Pitney Governor Voorhees,, when
asked, concerning it said:
"There were no considerations of a
political nature in this appointment
at all. When lear-.ed of the intention
of Chief Justice Depue to resign, I
thought this whole thing over and
came to the conclusion that Senator
Pitney would be just the kind of man
whom I would like to name as Su-
preme Court Justice But didn' know
how he might regard the matter, and
waited until I could have talk with
him, SO that if he decided not to ac-
cepG it no one would De the wiser,
that is, no one but Sc lator Pitney
and myself would know that he had
been offered the place. So offered it
to him and he accepted it.
Mr.. Pitney's Acceptance.
Eyes, it is true that I have decided
to accept the appointment which
Governor Voorhees, has so kindly
rendered to me-, !" said Senator Pitney
when asked about the matter. II was
not candidate for the place and had
made no effort to obtain it. But when
the Governor offered it to me decided
to accept it, and have accepted it
with much qualification.
One fact that has developed since
the Legislature adjourned this week
is that Governor Voorhees, offered the
Chief Justiceship to former Governor
and Attorney General John W. Griggs,
Mr.. Griggs, however, declined the
honor, stating that he intends practi-
cling law in New York City
Many New Bills.
Seventy five new bills were intro
duced in both houses this week, fifty
seven in the Assembly and twenty
four in the Senate, making a total of
1877 now entered in the Assembly and
81 in the Senate or a total of 1893 thus
far introduced this session. The
House passed five bills, the Senate
two. No bills were passed by both
Houses jointly and in consequence the
amendment to the Oyster Act passed
last week is the only law made thus
far this session.
The bills passed by the Senate are
s. 10, enabling the Office of the State
Board of Health to certify to the record
OF marriages, births and death, which
were formerly filed in the Secretary
of States Office; S. 26, extending the
time for completion of certain rail
roads Tor two years particularly to
the Penn Greek railroad, a small
branch of the Erie Company, running
out of the Jersey City yards across
Bergen Hill.
The Senate also passed S. "a,
specifying more definitely the purposes
for which bonds may be issued by
towns, townships and boroughs, but
making no material change in the
law.