The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-03-08
NORRIS IN
6rn DISTRICT
Senate for Biennial Sessions
under Pitney's Leadership.


Assembly Districts Set Forth
That RascalIy Lehieh Canal
SteaI-LeeisIative Mill Nearing
End of Grist-Adjournment Week
Ending 22d.
The Legislature this week has been
characterized by a rush of business.
It was late in starting on account OF
the Inauguration at Washington but
once agolng no time was lost. Numer-
Gus bills of interest only in localities
were pushed through with unusuai
speed. while hearings and committee
meetings fully occupied the intervals
between regular sessions.
Principal among the measures con-
sidered was that of the readjustmen t
of Congressional districts. The matter
has hung fire nearly all the session
and was finally disposed of by the ap-
pointment of special joint commit
tee which this week prepared bill
apportioning the districts in as salts
factory manner as possible. Sena-
tor Reed introduced the bill in the
Senate. The plan adopted provides
for six Republican districts, two
Democratic and two that are regard
ed as debatable, although they are
classed as Republican.
mi -. nk hn
conference, will be made up as fol-
lows:
First-Camden, Gloucester and
Salem.
Second-Alantic, Burlington, Cape
May and Cumberland.
Third-Middlesex Monmouth and
Ocean.
Fourth-Mercer. Somerset-a and Hun
terdon.
Fifth-Union, Morris and Warren.
Sixth-Pasasic, Bergen and Sussex.
Seventh and Eighth-Essex- County.
Ninth and Tenth-Hudson County.
This arrangement provides districts
that follow the letter of the Burleigh
act by being made up of contiguous
territory, while the spirit of the law is
carried out in their being as nearly
compact as possible, with one or two
exceptions.
Morris Canal Vacation.
The Senate Committee on Railroads
and Cannals gave hearing on the
bill providing for the vacating of the
Morris Canal, by which it is to be
abandoned as navigation waterway
and used for supplying water for
Jersey City. The hearing was held
in the Senate Chamber. Ex-senator
Edwards, representing the Jersey City
Water Supply Company, and Counselor
William Fl. Corbin, representing the
Lehigh Valley railroad, argued in
favor of the passage of the:measure.
Loan Onicers Salaries.
A measure that has attracted much
attention is that of Mr.. Gnichtel,
known Jas House bill 81, providing
for the regulation of salaries paid by
lOhu, uOm0cUOAO ANU thbSOOAa-
tions. According to the bilr it shall
be unlawful for any such associa-
tion to pay in the course of any ifs
cal year compensation to it's officers
or agents, the aggregate Of which
shall exceed per centum of the total
money received by such association.
In case of failure to comply with this
bill, should it become law, the asso-
citation will forfeit its charter. The
bill was passed by the House.
Biennial Elections.
The debate in the Senate on the
joint resolution providing for bien-
NAL sessions Of the Legislature was
by far the most interesting event Of
the session thus far. The resolution
was opposed by Senators Reed, Gross
and Hand, Republicans and by all the
Democrats. President Pitney took
the floor and made a most eloquent
and convincing argument in favor of
the measure and it's passage Is largely
due to his influence. In conjunction
with his speech Senator Pitney took
occasion to give the Democrats a
severe arraignment. The Hudson
senator had referred to the corporate
interests of the State as being the
chief hackers of the biennial sessions
movement and that they were at the
State House sat every session and
largely responsible for obstructing
legislation desired by the people.
In his speech Senator Pitney took
the Morris canal vacation bill intro
duced by the Hudson senator, as an
illustration of his reply that corpora
tions were not always at the legisla-
ture to obstruct legislation but that
they sometimes wanted legislation.
Mr.. Hudspeth then attempted to ex-
plain his position on the bill by de-
claring that ne had introduced it at
the request Of his constituents and
thought that every Senator was bound
in honor to do so.
accept the apology of the senator
from Hudson, replied Senator
Pitney, amid great laughter from the
Republican senators.