Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-03-07
NEXT WEEK THD CLOSG
Legislature Expected to Ad-
journ March I5s
WORK BEING HURRIED ALONG.
Governor Voorhees, Springs Sur
prise by Signing the Antispring
Election Bi1I-Twenty Laws Passed.
What the Most Important Aim to
Provide.
Especial Correspondence

What the Most Important Aim to
Provide.
Especial Correspondence
TRENTON, March Cit has been al
most definitely settled that the legisla.
ture will adjourn sine die on Friday,
March Is. Senator Stokes is RESPONSE
BILE for this statement, and he bases
his opinion on the grounds that the
joint committee on appropriations can
not finish its work in time to adjourn
before that date. Senator Stokes is
chairman of that committee, and his
view of the matter may be taken as
authoritative. The apportionment of
the states money among the various
departments and for what are known
as extraordinary disbursements" is
now the most important work before
the lawmakers, although the congress
sional redistricting problem is likely to
cause some little trouble before it is
finally solved. 1t seems that no mat
ter how the congressional lines will be
changed there will be dissatisfaction.
The latest in the redistricting plan is
proposition to put Mercer, Hunter
don, Somerset and a large slice of War
rem into one district
In signing the antispring election
bill, which he did last week, Governor
voorhees, sprung surprise. 1t is said
that he was not altogether in sympa-
thy with the measure, but he took the
ground that if the majority of the peo
pie wanted it and the legislature was
almost unanimous in seeking TO have it
become a law he could no nothing else
but bow to their wishes. Besides abol-
ishing the municipal elections and
combining them with the state and ma
tional elections, the law extends the
terms of all present officeholders for
several months. 1t is said that the bill
will affect about 60 per cent of the
voters of the state. There is now some
talk of preparing a bill abolishing
spring elections in towns, townships,
boroughs and villages, but unless there
is a demand for such a measure from
the voters of those communities it is
not likely that. the present legislature
will take up the matter. 1t is uDder-
stood that an attack is TO be made upon
the MeelSer law in the courts by Sam
uel Kalisch, a prominent Newark law
yer, vino has been retained by n mum
Der of Newark citizens to test the con-
stitutionality of the measure before
the supreme court An effort will be
made to have Il branch of the court
hear the case within Il few weeks, the
regular term of the court being over.
1t is said to be the purpose of those in
terested to have an adjudication of the
matter before the time for holding the
municipal elections in April if it is at
all possible. In some cities it is I'M
derstood that the Democrats are going
ahead with the charter election pre-
liminaries just as though the anti
spring election bill had not been passed
and placed on the statute books.
Ninth Week of the Session.
The usual Monday night and Tues
day sessions were not held this week,
being dispensed with because many of
the legislators were out of the state
attending President Mckinley's in
auguration. There was full attend
ance when the session of the Iegisla-
ture was called TO order on Tuesday
evening, and the crowds in the Hobbies
and galleries were almost as large as
is usual on Monday nights.
Eight weeks of legislation have been
productive of 20 laws, the governor up
to March having affixed his signature
to Is bills and filing one without his
approval Previous TO the present
week there were 2S7 bills introduced in
the house and 157 in the senate Among
the more important bills signed by the
governor up to the present are the fol
lowing:
Senate 50, Mr.. Stokes, permits the
state comptroller to defer app0rtion-
ing the state school tax for the year
1901 in those counties where the cen
sus returns are in doubt or have not
been fully sent in.
Senate 62, Mr.. Cross, requires ordi-
nanees changing ward lines to be sign
ed by regularly elected mayor and
not by an acting mayor.
House 16, Mr. Tenant, amends the
act relative to the incorporation of as
sociations not for pecuniary profit.
Senate "a, Mr.. Wakelee, gives the
governing body of cities, towns, town
ships or boroughs power to issue bonds
to pay the floating Indebtedness to the
amount of sc % per centum or TO any
less part of the amount of said float
ing Indebtedness, said bonds not to ex-
coed $4,000.
Senate substitute for house 81 per.
mits Newark to issue temporary school
bonds.
Senate %, Mr.. Stokes, makes it
misdemeanor to dredge for, catch or
take oysters from the Delaware river,
Delaware bay or Maurice river cove
north of line running direct from the
mouth of Straight creek TO the Cross
Ledge lighthouse, in the Delaware bay,
and known as the southwest line,''
except in certain seasons.
House 1913, Mr. Carr, Incorporates the
borough of Tuckerton, Ocean county.
House 2G1, Mr. Mcckcr. the anti
spring election bill
House 80. Mr.. Davidson, ceding Ger.
tain lands in Acquackanonk township,
Passaic county, to the United States
for an animal quarantine station
Senate 46, Mr.. Hutchinson. the Tren-
ton armory bill, appropriating $4,000.
Senate 122. Mr.. Francis. legalizing
the issuing of bonds by the Red Bank
board of commissioners as an addi-
tional sum to construct wn+elworks
for the enxtinguishment of fires and
supplying the inhabitants with water.
Senate 2, Mr.. Reed, for President
Pitney, repeats sundry acts relative to
the court of errors and appeals, SUI
preme and circuit courts, the preroga-
tive court and the inferior court Of
the common pleas.
Senate 3, Mr. Reed, for President
Pitney, permits Princeton university
to increase the number of its trustees.
Senate %, Mr.. Stokes, extends the
time for the completion of the Pen
Horn railroad for two years.
Senate II, Mr.. Cross, validates as
evidence records of marriages, births
and deaths recorded in the secretary of
states office.
Senate %, Mr. Reed, requiring all
corporations other than those subject
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