Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-03-13
THE LEGISLATURE.


Especial Correspondence
TRENTON, March 13.-The ninth week
or the legislative session opened with
rush on Monday night, and there
was more hustle about the statehouse
on that evening than has been noticed
at any time since the term opened,
winch may be taken as sign that
the lawmakers are in earnest in their
desire to close up the business of the
session in another week or two.
All during the week the same activ
lily was noticeable in the two houses
and about the corridors and Hobbies.
and there was every indication that
the end of the session is not far dis
tant. The resolution providing for the
sine die adjournment of the legisla-
ture on Friday, March 81, remains I'M
disturbed in the house committee. but
1t will probably be taken up early next
week and passed, changing the date
to a day in the following week, posi-
bly, Thursday, March 81, the 2Sth fall
ing on Good Friday, which may bring
about departure from the legisa-
lures usual custom of adjourning final
ly on the sixth day of the week
May Finish Up by 21st.
There is some talk of an effort being
made to have the business of the legis-
lature wound up by the 21st and then
to have an adjournment taken until
some time in the following week, pos
sibly Thursday, when the lawmakers
will meet and adjourn. The object of
the scheme is to give Governor Muir
ply time to inspect the bills sent to
him in the closing days of the session
and to communicate any message he
may have to make to the legislators
concerning some of the bills in his
possession in which there may be some
flaw or which he does not fully under
stand.
Governor In No Hurry.
The governor will not follow the prec-
edent established by his predecessor,
Governor Voorhees,, in insisting that
the legislature remain in session until
he had disposed of all the bills sent
to him, but he will take his own time
in looking over the bills and taking ac-
ton upon them. He believes too much
danger would be run by man who is
not lawyer in hurrying through the
bills so that they might be disposed of
while the legislature is in session, and,
besides, he does not consider such a
course in accordance with good bust
ness principles.
1t is not thought that the plan to
have the legislature suspend business
on the Dist and adjourn to some day
in the following week can be put in
operation because of the fact that there
is now more business before the session
than can be comfortably handled with
in that time.
Seweu Memorial Service.
The principal reason for postponing
the final adjournment Of the legisla-
ture to the last week in the month is
because the memorial service in honor
of the late lamented Senator William ].
Sewell of Camden is scheduled for
Monday, March "a, and it is desired to
have the legislature in session until
after that date.
The programme for that event has
practically been settled. Clerk in Chan
Gerry Edward C. Stokes of Cumberland
county is to be the orator of the occa-
sion. The latter was warm personal
friend of the Camden leader. and a
burst of oratory such as has never been
excelled in this state may be expected
from the popular south Jersey man.
The opening prayer will be made by
Rev. DIR. Roderick of st. PauIs Protes
tant Episcopal church of Camden. Of
which the late senator was for many
years a prominent member. The serv-
ices, which will be held in the assem-.
bly, chamber, promise to be of the most
impressive order, and it is expected
that many men prominent in national
life as well as those we'll known III
connection with the affairs of this state
will be present.
Passaic Pollution Bills.
The Passaic pollution bills have made
their appearance in the legislature
having been presented by Senator Nc,
Carter of Essex. In introducing them
the latter expressed his regret at being
compelled to take this step because OF
his duty to his constituents much as he
sympathized with the city of Paterson
in it's recent misfortunes. The genera
sentiment seems to be that it would
be unfair to infict upon Paterson al
additional burden such as the pollution
bill would carry with it at this tint
and that the much discussed question
of purifying the polluted Passaic riveI
can very easily go over for another
wear. It may be, however, that com
promise measure will be introduced
looking to the remedying of the evi
without taxing Paterson to too great
an extent at the present time.
1t has been practically settled that
no measure will be introduced in the
legislature this year seeking to secure
the abandonment of the Morris canal
The Lehigh Valley Railroad company
which is the lessee of the canal water
way. has decided that it would be in
advisable to attempt to secure legisla
fion at this time, with the end of the
session in sight, designed to change the
existing conditions respecting the ca
nal. This decision is mainly due to thu
fact that there are many questions II
dispute between the railroad and the
city of Newark concerning the owner
ship of lands near the city dock in the
latter city, both parties having deeds to
the property. 1t is expected to have
the difficulty settled by next year,
when an abandonment bill will be in
troduced.
Training School For Negroes.
Considerable interest centers in the
bill appropriating $4,000 for the es-
Establishment of a manual training
school for colored youth of both sex
es. Such a school has been in ex-
istence at Bordentown for the past
sixteen years, being at first entirely
supported by private subscriptions and
latterly controlled by the state board
of education. The present institution
is overtaxed, and the bill is designed
to increase its facilities, and it is as
sured that the number of pupils, which
is now 11S, could be doubled If not
trebled within short time if greater