Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-02-27
THE LEGIsIATnRE
Especial Correspondence. ]


expects to finish up its business and
adjourn within another fortnight, as
provided in the resolution introduced
by Senator Hand of Cape May last
week, fixing the date of sine die ad-
Journment for Friday, March IA, day
and night sessions will have to be
held for the next two weeks. AS the
date draws nearer it becomes more APP
parent that the session will extend at
least few weeks beyond that time.
The legislature has concluded its sew
enth week, and nothing very important
has been DONE
Notwithstanding the fact that this
week was the busiest and longest in a
legislative way of the session so far,
passing of bills was accomplished. OF
course numerous bills were advanced
to third reading, and the committees
unloaded upon the desks of the preSid-
ing officers enough bills to keep the
two branches busy for three days, but
ergy that would incline one to believe
that the legislature was preparing to
stay here for couple of months more
There is much speculation about the
corridors these days as to when the
final adjournment will really occur
There is wide difference of opinion.
Some believe that the lawmakers can
finish up the work in hand by dint of
burst of energy and get away by
March IA, but those who are in posi-
ton to know how the matter stands
hold the belief that the legislature
will not be ready to adjourn much be
fore the list of April. Those who are
not quite so conservative express them
selves as satisfied that the session will
continue until after the 1st of that
month and that the lawmakers will
not get away for week or two aftel
that time. In fact, they claim that
the present session will be of greater
length than any held in late years.
The general opinion prevails, howev
er, that the session will be no less than
eleven weeks in length.
Hearing on Liquor Bill.
The most important matter to en-
gage the attention of the Legislators
this week was the hearing on Monday
before the senate committee on revi-
sion of laws on Senator Lees Atlantic
City license bill, which takes out of the
jurisdiction of the county courts all vi
olations of the Sunday selling law and
places it within the hands of the local
police courts in the community in
which such violations occur. Arrayed
against the bill were over 100 clergy,
men from all parts of the state, who
were bitter in their Remuneration OF
the measure, which they character
lied as vicious and iniquitous. The
ministers talked on practically the
same lines as those embodied i'll the
paper read by the Rev Hugh b. Mac.
Caulley of Trenton, which was pre-
pared by former Judge William NJ
tanning of this city In this paper it
was claimed that the bill is unconsti-
tutional because it is not prepared in
accordance with the requirements of
the statute and because it is a special
law. The ground upon which this last
point is made is that the bill is applica-
BILE only to cities whose ordinances pro-
vide for the punishment of persons
who unlawfully sell intoxicating liq-
uors. Another reason advanced against
the bill in Judge Lanning's paper is
that it is opposed to sound morals 1t
stated that the police power of the
state may be properly exercised for
the protection, but not for the destruc-
ton, of the public morals.
The clergymen further contended
that the measure is opposed to a sound
political policy and that it will tend to
make more difficult of solution the
great problems of municipal govern
ment They claim that penal laws
should operate equally upon all classes
of citizens and that it was inequitable
and unjust to provide by law that ev
cry man outside of a city who Illegally
sells intoxicating liquor shall be sub
ject to Indictment ana punishment fol
a misdemeanor (such may be d fine of
$1,000 OF three years imprisonment OF
BOTH, while a man in the city who I'M
lawfully sells such liquor shall be sub
ject only to a fine rarely exceeding
500 under the provisions of a city
ordinance. They claimed that the pro
posed law has no characteristic that can
be commended and that it ought to be
condemned by every good citizen.
Many Desire 1t.
Senator Lee, the father of the bill
explained that he had no further in
terest in the bill other than that it had
been handed to him by a constituent
who represented that it was desired
by fully so per cent of the people in
terested and that its effects were good.
He stated that if he could be convinced
that the bill was vicious or injurious
he would not support it. The commit
Tee arose without taking action, and
hearing was promised in the near flu
ture on Lees Atlantic City charter bill,
which is companion to senate AZ and
which fixes the penalty for violations
of the Sunday liquor law at 5000 fine
or ninety days imprisonment or both
in the discretion of the magistrate.
Governor Murphy this week sent to
the senate two nominations = namely,
for member of the board of state prison
inspectors, David Wickham, of Pas
safe to succeed Cornelius A. Cadmus,
of Paterson, deceased, and for state
superintendent of public instruction,
Charles J. Baxter of Plainfield. Mi.
Baxter has held that office since March,
1896. and is a most efficient official.
The position pays $4,000. The appoint
ment of Mr. Wickham puts an end to
threatened breach among the Demo
Gratis of Hudson county, there having
been two candidates for the office In
that county. Mr.. Wickham is Dem
ocrat. The position pays $500 year.
The Big Nominations.
The1e is little heard nowadays re-
garding the other important appoint
ments yet to be made by the governor,
and this apparent lack of interest may
be taken as an indication that the mat
fer of these appointments has been
practically settled. 1t has long been
foregone conclusion that Senator Thorn
as N. McCarter of Essex will be named
TO succeed Attorney General Grey OF
Camden. 1t is now said that Head