The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-01-23
MANY BILLS
INTRODUCED
Second Week Of Session Finds
Much Work Ahead.

a b t W.
Expected-U. s.. District AttOrner
Watkins to be New Commissioner
of Banking and Insurance.
Special correspondence to the Chronicle.
TRENTON. N. j., JAN. 81, 1908.
Although the sessions of the Legisla-
ture were short the House meeting and
adjourning on Monday night. the Sen
ate holding over until Tuesday morning
in order to confirm several appointments
of the Governor, it is very much in
evidence that work will be, pushed to a
greater extent than heretofore.
There is an evident desire on the part
of the Legislators, for a shorter session
There being no prominent State officers
or Senators to be elected. those who are
familiar with legislative matters are
agreed that the work could be completed
within eight weeks, and the legislation
enacted, carefully overlooked, would be
of better character than that often
turned out in the ''grist" after pro-
tracted session of ten or dozen weeks.
There has been altogether too much
makeshift legislation in recent years;
bills when introduced have been refer
red to the chairman of the various COM
mittees, who have held them without
calling their committees together per-
haps, until fortnight before the session
closes. This has often been done in
order that swapping votes may be
done for pet measures of the members
or their constituents might be gained.
Gossip about the corridors is to the
effect that David o. Watkins is to be
the successor Of William Bettle as
State Banking and Insurance commits
sioner.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Colby of
Essex, provides for an appropriation of
$500, 900 for the erection of Normal
School in Northern New Jersey. 1t
also gives the State Board Of Education
full power as to making preliminary
plans, the employment of architects, &c.
The building site will also be selected
by the Board.
It would appear that Senator Hutchin-
son of the Senate favors the Williams's
Pigeon bill which has been Introduced
in the House, he having left Mr.. Lee,
the pigeon shooting advocating Senator
from Atlantic, off of the committee on
Game and Fisheries. He it was who
was directly responsible for its failure
to pass the Senate last year. 1t being on
his part clear case of '.Hold Up" in
the Senate Fish and Game Committee
of which the ''sporty" Atlantic Senator
was chairman.
Senate bills introduced. Among the
more important bills introduced in the
Senate were the following:
No. 6. Enables any executor, admins
traitor, guardian or trustee to invest
money entrusted to him in any loans or
securities in which savings banks may
invest funds.
No. II. Makes it unlawful to permit
ones dog to run at large in woods or
fields inhabited by rabbits or game birds
except from November to February 2S
(or 29); penalty $50 fine.
No. 10. Requires railroad companies
to have on every locomotive a 30 pound
bell or steam whistle which can be
heard at 1900 feet; said bell to be rung
at least so rods from every crossing and
to be kept ringing till the crossing has
been passed; the steam whistle to be
sounded for 1900 feet preceding the
crossing.
No 13. Forbids capitalization ex-
ceeding 500, 900, 900 to any corporation
except railroads; nor shall any two or
more such corporations merge, whose
combined capital stock shall exceed that
figure.
No. 18. Providing that any school
teacher. after 40 years of consecutive
service may be retired on half pay, such
payment being provided for by the local
financial board.
No. 2S. Gives the Governor the power
of appointing lake and park commission
under fish act, applies to Sussex.
No. 80. Provides for the publication
of synopsis of the State laws in the
newspapers, not more than six nor less
than three papers in any one county and
twenty five additional at large.
House Measures.-No. 2. Increases
the age limit of children employed in
factories, workshops, mines, etc., from
10 to IA years.
No. 5. Exempts from general and
special poll tax, and from State, County
and Municipal taxation upon real and
personal property, not exceeding i've
hundred dollars, all honorably discharg.
ed resident soldiers, sailors and widows
of such.
No. T. Makes it misdemeanor to shoot
pigeons for sport, amusement or as
test of skill Any one renting building
or field for such purpose or permitting
the same upon his property likewise
guilty of misdemeanor. Penalty, $50
fine, and $25 for each bird shot at or
killed sgE 8AskSs8
No. g. Makes 1t Enisdemeanor to use
the United States flag for any advertis
ing purL osa or to place any cOor, design,