Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-12-15

in an endeavor to persuade them into en-
acting some legislation which will give
them an increase of salary, and the firemen
and militia men, Notwithstanding the rul-
ing of the courts that the tax exemption
law is unconstitutional, will make a con-
certed effort to have passed a measure
which will give them she old-time exemp-
tion from taxation
| It is understood that the legislature, at
its next session, will be asked for more
generous appropriation than ever for voting
machines. At the last election there was
bitter opposition to the machines in some
sections of the state, and proposition to
increase their number is likely to precipi-
tate hot fight
1t is likely that the state will witness
another bitter fight over the robin ques-
tion. Assemblyman Gibbs, of Camden
county, who last winter was a strong advo-
cate of the DeCou bill permitting the
shooting of robins during the fruit season,
has been returned to the assembly, and, it
is said, will introduce and fight for bill
similar to that of last year, which failed to
pass. The small fruit growers of South
Jersey are expected to favor the bill and
battle for its passage
Assemblyman Gibbs is also expected to
introduce repeater for the anti-pigeon
killing law.
The regular annual attempt to abolish
the state board of arbitration is also to be
made with, as many think, the usual fail
ure. No one pretends to believe that this
board is of any earthly benefit to the state,
or that it renders any valuable service for
the So, $50 which it annually costs. Still,
the board provides five desirable places,
with salary of $1,000 attached, not to
mention the extra 5000 which goes to the
member who acts as secretary, and as the
party managers are at their wits end to
find jobs for all who claim to have served
the G. 0. r., there is little hope of its
abolishment this winter.
MORE GAME wARDENs.
Sportsmen throughout the state are
loudly declaring that the number of game
wardens should be increased, and that all
should be held strictly to account for the
manner in which they discharge the duties
Of their Office Bills on this subject are
therefore likely to be introduced.
The New Jersey Anti-Saloon League is
planning new campaign for the State and
will renew its efforts to get legislation
favorable to the opponents OF the liquor
traffic and to the friends Of local option.
| Edward A. Murphy, one of the Demo
cratic assemblymen-elect from Hudson,
intends to introduce bill in the legisla-
ture making it mandatory upon all persons
selected to act upon election boards to
have their mental and moral fitness to
properly fill the positions for which they
are named passed upon. He also intends
TO incorporate in the bill clause making
the term of the election officers two consecu-
tive years, with at least two years inter
vening before they can again become eligi-
BILE to serve. There will also be provision
to the bill for proper examiners to examine
the election officers and determine their
fitness.
Assemblyman Ralph Hulse, of this city,
and Clarence Magee, of Bergen, are both
expected to introduce bills for the abolish
ment of capital punishment.
The state board of health, it is said, will
endeavor to obtain the passage of measure
taking from those accused of selling adul-
terated milk the right of trial by jury.
This will be in the form of an amend
ment to the present law, in which the
clause providing for the trial by jury was
inserted as compromise.
The state board claims that the iuries
which have acquitted SO many milk deal
ers in Jersey City haye placed premium
upon the sale of adulterated milk, and it
will be impossible to suppress the traffic
unless the trial by jury clause is stricken
from the law.
The oystermen OF the Cedaryille section
Of Cumberland are agitated by the report
that bill is to be introduced providing
for the closing for year of the Delaware
bay against the privilege Of catching oysters
for planting purposes There are some
oystermen in that section who want the
/ bay so closed for year or term of years,
but they are the ones who have made
money, and are fortified against a stand
still in the business But there are many
Others who work on boats by the day OF
week who are not able to stand such a
stoppage of work. II they should be
obliged to quit work, as they would have
to if the proposed bill becomes law, it is
said that the baker, the butcher, the grocer
and the other tradesmen Of that vicinity