The Penn's Grove record., 1904-03-11

early this week in the interest Of
amendments they would like presented
to the primary election law. The only
member of the primary election COM
mission that they were able to see was
former Senator e. G. Stokes. The
matter will be taken up later. The
board members are greatly interested
in the bill placing in the hands of coun-
ty boards Of elections the election ma
chinery. This bill will probably be
given a hearing next week.
Members of the legislature have re-
ceived this week letters from J. J.
Brush Of the Civic league threatening
them with arrest if any of them voted
for house bill No. 20, introduced by
Mr.. Miller of Cumberland, which re-
quires stockholders of companies to
obtain the consent in writing of 20 per
centum in interest of the stockholders
of such company, at a meeting called
for that purpose, before bringing any
action at law or in equity against such
corporation. The author of the letter
claims that the bill was introduced in
the interests of the steel trust. A sim
liar measure passed the house last
year, but was locked up in President
Hutchinson's desk in the senate, and
the power of a large lobby could not
bring it out. A caucus of the majority
Monday treated the leagues threats
and insinuations with contempt.
Governor Murphy in discussing early
this week the story from Washington
that he was to be the chairman of the
Republican national committee would
not deny or affirm the report. "Any
talk" said the governor, "as to the
chairman before the committee that
names him is selected must necessarily
be speculative. Anything that might
be said on the matter at this time is
premature"
Justice Bennett VanSyckel, who was
recently reappointed to the supreme
court bench after a long service, dating
from the sixties, has resigned. Candi-
dates for the position are multiplying
daily.
The Military Bill.
Cox the new sIaJ6
military bill is that it will not get
through the legislature in its present
form. So strong is the opposition to
provisions of the measure among the
enlisted men that open threats have
been made that should the new bill be-
come a law entire companies will be
disbanded. One Of the objections to
the measure is the provision in accord
with the Dick law, which allows the
president to call the state guard into
the service of the government. While
it is argued that a national guardsman
should not hesitate about swearing al
legiance to the United States and being
subject to the call of the president, yet
it is contended that a man should be
allowed to volunteer his services to the
government in Ease of need, as many
things might transpire from the time
of his enlistment to prevent his volun-
teering Immediately. 1t is of course
expected that in case of trouble the
national guard would go into service,
and, while not denying this, many of
the guardsmen say that they would
rather be allowed to volunteer their
services than to be forced into a fight.
New Jersey guardsmen are as patriotic
as other state guardsmen, yet many of
the DIRECTORS to the bill say they would
rather enlist outright in the regular
army than remain in the state guard
after the passage of the new law.
Canal Abandonment.
1t is understood that the report Of
the commission on the abandonment
of the Morris and Essex canal will
probably be in the hands of the gov
ernor by next Tuesday, but after the
report has been received it is as yet a
matter of conjecture what will be done
with it. 1t is said to be doubtful if
an abandonment bill would be favor
ably considered by the majority mem
bers lest it's effect, no matter how
worthy it's object, should be injurious
to the party.
A bill now before the legislature that
is receiving attention is the measure
which places in the hands of a special
ly appointed commission all matters
relating to police and fire departments.
The bill applies to second class cities,
and the power Of appointment is vest
ed in the mayor. OF course there are
many objections to the measure made
by those whom it will affect, but the
pros and IONS will be thoroughly zen
tilated before it is reported to the leg
islature.
Speaker Avis on Monday called at
tention to the rule of the house which
prohibits smoking while the house is
in session and wished the members
and spectators to observe the rule.
This is a departure for the house and
was probably brought about by a re-
cent sermon Of Rev. j. Ward Gamble
of this city scoring the lawmakers for
smoking while there were ladies in
the galleries. The senate prohibits
smcking at its sessions.