The Penn's Grove record., 1904-02-05
Ispecial Correspondence.l

inSs.
Especial Correspondence
Trenton, Feb. 4.-One hundred and
eighty-four bills introduced and six
bills passed is the record of the legisla.
ture thus far. Several bills have beer
already reported from committees in
both houses.
This does not of course indicate the
full extent of the work that has been
done. A small part of the work in.
volved is the actual passing of bills. A
bill is presumed to. be carefully read
and to be fully considered from all
~standpoints. Not only does this in.
clude an ascertainment of its objects,
but an investigation as to the effect
upon existing conditions. Then, too.
most legislators want to learn some.
thing about public sentiment, particu.
larly in their own locality, concerning
the bills already presented. The real
harm generally comes in most instances
in putting through a bill not introduced
until so late in the session that it does
not always get the public scrutiny its
Importance calls for.
The following nominations have been
submitted by the governor to the sen.
ate as those who are to compose the
state board of taxation: Charles G
Black, Jersey City; Carl Lett, Newark
Joseph Thompson, Atlantic City, and
Henry 7. West, Gloucester City. They
are named for the full term of five
years. The nomination of Supreme
Court Justice Bennett Vansyckel has
been confirmed by the senate.
Anticfgarette Bill Withdrawn.
Assemblyman Roberts Of Camden has
withdrawn his anticigarette bill. He
was informed by Governor Murphy
that the measure would not meet with
the executives approval in it's present
form. The governor vetoed a similar
bill last winter. On Monday night Mr..
Roberts presented another anticigarette
bill, fixing fourteen years as the age
under which no person can purchase
cigarettes. Any one convicted of sell
ing to a person under fourteen is liabl.
to a fifty dollar fine or three months in
jail or both.
Senator Cross of Union, leader of the
majority, presented a resolution, which
was adopted, fixing Tuesday, Feb. 16,
as the date for a joint meeting to elect
a state director of railroads and canals
and commissioners of deeds.
A joint resolution was offered by
Senator Jackson of Middlesex and
adopted providing for the appointment
of a commission consisting of the pres
ident of the senate, speaker of the
house and adjutant general with power
to purchase portraits in oil of the gov
ernor and all ~ex-governors not now
provided for and have the same appro-
priately framed. The total cost of each
is not to exceed $1,000 and to be paid
out of money not otherwise appro-
priated upon the approval of the com
mission.
Ship Canal Bill Reported.
Senator Shinn's resolution urging the
New Jersey representatives in congress-
to c u an appropriation for a ship
canal from Manaquan inlet to Bay
Head vas reported by the committee
on railroads and canals.
? Senator Bachelor of Essex has in
troduced two bills of more than ordi.
nary Importance. One provides for
abolition of grade crossings in first
class cities, and the other authorizes
first class cities to issue permanent
bonds on account of storage reservoir
construction.
Senator Minch of Cumberland has
received many protests against the
bills providing for the killing of robins
and similar birds, in which some of
the people of the state seem eager to
engage.
Assemblyman De Lazier of Passaic
has put in a bill which creates the
Office of state inspector of waterways.
The bill provides that the inspector is
to be appointed by the governor and
confirmed by the senate, and he is to
serve a term of three years at a salary
of $1,000 a year and $1,000 for clerical
aid. The duties of the inspector are
to inspect all dams, breakwaters and
sideways and to require that they be
made safe.
Governor Murphy on Monday night
sent to the legislature the report Of the
recently appointed commission for the
investigation of tenement house condi.
tons in this state. The governor in
his accompanying message urged the
enactment of such legislation as the
commission recommended, stating that
the investigation of tenement house
conditions in this state had come none
too soon.
Tenement Commission.
A bill was introduced by Assembly
man Colby which was prepared by this
commission. 1t provides for the ap.
pointment by the governor, by and with
the advice and consent of the senate,
of five persons, residents Of this state
who shall constitute a state board of
tenement house supervision, the mem.
bers to be allowed their expenses ac-
tually incurred in the work. The terms
of Office of the first board are to be
one, two, three, four and five years,
the governor to appoint each year there
after one member for the full term of
five years. The board is authorized to
appoint a secretary, with such inspect
ors and other subordinates and assist
ants as may be required. The board is
charged with the enforcement of the
proposed law in regard to the erection
= new buildings intended for tene