The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-04-19
LEGISLATURE
IN SESSION
Extra Session Of the Legisla-
tre Held at Trenton on
Tuesday.
THE PIGEON BILL PASSED

to the Political Graveyard = Good
Roads Appropriations Approved
Relief For Passaic vaIIey-Jersey
City May Issue Sewer Bonds.
Especial Correspondence
Trenton, N. j., April 1.-THE state
legislature, which was called to meet
by the governor on Tuesday in extra
session to consider the Morris canal
abandonment bill and the anti pigeon
shooting measure, put in a very busy
day and reached final adjournment
Tuesday night The Morris canal bill,
however, was not considered, action
on this being deferred for the present.
The anti pigeon shooting bill was
passed by both houses after it had been
amended in the senate, making it oper-
alive July 4. Three other bills were
passed by the special session. One
was the measure appropriating $751;
900 for the improvement OF ROADS
throughout the state. The regular ses-
sion passed similar bill, but appro-
priating $275,000 instead of $2o0,0OO,
and the governor vetoed it because he
considered the amount too great.
Another bill passed by the special
session was q reconstructed one to
take the place of the measure aiming
to prevent the repetition of floods in
the Passaic valley. The fourth and
last bill favorably acted upon was
measure allowing Jersey City to issue
$150,000 worth of bonds for the re-
construction of it's sewers. A similar
bill was recently vetoed by the govern
or because of it's improper form.
Nineteen bills were introduced in the
house and three in the senate, but all
save the four mentioned were buried
in the legislative graveyard. Among
the bills introduced and not acted upon
were two equal taxation measures, one
by Mr.. Hamill of Hudson and the 9TH
er by Mr. Fielder of the same county;
bills by Mr. Swackhamer providing
for the administration by the state of
the teachers retirement fund and pro-
viding for the return to the fund of
money paid in previous years for adj
bill and Duff's elective
board of works act for first class cities.
A bill introduced by Mr.. Hamill, but
not acted on, appropriated 100000 for
the Railway reformatory.
Legislation Moves Smoothly.
After several caucuses the majority
party mapped out line of work, and
legislation moved smoothly after that.
The majority assemblymen tried at
first to get the senators to agree to a
perhaps that they would be outvoted
on caucus action, decided to keep to
themselves. The senate caucus deter
mined to take up only the pigeon bill
and the good roads bill, and the house
agreed to this, but it was later de-
cided to extend consideration to the
four bills noted above as passed.
The senate, in accordance with the
governors call for a special session,
met at II o'clock noon, and the roll
showed only two senators absent, Nc
Kee of the majority and Barber of the
minority. Senators Minch, Crosse and
Terrell were appointed to wait on the
governor and notify him that the SEN
ate was in session. The governor sent
word that he would communicate with
the senate.
The house of assembly convened for
the special session early in the after
noon. The proclamation of the gov
ernor reassembling the legislature in
special session was read by Clerk
James Parker, and the document was
ordered to be spread in full upon the
minutes. Majority Leader Colby of
Essex presented resolution which
was adopted directing the clerk to in
form the senate that the house had
assembled in pursuance to the govern
or's proclamation and was ready for
business. A committee of three
Messrs. Scovel, Johnston and Kelly
was appointed by Speaker Avis to
wait on Governor Murphy and inform
him that the house had assembled and
was ready to transact business. The
committee in few minutes reported
to the effect that the governor would
communicate with the house in writ.
ing. The governor then sent the house
special message, a duplicate OF
which was also transmitted to the sen.
ate.
Governors Special Message.
In the special message the governor
said he had called the legislature to
gether in special session to consider
the subject of the Norris canal aban
donment and the anti pigeon shooting
bill He said he did not mean by
naming these to suggest that they
We're the only ones entitled to consid
GRAFTON by the special session, and il
in it's wisdom it should deem it advis
able to consider other matters of in
terest to the state such course would
have his approval. Concerning the two
matters mentioned, he said that public
sentiment about them had become Sc
outspoken that he believed he haG
simply discharged a duty calling the
special session of the legislature tx
consider them. He continued:
AT its session year ago the legisla
ture authorized the appointment of /;
commission to consider the question O
the abandonment of the Morris canal
and under the authority given me ap
pointed three of my predecessors as ;
commission to examine this importan
and complex question upon which tn,