Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-03-26
FIGHT ON THIS
WEEK FOR THE
TAXATION BILL
Some Of the Legislators Seem
Determined TO Kill the Per.
kinS Tax Measure.
NO AID ] 0 U R N M { Mt.
End of Session Not Yet in Sight
But 100 Of 79l Measures
introduced Have Passed.

TRENTON, Mar 26.-With the
lawmakers almost at the end of the
homestretch in their legislative race,
condition OF almost utter chaos ex-
lists as far as the progress of the bills
is concerned. The total number of
bills and joint resolutions that has
been introduced is 791, and only
about 100 have been passed by both
houses.
Last week was the eleventh of the
session, and yet only TWO bills of state
Importance among the many pending.
have been passed by both houses
These are the limited franchise and
county salary measures.
Much uncertainty exists as to the
time for final adjournment While the
tentative proposition TO adjourn sine
die March 29 has been reconsidered.
some Of the lawmakers would like to
close up on that date Leader Per-
kins is among these. No one in close
touch with legislative matters. how
ever believes that it will be possible
to get through by Thursday. There
is a very general opinion that the ses-
sion will extend over into next week.
Two problems will confront the
law makers this week. and each is
likely to cause trouble before it Is
disposed Of These are the railroad
taxation question and the bishops IL
Quor bill.
Reports were current Saturday that
the decision of the railroads to sub
nit TO moderate increase in their
taees, which was foreshadowed BIZ
Governor Stokes in his message, has
been altered, and that the companies
are now determined to defeat or to
emasculate the Perkins bill if possi-
BILE. The onlyNhePe Of the railroads Is
now found in the sensIn
the companies are concentrating an
their heaviest guns. That there has
been some effect already is shown by
the way the senators approach the
question. The Perkins bill was in
the upper house two weeks before
there was any action whatever. Then
the bill went back to the house, and
after the fifth section was stricken
out, was repassed. Then when the
senate got the measure the saloons
again hesitated on the matter of con-
sideration. with the result that con-
sideration went over until tomorrow
The only saying that he who hes.'
tates is lost" may or may not apply
10 the senate in this matter. At the
session tomorrow morning, when the
Perkins bill, with all the proposed
amendments. will come up for Z
final action, it will be made evident
the upper house really means
business on this most important ques-
ton of the legislative session, or
whether they will play into the hands
of the strong railroad lobby. The fact
that the railroads are prepared to
fight TO the last ditch. and Governor
Stokes has minated that if an equal
tax bill was not passed at this session
he would call a special session, pre-
sents a situation that is sure to lead
to most interesting developments.
Fate of the Bishops Bills.
Much doubt exists as to just what
liquor legislation will be the outcome
of the last days of the session. Local
option is dead and now the hopes of
the friends of temperance are CENTER
ed on the bishops bills. These meas
ures are still in the hands of senate
committee on miscellaneous business
1t is believed that the committee will
report early this week, and those
familiar with legislative matters look
for the presentation of a compromise
bill as a substitute Chairman Avis of
the committee has practically ac-
knowledged that this action would be
taken Senator Avis consulted with
Attorney General McCarter last week
as to the constitutionality of certain
provisions that may be into the bill.
1t has been rumored that the substi-i
tute would not interfere with the
screens, and would limit the numbf
of saloons to one for each 500 of e
population. But this has not h( En-
confirmed
The bill. as introduced. make the
minimum license limit $500, Sd that
the license income of the mum lEipali-
ties would not suffer even if tn num-
Der of the saloons should bseNcreas-
ed. There was a genera feeling
among North Jersey liquod men SAT-
urday that the bishops bill. or its
substitute, will be defssted. but no
special ground for u Hat stand was
known in this city. 4
The bill providing for the election