The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-01-09
NEW JERSEY
LEGISLATURE
One Hundred and Thirtieth Ses-
SONS TO Open BouquetleSS.
Interesting Statistics.
COLBY cYNOSURE OF THE STATE


the two houses were organized in ac-
c0rdance with the previously arranged
program, Governor Stokes first an
nual message was presented and read.
lit lis a document of unusual import
ance, and is published in this issue.
The coming session is unique. 1t will
not be a question this year of Demo
Gratis and Republicans the Democrats
are too few In numbers to make much
Of a showing but the whole issue will
be administration versus Colby" The
Colbyites, as those Republican mem
bers are called who favor equal tax
alton and limited franchise without
compromise, will form the minority,
while the administration forces. which
are more conservative ON these mat
ters, favoring them to a certain de-
gree, will constitute the majority The
Democrats may cast their fortunes
with the Colby fnen, but even this win
not give majority. The terms '.CoI-
Byte and "anti- Colbyite" will be
heard with great frequency this ses-
sion.
Several of the counties are commit
ted without reservation to Colby's prin-
ciples, and it will be interesting to see
whether the representatives from these
counties, who are now lined up with
the administration forces, will be able
to remain in line should the Colby
principles be assailed in the legisla-
ture. However, such a situation is
scarcely anticipated, for the adminisz
tration, it is believed, will be shrewd
enough not to step too heavily on Mr..
Colby's toes, thereby probably turning
wavering sentiment in his favor.
State Treasurer Frank o. Briggs, chair
man Of the state Republican commit
tee, has declared in no uncertain terms
that the Republican party meaning the
administration forces does not oppose
equal taxation and limited franchises.
Just to what extent this declaration
will be made good remains to be seen.
House Committees.
Assemblyman Samuel X. Robbins OF
Burlington, who will be the next speak
er Of the house, is at present engaged
in making up his committees, which he
will announce after the session opens
next Tuesday afternoon. Much inter
est centers on the question Of the treat
ment that win be accorded to the Col
by men by Mr. Robbins. The views as
to how they should be treated differ
considerably. Some suggest that Mr..
Robbins in making up, his committees
should take into consideration the
counties these men represent rather
than the men themselves, while others
think that they should be regarded
strictly in the light of boilers and
should be treated accordingly. Mr..
Robbins up to the present writing has
declined to give any inkling as to what
he.is likely to do
On account Of the taxation and fran
chise questions as well as the Morris
canal abandonment bill, which will APP
pear again in reconstructed form early
in the session, and mass OF other inn
portant legislation which is anticipat-
ed, this session is likely to be prolonged
beyond the usual time for sine die ad-
tournament 1t is contended, however,
that the session need not extend more
than a couple of weeks into April If the
legislators start in to do business al
once and not daily along until the clos
Ing weeks of the session, as has been
the custom. The session will be warm
from the start, it is expected, and the
Colby men viii keep things moving Il
they can.
Az to Capital Punishment.
1t is certain that soon after the open
ing Of the session some sort OF legis
latiOn will be attempted regarding ths
death penalty in New Jersey The al
legged brutal failure to promptly hang
Murderer Tapeiey In Hudson county 9
/ few days ago and the desire to prevent
the infiiction Of capital punishment up
on Anna Valentino and Antoinette Toi
la, two women mur6erers now confined
in the Hackensack jail awaiting the
rope to end fhefr existence, have appar
emily aroused considerable feeling all
over the state Two propositions have
been made regarding the death penalty
and both viii probably be put before
the Legislature One lis the idea of Sen
ator Wakelee OF Bergen county to sub
stitute electricity for the rope as more
humane method Of death; the other
proposition, which is ito do away with
capital punishment altogether, will be
presented to the legislature In a bill by
Assemblyman Eject Herman A. Berg OF
Hudson. The Berg measure will meet
with a lot Of opposition, and it is very
doubtful IL 1t can be passed. The
WakeIee bill may have a better chance,
as it Is understood that many of the
legislators favor the substitution OF the
electric chair for the gaI1ows 1T is be-
lieued, however, that any legislation
at This session will not save the two
women in Hackensack jail.
A measure viii be presented early
this session by Senator James f. Min
turn Of Hudson which will affect all
articles made by prisoners In this state.
These articles instead Of being sold
WILL By the provisions Of the bin, be
turned over to the various charitable
organizations Of the state The organ
lied labor element is bitterly opposed
to the marketing Of prison made goods
and the new bin, II is unuersroou, Is
drawn for the purpose Of gratifying the
labor men. Senator Minturn says his
bill will have a twofold effect. In the
first place it viii protect union labor
from competition with convict labor.
and in the second place II will save a
great deal of money to state institu-
tions which now have to buy articles.