, 1906-01-03

presented to the legislature In a bill by
Assemblyman Elect Herman A. Berg of
Hudson. The Berg measure will meet
with a lot of opposition, and 1t is very
doubtful il it can be passed. The
Wakelee bill may have a better chance.
as it is understood that many of the
legislators favor the substitution of the
electric chair for the gallows. 1t is be-
lieved. however. that any legislation
at this session will not save the two
women in Hackensack Jail.
A measure will 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 bill, be
turned over to the various charitable
lied labor element Ia bitterly opposed
to the marketing of prison made goods
and the new bin, it Is understood, is
drawn for the purpose Of gratifying the
labor men. Senator Minturn says his
bill will have a twofold effect. In the
uISl pldce II VIII pIoleCl uiion idboi
from competition with convict labor,
and in the second place it will ave a
great deal of money to state instltu-
tons which now have to buy articles,
such as clothing and shoes, for their in
mates. The product of the prisons un-
der the bill. it is understood, would also
be sent to cities and towns of the state
for distribution among the poor.
War ON the Mosquito.
Professor John Smith of Rutgers
college. state entomologist, is preparing
a bill to be introduced asking for an
appropriation of $350,OOO to be used in
driving mosquitoes out of New Jersey.
Under an existing act municipalities
may make appropriations to extermi-
nate the pest, but thus far only a small
sum has been put out by municipalities
for this work. Professor Smith be
lieves he can rid the state of mosqui-
toes by draining the marsh land and
thus depriving them of their breeding
places.
The New Jersey State Funeral Di-
rectors' association is back of a bill
providing for the appointment of Il
state board of undertakers and en-
balmers to examine and license all per-
sons hereafter desiring to follow the
business of burying the dead in this
state. A similar bill went to the morgue
last year. The new bill will provide
that the board shall consist of II rep
r~esentatiye from each congressional
district in the state and a member of
the state board of health as a member
at large. The proposed act is not re-
%troactive and all who are now legiti-
mately carrying on business, after reg
istering with the board as provided,
must be recognized,
There are numerous reports current
concerning the probable action of the
legislature affecting the sale of liquor
Local option is much talked of by the
anti-saloon people. There is talk OF
having an excise commission for every
second class county to be appointed by
the county judge, with power to fix the
amount of license and the hours which
the saloons must remain closed-name-
~. vi oulltluAS anu llOlI L W V Il. III.
the same as in New York and other
cities.
State Road Commissioner e. c
Hutchinson in his annual report to
Governor Stokes suggests the taxing
of automobiles on the basis of the dan
age they occasion to the public high
ways. Commissioner Hutchinson be
lieves that if high speed machines arc
to be allowed on the highways, and
there is no indication that they will bt
prohibited for the present, they should
be taxed in proportion to the maximum
speed of which they are capable, which
is also regarded as a fair measure OF
their powers of destruction. The sug
gestion is likely to be Incorporated int
another automobile bill or an amend
ment to the present act, together will
another suggestion from COMMISSIONS
Hutchinson to prohibit armored tires,
chain Tres and blowers on the public
road.
Legislative Statistics.
Thomas F. Fitzgerald, who is famil-
iarly known throughout the state as the
"dean of the fourth house." has com
piled some interesting statistics regard
ing the make up of the incoming legis-
lature. The Democratic minority will
have a membership Of only seven-four
in the senate and three in the house of
assembly-for the second time in the
history Of legislation in this state. In
1897 the same condition prevailed when
the minority's representation was three
in the senate and four in the house.