Gloucester County Democrat., 1907-07-11
CIVIL SERVICE.

eue way VI d spSclai SESSION OF tne iegisid-
ture, the fate Of civil service reform in this
state is doomed for another year at least.
This was indicated yesterday when for the
second time the house of assembly killed
bill seeking this end.
The house Yesterday received bill, passed
by the senate last week, establishing civil
service in minor state offices and in cities
and counties Of the first class. 1t provides
for commission of three members to be
appointed by the governor.
When this bill was brought up for second
reading in the house, Mr.. Sullivan, of Hud-
son offered amendments making the COM
missioners elective, instead Of appointiye,
and making its provisions extend to every
city and county in the state, and also the
minor state offices. The amendments were
then adopted by vote of 35 to II. Messrs.
Buxton. DeYine, Fake and Monson, Re-
publicans, voting with the 81 Democrats.
The measure as amended was then adyanc-
ed to faal passage, when it was defeated
by vote of 26 to "a. Twenty Of the &c
voting the reform were Democrats, the re-
naming six were Republicans. There was
a persistent rumor about the state house
after the bill had been defeated that Cover
nor Stokes would call special session for
the sole purpose of passing civil service
law, which he will insist upon being en-
acted. The governor, however, declined to
verify this report, neither did he deny it.
ELEcTING U. S. SENATORS.
With Assembly Fake and Buxton, Re
publcans, voting with the Democratic
members, the house, after a stubborn con-
test, succeeded in passing the Brady bill,
permitting the people to signify their choice
for United States senators at the polls This
measure was introduced as substitute for
the Hillery bill, which passed the senate
last week, and it aroused storm of protest
from the majority Of the Republican mem
bers.
The Brady bill is local adoption of the
law now working so satisfactorily in the
state Of Oregon, while the HIllery bill is a
new-fangled idea, which would apparently
only result in confusion. There was a
deadlock over these bills at the regular ses-
sion The Democrats held that the Hillery
bill was innoeuous, Ineffective and inefi-
cient; that it was milk and water bill,
anyway, and would not give the people
what they wanted The Republicans, while
willing to stand by the HilierY bill, put up
the argument that the Brady bill Is in vio-
lation Of the United States constitution,
notwithstanding the fact that it is in opera
ton in another state at the present time.
These arguments were rehashed again
yesterday, and elaborated on. Mr.. Barber
and Mr.. Perkins opposed the Brady substi-
tute, while its introducer defended it in an
fused to pass such a bill at the regular ses-
sion, it is assumed that they will defeat it,
again, unless they get another change of
heart, and start out on the path of reform
that they followed for time after the re-
port OF the Hahn investigating committee
was handed in.
TO DESTROY THE COAL TRUST.
The House passed concurrent resolution
for the appointments OF three members from
each branch of the legislature, to confer
with President Roosevelt and such other
federal officials or departments as the presi-
dent shall designate, in order to ascertain
in what way the state government of New
jersey can aid the governmental OF the United
States In the destruction and abolishment
of the said anthracite coal monopoly, and
said committee, as soon as practicable, and
not later than September g. 1907, shall in
detail report the result Of such conferences
to the senate and house Of assembly if in
session at that time; if neither house be in
session, then said report shall be made to
the governor Of New Jersey and copies
thereof shall be furnished for publication.
2. The sum of $500 is hereby appro-
priated for the purpose Of said committee.
8. This resolution shall take effect i'm
mediately
The House also passed the Senate bill
amending the State military laws SO as to
bring the National Guard more nearly
under the provisions of she Dick law, and
securing for 1t the National appropriation,
which amounts to about $4,000. 1t like
wise passed the bill abolishing the voting
Machine Commission and placing its duties
IN the hands Of the Secretary Of States.
The House passed a bill appropriating
S7,165 to pay the expense Of the Hahn in
yestigating committee to date.
New Books in the Library.
Tarsk