Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-02-14
STATE LEGISLATUR
Briggs Sends In Resignation as
State Treasurer.
WILL STAND WITH ROOSEVELT
Interest centers In Selection of Briggs
successor-SoIons Ready to Get Down
to Work After Much Delay-Busy
Time Ahead-Legislative Matters.
Tspecial Correspondence

Trenton, Feb. 14.-Now that a Unit
ed States senator has been elected the
legislature will get down to its real
work. Notwithstanding the fact that
this is the sixth week of the SEES
sion. Just one-half of the usual length
of the legislative session, but little OF
inheritance has been done in the legls-
latiye line. This lack of action is due
to the keen interest taken in the SEN
atorial contest, and only three of four
bills have been passed, all OF these be-
ing unimportant. The work of the leg
islature this week was retarded some
what by the fact that the legislators
did not meet until Wednesday, owing
TO the observation throughout the state
of Lincoiu's birthday on Tuesday. Nev-
ertheless there was considerable work
done despite the shortness of the legis-
lative week
The next matter which will arouse
interest and which may cause more
holding up of legislative business is the
election of a state treasurer to succeed
Senator Elect Briggs. The speculation
that the Democrats will refuse to go
into Joint session to elect Republican
state treasurer and thus tie up the pub
lie schools and the state departments
for lack of funds is not regarded serl-
ously. There would be reaction upon
the party guilty of such obstruction,
and the Democrats fully realize this.
1t is believed that the Democrats OF
the house will be willing to enter a
joint session and elect state treas
urer. They viii have their own candi-
date. but the Republicans have the ma
iority in joint session and will name
Republican. 1t is very likely from the
outlook at this writing that County
Clerk Daniel Voorhees, of Morris county
will be the man selected. although
there are d number of others mention
ed who would have chance of win
ming. Among these is State Senator
Wakelee of Bergen, who is favorably
mentioned for the place.
Corporation Legislation.
Among the recent house bills intro
duced was No. TO. by Mr.. Hendrick-
son, which is designed to prevent
frauds in the capitalization Of ineorpo-
rations. The bill requires a statement
under oath by all the incorporators set
ting forth the details of their connec-
ton with the incorporation and the
amount of money truly subscribed by
them. Another bill under consideration
introduced by Mr.. Hendrickson pro
vides for the annulment ofsall compa-
MES transactihg business i'll restraint
of state or interstate trade and COM
merce and authorizes the attorney gen
eraI to proceed in the court of chancery
against such corporations. House Dill
1T3. another of Mr. Hendrickson's bills,
authorizes theSmayors of cities to con-
vene the boards of tax commissioners
when in his judgment the urgency or
necessity of the public requires it. The
object Of this measure is for the pur-
pose of apportioning sufficient moneys
to meet unexpected or extraordinary
conditions. The boards are by this bill
given power to appropriate temporary
loans and issue bonds A bill by Mr.
Hendriczson applies particularly to
trusts and is to prevent their incorpo-
ration. 1t provides that such concerns
shall file with the certificate of incorpo-
ration a verified statement that such
is not the object of the corporation.
A measure by Mr.. Hahn repeats the
fI,< l,,o1-yY, a Hn
bill wipes out the $1,000 fine in the
penalty for bookmaEing and pool sell
ing and leaves the punishment within
the discretion Of the judge in the case.
A $1,000 fine is the minimum of the
sentence.
Not Aggressive.
The lack of aggressivness is appar-
ent about the state capitol. Both the
Republicans and the Democrats are
either affected with stage fright or
they are sparring to get a line on each
other. There are great many bills
of the utmost importance on the SEN
ate and house calendars. but nobody
seems to be making the slightest move
to get them out where they will be-
come the subject of debate.
In any passive warfare the Repub-
licans would have the advantage, as
they can fall back on their advance
legislation of the past two or three
years. OF course the Democrats can
say this legislation was forced upon
the Republicans by the new idea
movement
There are many bills relative to tax
alton, selection Of juries, control of
corporations, punShing bribery, regu-
lating railroads and public utility COM
panies, but they are still in committee,
and no opportunity is therefore pre-
scented for forming any estimate Of
what is likely to be done The Essex
a3d Hudson delegations, which are
Democratic, are not entirely harmo-
NOUS, and there is no strong leader
ship as yet developed in the house on
the Democratic side. When the house