The Penn's Grove record., 1907-02-15
STATE LEGISLATURE,
Briggs Sends In Resignation as
State Treasurer.
WILL STAND WITH ROOSEVELT
interest Centers In Selection of Briggs
Successor-Solons Ready to Get Down
to Work After Much Delay-Rusy
Time Ahead-LegisIative Matters.
Especial Correspondence

Especial 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 ses-
sion, just one-half of the usual length
of the legislative session, but little Of
Importance has been done in the legis-
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 he state
of Lincoln's birthday on Tuesday. New
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 a Republican
state treasurer and thus tie up the pub
lie schools and the state departments
for lack Of funds is not regarded seri-
ously. There would be. reaction upon
A. -o,+ on,i1tr Of ci1ah nhsfr1Infinn
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 a state treas
urer. They will have their OWL candl-
date, but the Republicans have the ma
jority in Joint session and will name g.
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 a number of others mention
ed who would have a 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. 10, by Mr.. Hendrick-
son, which is designed to prevent
frauds in the capitalization of incorpo-
rations. The bill requires a statement
under oath by all the i~ncorporators set
ting forth the details Of their onnec
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 of all compa-
MES ~transaeting business in restraint
Of state or interstate trade and com
merce and authorizes the attorney gen
eral to proceed in the court of chancery
against such corporations. House bill
173, another of Mr.. Hendrickson's bills,
authorizes the mayors 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 MI.
Hendrickson 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
penalty Of the bookmaAing act. The
bill wipes out the $1,000 fine in the
penalty for bookmaking and pool sell
ing and leaves the punishment within
the discretion of the judge in the case
A S $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 a great many bills
of the utmost importance On the SEN
ate and house calendars, but nobody
seems to be making the slightest o
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, Furnishing bribery, regu-
lating railroads and public utility com
panies, but they are still in committee,
and no opportunity is therefore pre-
sented for forming any estimate of
what Is likely to be done. The Essex
and 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
gets down to work, this, of course may
change.
The bishops law and the proposed
legislation amending the same CON
dnue to be of permanent interest, but
no one seems to be able to determine
how far the Democrats are likely to 20
In repeating or modifying the measure.
A new element has been injected in
to the situation by the demand of the
temperance people for a law which
will give local option as generally UNI
derstood and not the local option that
will authorize the sale of liquor on
Sunday during certain hours. The
temperance people are flooding the
state with literature in favor of a bill
permitting municipalities to vote on
the question of license or no license.
The Senatorial Election.
In the matter of the election of a
United States senator the expected
was what happened, although Mr..
Dryden's withdrawal came sooner than
had been expected. To the experienced
observer there never was a time after
the first days balloting when Mr.. Dry