The Morris County chronicle., 1907-04-09
OUR TRENTON LETTER.


the legislative session drawing near
the lawmek kers put in busy week
One of the most interesting moves in
the upper branch was the passage of
the resolution presented. by Senator
Avis of Gloucester county for an
amendment to the constitution to per
NIT the holding of the legislature
in biennial session; also changing
the term of the governor and other
state officers. This resolution pro-
vides for the election of assembly
men every two years instead of every
year and the election of senators ev-
cry four years instead of every three
years, with the governor to be elected
every four years and other state Of
fees changed accordingly. Senators
Avis and Robbins of Burlington advo-
Gated the measure, while Senator Min7
turn OF Hudson and Senator Silzer Of
Middlesex, both Democrats, opposed
it, The vote was u to T. The meas
ure is hardly likely to get through the
house.
Among the bills introduced in the
senate was one by Senator Minturn of
Hudson to amend the bishops liquor
act so that it will not be necessary for
license applicants to be residents of
municipalities in which they wish to
sell intoxicants. The bill does not ap-
ply to first class counties A similar
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The multiplicity of these amending
measures seems to indicate that the
Democrats have about abandoned hope
of securing any radical change in the
bishops act this session and will en-
deavor to be content with some slight
modification of the law, although even
this is doubtful at this late date.
The governor approved house bill No
ia amending the general borough act
respecting the issue of bonds This
measure was passed at the instance Of
Assemblyman Jess of Camden A bill
which became a law by default being
returned unsigned by the governor, was
the Hillery act, senate No. 125, estab-
fishing tenure of Office for policemen in
towns
The senate defeated after an animat-
ed debate Senator Silzers bill, No so,
which provided that every common
carrier should be liable for damages
in case of death of an employee by ac-
cident or his serious injury and that
the contributory negligence clause
should not be q bar to his recovery of
such damages
The Holcombe bill to abolish the use
of voting machines, introduced in the
house by Assemblyman Holcombe Of
Hunterdon county, was reported unfa-
vorably in the senate, but notwith-
standing this was advanced to second
reading. The question arose as to
whether it could be considered after an
unfayorable report but there seemed
o be no objection to this, and the bill
was placed ON the calendar for second
reading.
Among the bills now pending in the
senate is the committee substitute for
Senator Gebhardt's railroad pass bill
The committee substitute goes even
further than Senator Gebhardts meas
ure and provides that practically all
of the state officials and the members
and secretaries of all the county tax
boards shall have free transportation
on the railroads. A bill that is being
held up in the senate Is the house
arbitration, which costs the commons
wealth $4,000 Il year without any re-
turn. This bill passed the house on
March 6 and was advanced to- third
reading in the senate on March IL
Since then nothing has been heard of
it. Senator Wakelee has introduced
bill to give the board wider scope of
power in the settlement of strikes
This measure is also still pending
II the house Assemblyman Klenert
the Democratic leader, introduced
bill to abolish the county boards of
taxation created by the last legisla-
ture.
The house passed the Jess bill for
bidding the sale of cigarettes to chill
dren under the age of sixteen years
He said that the injurious effect of
tobacco on the young was we'll known
both to the layman and the physician
and the measure ought to. have the
hearty support of everybody
Insurance Bills Passed.
The senate took a whack at the in
hurance bills and passed senate Nos.
212 to 215, inclusive, without a dis
senttng voice. These measures are the
outcome of the investigation into in
surnnce methods last summer The
first real fight Of the SENATE session
this week occurred when the Avis con-
stitutional amendment providing for
biennial sessions of the legislature and
the holding of state elections the same
year as national elections passed the
upper house. The measure passed by
a vote of IL to Z. All of the Democrats
and Senator Robbins of Burlington
voted against it. In explaining the
measure Senator Avis said the pro-
posed constitutional amendment, which
must be passed by two succeeding
legislatures and then voted on affirma
lively by the people the next year. was
in line with all other states of the
Union but three
kidnapping Bill.
Assemblyman Bucks bill making the
penalty for kidnapping thirty years in
the state prison was passed in the
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