The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-03-05
OUR TRENTON LETTER.
rspecial Corresponuence.l

Especial Correspondence
| Trenton, Feb. 2S.-The two houses
| of the legislature cleared up the calen-
dars before they adjourned for the
week and are now in readiness for the
busiest meetings of the session next
week The house adjourned late Tues
| day afternoon after passing many bills,
and the senate held a Wednesday SEES
| sion to clean up its business for a
fresh start next Monday night
| One of the important questions be-
fore the legislature is the liquor legis
lation. Many of the Democrats have
declared themselves openly for temper
ance reform. and at this writing it
looks as though the responsibility for
any change in the liquor law, if indeed
any change is made, could not be
saddled upon the Democrats, because
in the face of declarations by certain
| Of the Democrats that they will not
stand for any .antitemperance PROPOSE
ton Republican votes will be necessary
| for the passage of such legislation.
| The Democrats held caucus this week
| Ill WHICH lue piOpOSSu iItluol Olho WSiO
discussed, and it was given out after
the meeting that the Democratic leg
| islators had refused to stand for any
repeal of the bishops law. 1t was an
nounced, however, that public hear
ing would be given next Monday after
noon on liquor legislation. One of the
measures to be considered is the
Blohm bill known as the partially
open Sunday bill' AS many legisla-
tors of both parties are opposed to rad
ical changes in the liquor laws, 1t is
doubtful if any change will be made
this winter.
Joint Session.
Joshua e. Borton Republican, Of
burlington county was elected state
director of railroads in joint session
of the legislature Tuesday. He was
given the forty-three Republican votes
to thirty-six given for Patrick Doyle,
Democrat, of Hudson county. Mr..
Borton was named by Senator Hillery,
Republican leader. Senator Minturn
nominated Mr.. Doyle. Mr.. Borton was
a member of the New Jersey assembly
in 1896 and 1897. His position is pure
ly an honorary one. Mr.. Doyle is an
engineer on the Central Railroad of
New Jersey
! There was passed by the senate Mon
day night concurrent resolution pro-
viding for an amendment to the state
constitution permitting the election of
assemblymen by districts instead of
by counties, as at present. The meas
ure was introduced as a bill, but 1t
was stated it should be concurrent
resolution. The form was changed,
therefore, and then, on motion of
Leader Hillery, the resolution was
passed.
To Let Policy Holders Vote.
A measure which will attract atten-
| ton is the bill introduced in the house
by Assemblyman Perkins, Republican,
of Union county. This bill provides
| that policy holders in insurance COM
panies may vote for the directors OF
such corporations. To be entitled to
vote a policy holder must be twenty
one years of age and his insurance
must be in force for one year. Each
| policy holder is to have one vote with.
out regard to the number of his poll.
cies or the amount of his insurance.
This bill is to repeal all inconsistent
acts. 1t will affect the Prudential In
surance company, which in the early
eighties secured the enactment of a
! law to give the control of SURPRISES
exclusively to the stockholders and not
to the policy holders.
Several other insurance bills have
been introduced, including one by AS
semblyman Alexander of Hudson coun,
| ty, to repeal the Prudential act. A
hearing will be given on the Alexander
bill next Monday afternoon, and it is
likely that other measures will be dis
cussed at this time. The report of the
special joint committee which investi-
gated the insurance companies last
summer is also due and may come in
the first of next week. This committee
is expected to make some radical rec.
concentrations for changes in the pres.
ent insurance laws.
The senate Tuesday morning passed
by a nonpartisan vote the bill of Sen.
ator Robbins of Burlington county
looking toward the abolishing of vot
ing machines in districts where such
apparatus is not desired by the citi-
zens. The measure provides that on
| petition of not less than % per cent OF
the voters OF any district there shall
be held special election to dispose OF
the voting machine question. The ma
chimes are to be done away with if d
majority of the voters so signify by
the casting of antimachine ballots. II
is believed that this bill will be pass
ed by the house, although there Is
some question as to whether it will
not be vetoed by Governor Stokes.
| Ostonnnrh Isrnntitinnars