Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-02-21


sell to persons under age is made a
misdemeanor, with Il fine or imprison-
ment for the offending dealer. The
bill is backed by the mothers congress
of the state, the w. G. 4 y, and SIM
liar organizations.
Assemblyman Jess also introduced
another important measure for the
protection of weakfish. which are be-
coming scarce in the seaside tribu-
taries. 1t prohibits the taking of shin
ers between May / and June / of each
year. Sinners are fish ON which weak
fish feed.
Additional railroad bills appeared in
the house, including a bill by Mr..
Bladder of Essex requiring three men
on locomotives and one TO require the
furnishing of freight cars to all apply
ing shippers.
These appointments We're sent to the
senate by the governor: Salem county
board of taxation, d. Harrissmith,
three years; John c. Wood, two years;
Charles Mecum, one year; all reap
pointments.
Senator Lee of Atlantic introduced
bill fixing firemen's salaries in all
excepting first class cities as follows:
Captains and foremen not less than
81, 400 per year, assistants not less than
s., 1900, first grade men not less than
81, 200. second grade not less than
81 600 and third grade not less than
5000.
Important Hearings.
The sessions of both houses of the
legislature Monday night were preced-
ed by hearings given Monday after
noon and evening. Assemblyman Hol-
combe of Hunterdon and. his commit
tee on railroads and canals gave
hearing on Assemblyman Wright's bill
to create a state railroad commission
and on his other bills regulating rail
road business and traffic in passengers
and freight. Counselor William Mayo
Atkinson of Newark, who drafted the
bills. explained them in detail and then
asked a further hearing, as other bills
to supplement the series were to be
introduced. He referred to the state
commissions of Texas and Ohio as ex-
amples of good work being done in this
respect. He thought the regulation of
traffic more important than the mere
lowering of fares He contended that
the commission should be independent,
honest and capable and should be CIV
en- full power to cope with railroad
problems. He said the other bills to
be introduced would be to abolish
grade crossings, to provide better rail
road service in the handling of passen-
gers and freight and to authorize the
court of chancery to appoint receivers
for railroads which refuse to comply
with the order of the commission. Mr..
Atkinson answered number of ques-
lions asked by James II. Schapenkot-
ter, general counsel for the Lehigh Val
ley railroad. Another hearing will be
given Monday afternoon, March 4.
The senate committee on railroads
and canals gave hearing on bills in
troduced by Senator Gebhardt of Hun
terdon to prohibit railroads from charg-
ing more than 2 cents mile and to
permit the governor, attorney general,
vice chancellor. justices OF
the supreme court and members of
the legislature to ride free on their GER
tificates of election. Senator Gebhardt
praised this measure and particularly
the two cent a mile bill. Ex-Judge Gil
bert Collins, counsel for the Erie and
Lehigh Valley railroads, declared that
the two cent a mile bill was not need
ed, as the railroads now carry rs per
cent of the passengers at less than 2
cents per mile. He said New Jersey
railroad rates were the lowest in the
world.
Senator Lee of Atlantic suggested
that if the railroads were compelled to
haul passengers at a money losing rate
they would get it back in freight tolls
at the expense of the consumers. In
reply to a question by Senator Avis
Mr.. Collins said that Ohio was. the
state with fixed rate Of 2 cents per
mile. Mr.. Schanenkotter retorted that
in Ohio the law caused a fight from
which the state had never recovered.
To Abolish Dungeons.
Assemblyman Eumulty of Hudson,
at the request of. Speaker Lethbridge,
introduced in the house bill to abol-
ish dungeons at the state prison in
this CITY, Mr.. Lethbridge was moved
to present this bill by a lecture which
he ,heard delivered by Mrs. Maybrick,
the American woman imprisoned so
long in London on the charge Of poi
soning her husband. She made tour
of this country to visit penal institu
lions and during lecture in Orange,
Mr.. Lethbridge's home, said that New
Jersey was one of the very few states
that have not banished the torture of
the dungeon.
Assemblyman Daab of Hudson intro
duced bill to prohibit ticket scalping
He is a manager of a Hoboken base
ball team and has had considerable
experience with ticket spectators.
Reports were heard about the state
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