The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-28
[From star correspondent.l


TRENTON, Jan. 2S.-Both branches
of the Legislature were slow in ass
sembling today.
Senator Samuel K. Robbins, leader Of
the Senate majority last night intro.
duced public utilities bill that win
probably be supported by the Repub-
lican majorities and made a law.
Assemblyman William p. Martin.
leader of the House majority. has pre-
scented n bill of his own, patterned
after the Hughes law of New York
State, and proposes to make a fight
for 1t. The measure was introduced In
the House last week.
Today Mr.. Martin, as Chairman.
called a meeting of the committee ON
judiciary and fixed Tuesday, Februa -
/ II. Immediately after the morning ses-
sion OF the House, for public hearing
on his bill
The Robbins Senate bin is not nearly
So sweeping o measure as the Martin
House bill. Senator Everett Colby, OF
Essex, introduced duplicate of the
Martin House bill in the Senate, but
1t is not likely that it VIII be heard from.
as he is not fortunate enough to be
chairman of the committee to which
his bill has been referred.
Mr.. Martin personally arranged 10
have his house bill offered to his own
committee on judiciary. He had hoped
to get a number of bills out today. but
for one reason or another was pre-
vented from taking them up at the ju-
dietary committee meeting
1t looks very much as though public
utilities would be the chief subject Of
interest at this years session. Martin.
Colby and some other legislators, prinA.
cipally New Idea Republicans, want tho
Hughes law. The regulars want
milder bill.
The first bill to be passed by either
branch of the Legislature went through
the House today. The measure is bill
No. 21. introduced by Henry d. Thomp-
son, of Mercer. and is intended to per-
NIT the Princeton battle monument 10
be made of bronze.
Assemblyman William Fellowes Nor
gan. of Essex, is responsible for tho
unprecedented prompt action. He broke
all records by reporting the bill favor
ably and without amendment last
night His action was cited by Speaker
Frank b. Jess as an example worthy
of emulation by other House commits
tee chairmen. Mr.. Morgan is chairman
of the committee on miscellaneous
business.
In the House today Assemblymsn
Henry c. Hines introduced five election
reform bills. Ono would extend the
direct primary law Of last year to tho
nomination of the party candidates for
Governor. A second would make tho
same law cover the nomination Of
candidate for Congress. A third pro-
vides that there shall be no such thing
as district ballot at elections. At
present the law provides that the
election district as well as ward and
municipality must be printed ON the
back of all ballots. This has resulted
In complications in Newark and else
where.
Another Hines bill would make II
necessary for all primary returns and
ballot boxes to be in the hands OF
municipal clerks within twenty-four
hours after tho polls close. The law
now says that returns shall be mad0
as soon as may be"
The fifth Hines bill provides that
members Of the county and municipal
committees Of political parties must he
elected ut open primaries and official
supervision.
Mr.. Hines also introduced bin to