The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-04-07
BILLS BASED ON
HAHN COMMITTEE
REPORT NOW IN
Evils Found by investigators
Would Be Prevented by
Measures introduced.
Iron a STAFF correspondent.l

TRENTON. April 7.-As was expect"
ed, the Legislature started out today
to transact business when it once got
started in as expeditions a as
1t did last night. This was due to the
desire to finish up the work this week.
IT wa not until last night that the
first tangible results of the Hahn IN
vestigation of State institutions, a
last year, became apparent. Five bills
were offered by Leader William P.
Martin providing for rectification or
the abuses discovered by the investi-
gators.
No objection was made to their in
PRODUCTION. though a concurrent resolu-
ton was offered by Edward Kenny 10
amend the Constitution so as to nro-
hibit the Legislature from increasing
or decreasing salaries of county or city
officials. Objection was offered by MT.
Thompson, of Mercer. Mr.. SulhVan'
minority leader, endeavored to get the
measure in by moving to take from lie
table a resolution to reconsider the mo-
tion not to admit more bills. This was
beaten, 30 to &c.
Mr.. dwell. of Hudson, endeavored to
get in a municipal water bill, put IL
went down by the protest of Mr. Prince,
of Passaic.
Mr.. Martin then introduced the Hahn
committee bills, no objection peing
raised.
One bill provides the State Board OF
y .i41. .1.a IL lox az fhn came mower over
the health of State institutions as local
boards of health have.
Another abolishes underground dun
geons at the State Reformatory and
forbids corporal punishment only by
consent and with the knowledge OF
the superintendent.
A third bill abolishes the dual system
of insane asylum management, making
the medical superintendent the only
head. Now the medical s~uperintend-
ent md the warden have equal juris-
diction In their respective departments.
The fourth bill forbids the removal
of dead bodies from any State institu-
ton without the certificate of the coun
ty physician.
The fifth bill relates to moneys for
State institutions, and forbids it being
drawn from the State treasury in bulk.
All five bills were referred to the
committee on judiciary, of which Mr..
Martin is the chairman.
No recommendations are made in the
report submitted to the Senate last
night by the committee, consisting OF
Senators Alderman n Price and
former Senator Hutchinson, who inves-
tigated the question of capital punish
ment in the United States and Europe,
but there is a suggestion TO abolish the
death penalty in murder cases where
the evidence is purely circumstantlal
and substitute life imprisonment.
The committee suggests no change
IN the law where the evidence on which
a, man on trial for murder is positive
and direct. but it is proposed h a the
decision whether 1r not the death pen
atty be inflicted. might rest with the
Jury, which would consider ali the cir
cumstances, mitigating and otherwise,
IN connection with the crime. Such a
statute exists in some other States.
To make the fear of life Imprisonment
more terrible the committee has sub
mitted a peculiar suggestion. 1t is
that q prisoner sentenced to life inn
prisonment shall be placed in solitary
confinement one day a month beginning
with the third year, two days a month
IN the fourth year, and it shall gradu-
ally Increase till it reaches eight days
a month in the tenth year. Then the
solitary confinement shall decrease
till it shall be one day a month in the
seventeenth year.
A hot debate occurred in the House
on the dwell bill providing for the
payment of wages by railroad compa-
MES every two weeks. Mr.. Potter, oil
Cumberland, said it was unwise &c
saddle additional expenses upon rail-
roads at this time. Its advocates, MI
Potter said, were representatives Of
railroad unions.
The bin was passed, "A to Z. All the
votes in the negative, except one
He~ndrickson's, were from South Jer'
sey. They were Cattell, Trick, Speaker
Jess, Lewis, r. B. Potter and Ridgway
rrrE