Gloucester County Democrat., 1908-04-16
LEGISL ATURE'S END
Review of Work of Hundred and
Thirty-second Session.
THE GOVERNOR SIGNING BILLS
Civil Service and Inland Waterway
Project Among Most important
Legisiation-Failure of Public utiii-
ties-Governor's Excise Bills Lost.
constitutional Amendments.

ties-Governor's Excise Bills Lost.
Constitutional Amendments.
Especial Correspondence
Trenton April 15.-The one hundred
and tlirty-second session of the legis-
lature of New Jersey has passed into
history, and since the moment that
President Hillery of the senate dropped
the gavel and announced both houses
adjourned without day at dawn Satur-
day morning ii has been in order to
review the sessions proceedings and
figure out the good things and the bad,
the work done and the work left un-
done by the representatives of the peo-
pie at the state capitol. There are
naturally differences of opinion as to
whether the session was beneficial
from public standpoint. Since the
adjournment the question has been
raised whether the regular Republic
ans, the new idea'' wing or the Demo
Gratis gained the greatest political adj
vantage. From the standpoint of
nonpartisan it would seem to be a
matter Of taking ones choice according
to ones political belief or factional
theories on these various points.
Governor Fort just before sine die
adjournment gave out statement re
viewing briefly the work of the legis-
lature and saying: "The legislature has
been clean in its membership, and in
both house and senate the tone of the
whole session has been admirable.
There have been more independence
and courage displayed by the senators
and members than they have been
given credit for by the public, ana
make this statement with a great deal
of pleasure. There has been no bad
legislation. If there can be any criti-
cism at all, it is rather for nonaction
than for any affirmative action that is
Mt all objectionable"
The governor was particularly pleased
with the way the appropriations had
been kept down. His assertion that
the legislature had been free of sus-
pieion of corruption was received as
a reprimand to some of the newspa-
pers which had published bribery ale
cations in connection with the Passaie
water conservation bill and which, on
account of these allegations, was with
drawn, causing the proposition which
is to conserve the flood waters of the
Passaic river for a water supply TO be
laid over for another year.
Since adjournment there has been
dispute as to whether or not the Wake
lee resolution creating commission to
investigate the subject Of excise in
New Jersey had passed the house.
Governor Fort is inclined to appoint
the commission anyway, contending
that he has sufficient power to do 50.
Disposing of Bills.
The executive has spent most of this
week in considering the measures pass
ed by the legislature. At this writing
only few remain to be disposed Of.
AS he interprets the constitution all
must be acted upon within FIVE days
after the close of the legislature. He
expects to have this work all com
pleted by Thursday. One of the bills
signed this week was that prohibiting
children under sixteen from attending
theaters or similar places of amuse
ment unless accompanied by their par
ents or guardians.
A number of fish and game laws have
also been approved by the governor.
They make radical changes In the for
est and field sports. The most impor-
tant change is the division of the state
into two fish and game districts, one
for upland game and one for water
fowl. with separate laws applying to
each.
At the session just ended many inn
portant bills were passed, Including
the following: Providing for the inland
waterway from Cape May to Bay
Head; creating state department of
accounts; providing $1,000 a year for
state department of report; creating
commissions to report to the next leg
lslature on the following matters The
acquiring and opening to the public of
the toll bridges on the Delaware river;
i women's reformatory; for bridging
The Hudson river at Jersey City;
the causes Of crime in this state. A
series Of bills embodying some Of the
recommendations of the Hahn investi-
eating committee was passed, as were
also resolutions providing for the sub
mission OF amendments to the state
constitution reforming and simplifying
q ..<x4., So