Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1909-01-12
Program Asked
by Caucus Was
Carried Out.
MANY PRESENT
The Usual Scenes in the
State House. Speeches by
the New Officers and
the Committees
Announced.
Special to the EVENING NEWS.

Special TO the EVENING NEWS
Trenton. Jan. 12:-Confronted
with state questions of the gravest
Importance, including a pressing
need of increasing the annual reve-
nue. to prevent the imposition OF a
state tax; the solution of the prob
lem of handling the liquor traffic;
consideration of several proposed
amendments of the State Constitu-
tfon, and similar matters, New Jer-
sey's lawmakers assembled at the
Capitol today and organized for the
1880. session of the legislature.
The annual message of Governor
Fort was received and the mill was
set in motion for a law grind of un-
usual consequence.
1t is generally conceded that
som ething must be done to keep the
states expenditures from exceeding
It's income. The balance in the state
treasury October 81, 1905, was $2,-
85s,39s.1s. October 81, 1906. tho
balance showed decrease of $773.-
506.74, and October 81, 1907. show
ed further decrease of s764, ,852.-
96. At the close of the fiscal year
October 81 last, while the overnight
cash balance in the state treasury
to be $2,818,27S.14, the apparent
increase was due to the fact that
the railroad taxes paid in had not
been distributed to the public
schools. Governor Fort then ex-
planned the real situation when he
declared that the balance available
for s}ze5ae purposes was about $685.
0OU, g aaccsase of little more than
$3.50 0Jsc s,o>s the balance
Coupled with ts grs
in the states sui b-nius~
crease in the cost szzs5z
penal, correctfonay 7bIa
institutions. Duril Isl six
years this one item has cost the
state 1888, ,877.sf, and every year
it keeps going up. 1t is perfectly
evident, therefore. that the law
makers will have to look we'll to the
condition of the states strong box
Undoubtedly one of the big prob
lens OF the session just started will
be presented by the liquor question.
After an exhaustive Investigation
and many hearings the State Excise
Probers have failed to agree on
their recommendations. and the va
rious sections of the state are also at
variance This makes II certain that
w HSu TIE uuGbtlOu kGtS lutO Lie ~
isiature there with be warm fight
The local optionists will be sire
ously opposed by the advocateg
an open Sunday after 1 o'clod
m. and those who stand for a i
enforcement Of the bishops Law
buck against the Atlantic Cit
of liberalists, who will bait
some privileges on Sunday.
The local optionists, headed by j.
Frank Burke, secretary of the Anti
Saloon League, will contend again
for the enactment of q law permit
ting the people to vote on the queG-
ton of banishing or retaining the
saloon The main bill this year will
not embody local option for wards,
the principle which met strenuous
opposition last winter. The unit OK
the bill will be municipalities and
there will be, it is expected. sep
arate bill providing that those mu-
inequalities which desire to do so
may vote on local option for it's
wards. This bill will not be passed,
of course, unless the first one should
get through.
Amendments TO Constitution.
The proposed am mendments to the
constitution TO come before this leg
islature are:
First, creating assembly districts
so that members of the assembly in
each county shall be elected by dis
tricts instead of by the county &C
large, the object being to make each
assemblyman representative OF his
particular part of the county. orr
other words, to keep him closer to -
constituency.
Second, the separation OF state
from municipal elections. This pro-
vides that the governor shall be
elected for four years instead or
three years. senators for four years
instead of three; assemblymen for
two years instead of one YEAR,
sheriffs for four years; and other
county officers for six years. The
legislature to meet annually. state
elections to be held in even years
and municipal elections in odd
years.
Third, the amendment reorganiz-
ing and simplifying the system Of
state courts.
CONTINUED on page Sd
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