Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1911-04-13
ELECTION BILL
NOW ASSURED
Geran Bill Reported In the
Senate.
MANY AMENDMENTS
Leavitt Makes Fight Against One
Of the Proposed School Re-
forms.

Trenton N. j., April 1.-THE Geran
primary and election bill, looking like
mosquito net, so numerous were the
changes, was reported in the Senate
today, and will be brought up and
passed tomorrow morning. While
most of the amendments are technical,
two affecting vital parts of the meas
ure were agreed upon today and made
a part of it.
The bill was revised to make coun-
ty chairmen elected directly by mem
bers of the county committee and pro-
vision was made for compelling a
challenged voter to make an affidavit
on primary day that he voted at the
last election for a majority of the
candidates on the party at whose pri-
maries he desires to take part.
No definite action was taken on the
Geran bill by the Republicans at their
conference early this morning, but
enough of the Senators favored it to
make its passage assured by snug
majority.
Without a dissenting vote the Sen
ate today passed the Osborne Child
Labor bill, which prohibits the en-
ployment of messengers under twenty
one years of age at night in first class
cities. In other cities the age is linn
tied to eighteen years. This bill will
pass the House as it is the product
of a conference committee.
Mr.. Leavitt put up vigorous kick
| ags i~-t Senate Bill 269, which pro-
vides for the appointment by mayors
of school boards consisting of seven
members. The Mercer Senator de-
declared that school boards should be
| non-partisan but with seven instead
| of eight members, as provided for by
| the bill, would surely be partisan.
Mr.. Leavitt, who presented an amend
ment fixing the membership of the
board at eight, declared that for twen-
| ty years Trenton and Paterson had
kept school affairs out of politics be-
cause they had non-partisan boards,
consisting of four Democrats and four
Republicans. The amendment was
lost, 4 to II.
Mr.. Leayitt then submitted another
amendment which sought to have the
provisions of the bill so far as the
membership of seven was concerned
not to apply at Trenton and Paterson,
which have non-partisan boards of
eight members. This amendment was
lost, 5 to Z. Then the bill was beaten
by vote of 8 to 6.
The initiative, referendum and re-
call were given hearty approval by
Governor Wilson today in message
sent to the Legislature praising the
report of the Frelinghuysen school
investigating committee and urging
the passage of the Walsh bill provid-
ing for commission form of govern
ment in cities. In urging the adoption
of the Walsh bill the Governor said:
The reforms suggested for the
adoption of the cities do not consist
merely in putting their government
into the hands of a small commission.
Back of this change and in addition
to it are the initiative, referendum and
the recall, measures which enable the
people to correct the mistakes of their
governors, to adopt measures upon
their own initiative, when necessary,
and to recall from office unsatisfac-
tory officials. These have proved not
only efficient but absolutely neces-
sary parts of what is now known as
the commission form of government
in the various cities of the country.
There can be no doubt that these
reforms are desired, and even de-
manded. by intelligent opinion in the
cities of our state We have abun-
dant evidence that there is an extra
ordinary body of opinion behind
them