Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-27
Measures EnactedAre
Regarded as Splen-
did Victory for
Peoples S Rights.
CONVENTION BILL GOES
DOWN TO DEFEAT AGAIN
Fielder Bill viii Give Imme-
diate Change, Pending Out
come of Referendum Next
November on Egan Law.
oFrom a star corre.ponaent.a


TRENTON, N. j.. May 27-Much
to the relief of everyone concerned
the special session of the 1s7th Leg
islature was brought to a close at
LEO o'clock a. m. today. Two of the
objects for which it was called, the
passage of jury bills and legislation
providing for small boards of free
holders in second-cla counties,
were accomplished; the third object.
that of a constitutional convention,
was defeated. In addition, remedial
legislation, most of it designed to
clear up defects in existing laws,
was enacted.
All sorts of contortions have been
gone through in the past few months
to secure the passage of the two jury
laws which were finally adopted.
With the passage of the Fielder BILL
providing for immediate supervision
by the Supreme Court of sheriff
drawn juries, and the Egan bill. by
which, If the people adopt 1t in Mo-
vember, the chancellor is to appoint
a county commissioner to help the
sheriff draw juries, it is held by
many that the State is no better off
than it would have been had the
Senate, at the regular session. agreed
to the McDermott bill. without fore
ing the issue of a special session.
While the chancellor sheriff bill
may be held unconstitutional in
view of the fact that Governor Field
er, as senator from Hudson voted
for it and will sign it as acting Gov
ernor. and while it may be defeated
at the referendum election, the OBJ
iect of jury reform has been accom-
plished, nevertheless. in the passage
of the Fielder court supervision
measure This change will continue
Il the chancellor bill Is beaten at the
polls.
The question of constitution ity
sill not be raised in connection With
the Fielder BILL for in order to be sure
of its legality Governor Fielder re-
Trained from voting upon it.
Distinctly victory.
The outcome Of the long drawn -out
fight on the jury reform is distinctive
ly victory for the opponents of
iudge-made juries, in the various
forms in which these were proposed.
The principle that representative
who stands close to the people shall
be the determining factor in matter
so vitally affecting the peoples well
fare as does the selection of jurors
was upheld. though with difficulty,
against those who sought to abol-
lsh it.
One of the features of the closing
hours of the session was the charac-
terization of President Wilson as a
monarch The appelIation of Wood
row Wilson the First" was conferred
upon him first by Senator Nichols,
Republican, and somehow it stuck,
and created more or less amusement.
There was bitterness to spare before
the session was brought to close.
Republican senators heaped ridicule
and abuse upon their Democratic coll
leagues, while in the House many as
semblymen vented their wrath upon
members of the upper house for re-
fusing to act upon the many bills
which were in the nature of new leg
islation, and which had been passed
by the House in the afternoon. Up
permost in the mind of everyone,
however. was the desire to wind up
the session, and for that reason the
House submitted 10 Ine iesei iSeiohS
imposed by the Senate.
Not Likely to BE Vetoed
All the bills enacted at the special
session will soon be turned over to
Governor Fielder for his signature.
and it is not anticipated that he will
refuse to approve any of them. When
members of the Legislature filed into
the executive office early this morn
ing, the Governor shook hands with
them all and congratulated them
upon the measure of success attained.
Called on May 8, the legislators ac-
tually worked only five days. The
incidentals committee of the House
handed in a bill for the services Of
employees of the Legislature during
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