The Penn's Grove record., 1913-03-21
The PENIS Grove Record
FRIDAY, MARCH 81, 1918.
Senator Davis's Letter

I This has been the most busy week in
the entire session. Probably more bills
have been introduced than at any other
session of the Senate. The House of
Assembly broke the record for the in
PRODUCTION of bill therein on Monday
night, introducing ninety-two bills.
The bill originally introduced by AS.
sembly Smick, al d then merged into
the bill of Assemblyman Ackley, Of
Cumberland county, protecting musk
rats and furbearing animals was passed
by the Senate yesterday. The bill in
troduced by tie writer allowing fisher
men TO catch perch with nets passed
the Senate yesterday, and went over to
the House.forthwith, and have assur-
ances that it ill pass the House also.
MI. Harry Smith, of Penns Grove,
came up the State House yesterday and
had Il conference with the writer and
with the Fish and Game Commission
with regard to catching rock with nets.
The said COmmisSion1ha SCI its face
steadfastly against such a bill, but
after a conference of some length, it
was agreed that something might be
done to allow the fishermen Il make
list OIL lOCh Aoll NulCll die CouSub III
the shad nets when fishing for shad,
since they generally are dead when
taken out and it is pure was g 10 put
them back into the river then. The
writer introduced a bill yesterday
which provides that upon the applica.
non of five citizens, the Fish and Game
Commission without going to the Leg
lslature for authority, may, when IL is
reasonable and necessary. grant priv.
legeS which the fishermen seem to need.
This prevents the delay OF the passage
Of a bill by the Legislature. These de-
lays are sometimes annoying and cost
ly. For instance, year before last the
legislature Inadvertently passed a law
prohibiting the catching of carp with
cast nets. 1t did not intend sO to do,
but under the law no one could fish
with cast Eets, and it was necessary TO
wait for the Legislature to repeal that
law before it could be done. If the bill
referie ed 10 passes, the Fish and Game
Commission could at once give relief
Ill such cases as this.
The writer introduced a bill yesterday
for the revision and cOdlhcation of the
Fish and Game Laws of the State.
These laws are a great piece of patch
work which have been repealed and
added to piece by piece Tor the last fifty
years, SO that it is almost impossible for
a lawyer to say nothing of a layman, to
hnd what he wishes i'll said laws, and l
am sure that every tishefmaE and gun
ner who has to learn what he is allowed
to do and what he is not allowed to do
has given it up as a hopeless ask. We
are therefore i'll sad need of Il general
revision of the said laws, SO that those
which are good may be incorporated i'll
III II single act, and all Others re-
pealed.
The Teachers Tenure of Office which
was introduced in the Assembly, was
defeated therein Oh Monday evening,
so the repeal of that law seams TO be
impossible at this Tune. Ii is claimed
by the teachers to be an excellent law,
and largely by the seho j boards 10 be
detrimental 10 the interests of our
State. The Senate passed yesterday
the Teachers Pension Fund Bill which
differs from The Teachers retirement
fund III this, That when a teacher has
taught t~hiIty-five years, twenty five
years Of which shall have been in This
Stale, then he OF she may retire on half
SALARY Which Salaly must be paid by
The State and not by The locality in
which he OF she last taught. This
seeIned just since The thlrty.hve years
might have been spent iii different
parts OF the State, and no one locality
has in that Case secured the benefit of
said teaching.
The Jury Reform bill providing that
tile Governor many appoint two per-
sons III each county to select jurors
under the provisions of said bill passed
tile Senate yesterday and went forth.
with to The House under a suspension
OF the rules OF the Senate. Every
S nator present being nineteen in
number voted for the bill. The salary
OF The TWO Commissioners shall not ex-
coed $500. The Boald is TO be b.
pal tlsan. 1t was not felt that the
Sheriff'S Of most of our counties were
crooked OF susceptible TO sinister ill.,
%t1uences, but IL is All, open and motor
lOus TACT that III some of our counties
1t is absolutely impossible 10 convict
political criminals and Others who in
tsbJ hhl h0hSo pun hlbll IIS DOllllO |
Clans. Consciously justice, i'll the
most fragrant and glnring way has been
obStlucted i'll such counties and there
seemed nothing else to do but pass such
a bill 10 correct these evils which aim
at the destruction of the very founda- |
zion OF the Government.
The resolution providing for the di-
rect election by Ihe people of United
States Senators pasS.d the Senate
yesterday, 1t had previously passed
The House and doubtless Will be signed
at once by the Governor.
The Anti Injunction Bill" prohibit
ing injunclions III labor disputes, except
In cases mentioned i'll SAID Uill, passed
the House and is III the Committee of
which The writer Is chairman. A hear
ing was given 10 tie corporation oppos-
ing the bill last week, and a hearing
Was had before the Committee ongMon
day OF this week 10y the labor unions
which advocate the bill. Many in1u.
ences have been used to have the bill
killed Ill Committee, and at least one
member OF The Committee is unwilling
10 take any such action and to bear any
such responsibility. Consequently The
bill will be reported for The action of
the Senate, 50 that each Senator may
be recorded as to his position thereon,
A bill was introduced in the Assem-
bly, providing for absolute home rule
except where other provision has been
made by Stale Law, and also providing
that the Common Council shall Tx the
salary, require bonds, and prescribe the
duties OF every officer i'll said munich
pality, except where it is otherwise pro-
Nided by the State Law.
Assemblymen Russell Carlow, the son
of Judge CarroW OF the Circuit Court of
our Judicial District, introduced "a reso-
luton on Monday night providing that
the State shall select as its flower the
violet. LII view Of the blushibg BASH
fuine S of said flower Speaker Taylor
referred the resolution to the Commit
tee on the State Home Tor Girls.
The writer introduced a bill OH Mon
10 -,.1. ..-1,,il5.,. -. H. |