The Penn's Grove record., 1914-03-13
LEGISLATURE is
READY FOR SPEED
All Bills in and Battles DELAYED
Will Come On
RECORDS SHOW 1907 BILLS
Combined Work Of Both Houses
Nsends Less Than 100 to Third
Reading = Governor Fielder
Favors Economy Bills.

Especial Trenton Correspondence
Tremton.-Unless there is less mark
ing timF and more actual accomplish
ment within the next two or three
weeks than there has been in the last
two months by the State Lawmill.
April showers win have gone. Mays
flowers will be well in bloom and pos
sibly the latter will have faded away
and the June roses and brides will
have arrived ON the scene before
the work of the Legislature will reach
the sine die adjournment stage. What
is characterized as the first stage Of
the session was ended by the expira-
ton OF the time limit for the introduc-
ton of bills, unless unanimous consent
for important matters can be gained
later in the house of their origin.
The records show 765 bills in the AS
sembly, an average Of 12% to each
member, and 1872 in the Senate, an
average of Is 1-3 to each member, or
a total of 1887. Thus far the COM
bined action of both branches has sent
less than one hundred of them to the
third reading stage. There is a bum
die of them in the second reading
stage, but a majority still repose
peacefully in committees. Some OF
them, notably the economy and eff
cheney bills which the administration
wants passed in order to begin a sav-
ing in State expenditures, are ap-
parently SO solidly stored away in the
committees that there is already talk
of prying them out in the Senate by
the rule of seven and in the Assembly
by the rule of fifteen.
Hard Struggle Ahead.
One of the bitterest and most inter
esting struggles of the year is ex-
pected upon those same efficiency and
economy bills. The Governor is
known to favor them in the form that
they were presented by the State COM
mission which Investigated conditions
in various State departments, bureaus
and commissions. Other leaders Of
the Democratic majority and some Of
he Republicans are also ready to vote
for them, but serious opposition has
developed in the majority membership
in the Senate as we'll as in the AS
sembly and there is not a sufficient
approach to unanimity to warrant the
leaders in having the bifIs reported
for action on the floor of either house.
Conferences have been held, but they
have resulted only in emphasizing the
fact that there are serious differences
over the measures.
Need of Backbone.
The situation is one which needs a
stiff backbone, and it is expected to
develop rapidly after the Legislature
gets into action. That the Governor
will rise strongly to it, no one doubts.
Whether the Legislature will respond
TO the prod he is certain to hand out
is another question. 1t will resolve
itself into which end of the contro-
versy a demonstrate the greatest
strength, and the friends of the Gov
ernor and his administration declare
that in the trial he will moi be found
wanting. That it will be a stiff battle
is agreed. There are many interests
involved which have important rea-
sons for desiring to see the recon-
mendations of the Economy and Eff
cheney Commission defeated, despite
the fact that they have been accepted
as administration measures. Some of
the directly interested persons and
interests have seemingly obtained the
a of members of both houses and
have convinced them that at least
some of the proposed changes should
not be made, and those members have
let it be known that they mean to
stick to their friends even to the point
of a split with their colleagues of
the majority. The whole matter is
at present bound up in a tense feel
ing such as has not marked any other
happening of the present session, and
unless all signs fan there will be
something lively doing within the next
few days in connection with it.
Appeal by Railroads.
One of the most interesting things
that has happened this year was the
presentation to the President of the
Senate and to the Speaker of the
House this week of two memorials
from representatives of nine railroad
companies operating within the state,
with a request that forms of bills
accompanying the papers be caused
by those officers to be introduced in
each branch of the Legislature and
enacted into laws. One urges the
repeal of the full-crew law which was
passed last year after a long struggle
embezzIer Goes Free.