Bridgeton pioneer., 1914-01-29
LAW MAKING
IN old WAY
California Double Session
Plan Beaten
some SORENESS IS FELT
ublic Will Not Have Opportunity
to Study Bills Before
Action.

Trenton, Jan. 27.-The Democrats
N the New Jersey Legislature have
turned their backs upon the Califor-
mia plan for bifuricated session, and
this years session will proceed upon
the same old line of having bills in
troduced and considered and jammed
through just whenever the spirit
moves teh assemblage.
The California scheme expired this
afternoon when the Democratic As
semblymen caucused and, by vote Of
20 to "A, decided to adhere to the same
Old system. Just what was operating
in the Democratic mind to cause this
complete reversal from three weeks
ago, when every Democratic legislator
was throwing out his chest and brag-
ging about the proposed reform in
legislative procedure is not clear.
Assemblymap McDermott, who faith
cred the movement, asserted today
that it was because the Senate would
not concur in the scheme, rather a.
lame excuse in view of the fact that
if one house adopted it, the other
would have to-
Assemblyman Weart, of Mercer.
probably came nearer to the truth
when he asserted that the Democrats
had turned tail because they were
afraid that if month were allowed
the public and Republicans to examine
the Democratic measures, these meas
ures would be torn to shreds before
| it becam etime for a reconvening of
the Legislature. Cowardice <on the
part of the Democrats is openly
charged by Republican legislators.
1t is said, too, that Governor Fielder
was mortally afraid of the scheme. 1t
is no secret that he has been opposed
to it from the first, and while he as
serted a week before his inaugiura-
tion that he would not oppose the
adoption of the California plan, he
has been working earnestly to defeat
it.
Assemblyman McDermott himself
hinted today that some of his Demo-
cratic colleagues were afraid of the
publicity and public discussion to
which their pet measures would be
subjected during the interim between
the first and second sections of the
session.
''The California plan has been killed
for this season." he said, "and, be-
lieve me, some beautiful bills will get
through now. We are going back to
the rotten old system simply because
they are afraid their bills will be in
spected too closely, and you know
where there are always lot of bills
that get through in the rush at the
close of the session that will not bear
inspection. However, til new idea
has been put before the people and
they will demand that it be adopted
at the next session. l am satisfied
with the work achieved so far
The only action taken by the House
that has any bearing on the Califor-
MIA plan was the adoption of the Kirk
patrick amendment to the McDermott
resolution, providing that no bill or
joint resolution be introduced in the
house except by unanimous vote.
The House and Senate have now de-
voted three weeks chiefly to the in
PRODUCTION of bills and to the discus
sion of ways and means of preventing
hasty and immature consideration of
bills. Every departure from the am
cient custom having now been dis
posed of, it is possible that the Legis-
lature will get down to business merit
week.