Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-04-21
LAW MILL ENDS
SESSION WITH
STEAM ROLLER
Godfrey and the Republicans
Disregard Minority in Final
+ Rush and Disorder.
SUFFRAGE TRICK ONE OF
LEGISLATURES LAST ACTS
Prevents Women Voting This
Year, Even if Special EIec-
ton Gives Them Ballot.
From 8 STAR oorrespondent.

From staff Correspondent.
TRENTON, April 21.-After fifteen
weeks of legislation, the 1916 session
of the New Jersey Legislature ad-
journed sine die shortly before 10
o'clock last night The closing day
was featured by steam-roller tactics
the like of which perhaps was never
before seen in the Legislature.
Speaker Godfrey and the Republican
majority absolutely disregarded the
minority and their rights, applied the
gag rule and jamned through legis-
lation amid the greatest disorder.
Assemblyman Frank Dolan, of Hud-
son, who was filling the shoes of the
minority leader, attempted to check
the steam-roller when it was running
at high speed. The speaker refused
TO recognize him and he started slam
ming his desk top, which stopped
only when Speaker Godfrey recognized
him. Mr.. Dolan then told the speaker
what he thought of his tactics and
asserted that it was anything but fair
play. Another feature of the days
disorder was a heated verbal battle
between Assemblyman Pancoast, of
Camden, and pilgrim, of Essex, over
the defeat of q Camden county bill on
which Mr.. Pilgrim had cast his vote
in the negative.
Practically the only thing of i'm
portance done during the day was the
axing of the date for the special eIec-
ton on the constitutional amend
ments. The date decided upon was
October IS, the final registry day for
the general election in November.
charges were made by Assemblyman
Peacock that the Senate had not
acted in good faith on the matter,
and pointed out that, even though
the right of suffrage was conferred
on the women, they could not vote at
the general election, for the reason
that they could not register.
Senate Fails to Take Up Labor Bill.
The House overrode the veto of
Governor Fielder on House bill 6o6,
the measure reorganizing the depart
ment of labor and extending the term
of State Labor Commissioner Lewis
/. Bryant, but 1t died in the Senate.
The House acted likewise on House
bill SIC, which bill covered the situ-
alton in Newark when i've battalion
rire chiefs We're recently reduced in
rank, but the Senate wouldn't take
any action on it.
A final effort was made to get some
action on the resolution calling for
the election of assemblymen by dis
triets, as provided for in the Repub-
lican platform but It was to no avail.
The motion was followed by a motion
TO table, which prevailed.
Wharton Tract Bill Passed.
In the closing hours OF the session
Assenblyman Runyon's bill providing
for the purchase of the Wharton tract
hOnd HF 11 n00 mn
reeurrected in the Senate and passed,
The bill contains a referendum, which
will be voted upon in the State at
large at the regular election in No.
vember.
The appropriation bills were passed
in the House, with a minor amendment
authorizing the expenditure of $1,000
to Investigate the fishing industry
along the Atlantic coast. The Senate
eoncurred in this amendment and in
two minor supplements making small
appropriations.
The session was marked by the in
PRODUCTION of over 1900 bills, 1863 of
which are already laws, with about
100 more to be acted upon by the gov
ernor.
Aside from the matters already
mentioned, the principal enactments
by the legislature were the efficiency
and economy bills, consolidating a
number of State departments.
No FnIl Crew Law Repeal.
Conspicuous among the defeated
measures were local option, the Nor
ris canal abandonment bill, fathered
by Speaker Godfrey, of the House; the
proposed repeal Of the full crew law,
and amendments to the Seven Sisters
corporation law The Seven Sistrs'
amendments failed because they were
not passed over Governor Fielder's
veto
For the first time, perhaps, in the
history of New Jersey the hands of the
Assembly clocks passed the hour fixed
for sine die adjournment yesterday.
Assemblyman Leo Sullivan, of Hud-
son, Democrat, discovered 1t and i'm
Inediately moved that the House adj
iourn sine die. Before the motion
stopped and the hands turned back
to 2:5S p. m. 1t was three hours
after the time for adjournment that
the trick was played At the time
the House was in the midst of pass
ing bills over the veto of Governor
Fielder. Who started the clock,
which had been stopped at 1855
O'Clock, could not be learned, but
strenuous attack on the persons
who played the trick was made by
Majority Leader Runyon.
DoIan Calls Speaker to Task.
Mr.. Dolan's attack on the speaker
was because of the failure of the lat
ter to recognize the Hudson Assem-
Diyman when he rose to point OF
personal privilege. When Mr.. Dolan
finally got the speakers attention the
latter apologized, saying he was not
conscious that Mr.. Dolan had made
such a point.
"You were just as conscious of it as
1 am" said Mr.. Dolan. "If that's
your idea of fair play, don't know
what fair play is. l have certain
privileges In this House and l most
certainly expect to exercise them, the
speaker and his methods notwith-
standing. / want to give notice that
The minority is entitled to courtesy,
at least, ana II we don't get that
courtesy I intend to see to 1t that
we will"
The Pancoast-P Pilgrim scrap was
over the failure of the House to over
ride the Governors veto on House
bill 552, introduced by Assemblyman
Wolverton. The measure pertained to
the payment by boroughs OF debts
contracted for improvements. Pilgrim
had voted to sustain the Governor
on the matter, whereupon Mr.. Pan
coast banged the desk with his fist
and announced to MIR. Pilgrim that
ne would take care of him.
I'm sick of this thing" he said
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