The Penn's Grove record., 1915-04-30


Local Option Defeated, as Was Bill
Requiring Reading of Bible In Public
Schools - Total Appropriations Re-
duced a Million Dollars.
Especial Correspondence
"RENTON, April 26.-Of the 1,2O0
bills introduced In the session
Of the legislature just closed
SOP reached the hands Of the
governor. The session was unusual,
both in its length, covering fifteen
weeks, and the number of proposed
laws. The total of statutes effected
also exceed those of former years. The
governor has approved Of 400 Of the
bills. He returned sixty-nine to the
introducers before the close of the seS-
sion and vetoed som Of these because
of errors that they contained. More
than a dozen have been filed in the
state library without the approval OF
the executive since the lawmakers left
The chief measures of the session
were those Of the economy and em-
CICuCy COullulSSIOA LOI thO ~OAoOANN0
ton Of different state departments.
Legislation to permit Of farm irriga-
ton was also sanctioned, and the
amendment to the constitution provid-
ing for woman's suffrage was approx
ed. One of the bills which were great
ly desired by the sporting fraternity OF
the state to permit of boxing was
passed by both branches Of the legis-
lature, but because Of an error 1t can
not be sent to the executive for his
signature. The constitution requires
that a bill be delivered to the governor
from the house in which it originated.
The boxing bill was changed into a
committee substitute in the senate and
should have been sent from that
branch. Through a mistake 1t was al
lowed to remain in the house until too
late to be received by the senate.
Six items in the appropriation bills
were vetoed by the governor. Four Of
these were for compensation for en-
ployees Of the house whose positions
are not provided for by law. The ex-
ecutive in his early message had as
serted that he would not give his ap-
proval to such appropriations, but he
did not make any comment for his veto
act now. One of the items eliminated
from the supplemental appropriation
bill required that Gardner Colby, Sec
rotary of the civil service commission,
be paid $1,000 for his services in the
election branch of civil service. This
money was In addition to his salary Of
$4,000 as secretary to the civil service
commission. One of the other items
disapproved provided for the placing Of
markers at the point where Major Gen.
era1 Kearny fell at the battle Of
Chantilly. The total Of the appropria-
tdon bills was reduced a million dol
lars this year to avoid a state tax or
bond issue.
Among the bills that created unusual
interest, but failed to get through the
house, was the Gaunt local option
measure. 1t was introduced in the SEN
ate by Senator Gaunt and was approx
ed In that branch of the lawmaking
OO0ys ~ nlCj u uClCdL III LAC AOuSc
after an entire night had been spent In
debating it. Speaker Godfrey Of the
house made a determined effort for Ia
vorable consideration Of his bills for
the abandonment of the Morris canal,
but he could not muster enough votes
for them. The varied interests that
were involved again prevented decisive
action on this question, which has been
the source of squabbling for years.
The measure by Senator Hutchinson
30 permit Of the abolition Of capital
punishment was another that did not
take in the house. 1t was favored in
the senate, but mustered only a few
ballots in the lower branch. The rap
idly growing use of the jitney buses
was the subject Of proposed legislation
In the assembly, but it never got before
the senate. Stringent restrictions
would have governed the traffic. The
operators Of the buses would have
been placed under the Jurisdiction Of
the public utilities board and the COM
panies running the cars would have to
be incorporated. Sunday baseball died
again before it was sent to the upper
branch, The salary reducing bill, which
caused lengthy discussion in the SEN
ate, was smothered in committee in the
house. 1t would have reduced the pay
Of a half dozen state officers and the
supreme and chancery courts. The
abolition Of the county tax boards was
another Of the economy bills that were
killed. 1t was maintained that the
boards had outlived their usefulness
and that a great saving for the state
would result If they were dropped.
One Of the resolutions that caused
arguments previous to election provid-
ed for the selection Of assemblymen by
districts. This was introduced In the
house, but failed to receive considera-
ton. The bill requiring the reading of
the Bible in the public schools had
enough votes to pass 1t In the house. II
arrived in the senate on the day of
final adjournment ard was not report.
ed out Of committee.
Included among the bills sent to the
state library without approval of the