The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1915-03-20
WHAT OUR STATE
LEGISLATORS ARE DOING.

Trenton, N. j., March stacking
one vote of the thirty-one required Tor
passage. the most important of the
Morris Canal abandonment bills was
defeated in the House of Assembly
Monday night, the vote being 80 to
26. At the conclusion of the roll call,
Speaker Godfrey had his vote changed
to the negative in order that he might
move at some later date to have the
vote reconsidered.
Only one democrat voted for the
bill, Assemblyman Ostrom of Hudson
County. His Hudson County collea-
cues referred to him Is the exlled
member from Hudson" because he
favored the bill. In reply to this ac-
cusation Mr.. Ostrom said that "un-
bossed" described his position far bet
ter than "exiled." Nj. Ostrom fur
Their charged that Minority Leader
Martins opposition to the Godfrey
bill was due to the influence of for
mer Senator Jim Smith and the East
Jersey Water Company.
One prominent Republican mem
Der of the House remarked after the
vote had been announced that had the
bill been passed and the terms it set
forth been accepted by the Lehigh
Valley Railroad Company the amount
the State would have received would
more than likely have averted the
much discussed State tax now immi-
nent because of Democratic extrava-
gances in the last few sessions.
The local option fight in the House
began Tuesday when the attempt to
place a Sunday selling amendment in
the Gaunt bill was fought out with
unusual vigor and defeated. After
this amendment had been killed it
was decided to make the bill the order
of special business for next Monday
night.
Majority Leader Read of the Sem
ate stated Wednesday that every eff
fort would be made to advance the
business of the session SO that a re-
cess could be taken the first week IN
April for the purpose of considering
the appropriations bill that is now
being prepared. Senator Read said
that the appropriations bill would not
be rushed through as it had been IN
recent Democratic sessions, but that
it would he given due elaboration. 1t
is more than likely that the Senate
can complete its business on this Sch
edule, but doubt is expressed as to the
ability Of the House to get through
its business by the first week in April
in view of the many important meas
ures that are still pending. There
are still the Economy and efficiency
bills; the tax board reorganization
bill; the amendments to the election
laws; the reduction of salaries of leg
i~slative officials; the indeterminate
franchise bill; the Home Rule amend
ment; the State Normal School bills
and several other important measures
to be considered as well as a host OF
bills of more or less Importance.
Assemblyman Hammond of Somer-
set is preparing his plans for the in
vestigation of the administration of
the civil service department land I'M
der his careful and keen direction 1t
is certain to be conducted fairly and
without regard to partisanship. His
committee is an exceptionally good
n and the people of the State may
hope, for the first time, to be given
an accurate understanding of the
working of this branch of the State
service.
Assemblyman Peacock of Burling'
ton, is also getting in readiness fol
the probe of the State road depart
ment he is to conduct. The assembly
mar says that the coming probe will
be thorough and the blame will be
placed where it belongs without any
regard as to where it may hit.
Assemhlyman Whitman's bill re-
ducing the price Of annual rental fol-
oyster lands in Atlantic County from
So to So per acre has passed both the
Senate and House and needs only the
signature of the Governor to become
law.