The Penn's Grove record., 1916-03-31

the Pierce grade crossing bill of that
year. Chief Justice Gummere wrote the
opinion in that case. He quoted Article
5, paragraph Z, of the State COnstitu-
ton. which provides:
IF any bill shall not be returned by
the Governor, within five days (Sundays
excepted) after it shall have been pre-
scented to him, the same shall be a law
in like manner as if he had signed it, un-
less the Legislature by their adjourn
ment prevent its return, in which case
it shall not be a law"
The Supreme Court held that by the
force of this constitutional provision, the
adjournment of the House in which a
bill originates, after such a bill has been
presented to the Governor subsequent to
its final passage, if it continues for more
than five days after the bill has been so
presented, prevents the return of the bill
by the Executive to the House of origin
within that period and that the effect
of such prevention is to absolutely des-
troy the validity of the bill.
Chief Justice Gummere concludes his
opinion as follows:
mot only is the Governor under no
obligation when the House of origin re-
convenes after the five day limit, to re-
turn the bill to that body with his OBJ
lection, but should he do so, his action is
entirely %nugatory for no matter what
course that house, or the other house of
the Legislature might thereafter take
Upon that bill, vitality could not be re-
stored to it. Their power to make it a
law has ceased"
There has been a large increase in
systematic reading in the rural communi-
ties of the State and the books read have
been of a better grade, according to the
annual report of State Librarian John
P. Dullard, just filed with Governor
Fielder. Travelling libraries are now be-
ing sent to Ais stations in the rural sec
tons that have no local public library
accommodations. To these stations l.
AT libraries were sent, containing in the
aggregate 70.S50 volumes. Mr.. Dullard
says that each book c~irculates an average
of four times, giving a total circulation
of books specially loaned and books in
travelling libraries of 291,
The amended Iobst bill for Bible read
ing in the public schools took effect on
Monday of this week, having been signed
by Governor Fielder on Friday of last
week. He received a few protests
against approving it, mostly from He
brew organizations, while many members
of various patriotic organizations urged
him to sign it. The law limits the read
ing to the Old Testament, under the
amendment offered by Senator Hutchin-
son, of Mercer, and incorporated in the
act. The full text of the new law fol-
lows:
an each public school classroom in
the State, and in the presence of the
scholars therein assembled, at least five
verses from that portion of the Holy Bib
lie known as the Old Testament, shall be
read, or caused to be read, without com
ment, at the opening of such school, upon
each and every school day, by the teacher
in charge thereof;
Provided, that whenever there is a
general assemblage of school classes at
the opening of such school day. then.
instead of such classroom reading. the
principal or teacher in charge of such as
semblage shall cause same to be read.
IN the presence of the assembled scbol-
ars as herein directed"
AT least six members of the present
Assembly will seek seats in the Senate
at the coming election. The terms of
seven State Senators will expire this
year to whom successors will be elected
next November, and in addition Senator
Read will resign in a few DAYS as Sena-
Tor from Camden county to become State
Il req SIPQr OF ho hos
his term. This will make the Senatorial
next fall of unusual Importance,
with eight Senators to be chosen. An
other important factor in the situation is
that all the eight Senators chosen will
have a vote for State Comptroller in a
JOINT Session of the Legislature next
Winter. The term of State Comptrol-
Ter Edwards, Democrat, will expire on
February 20, 1917. This viii make the
campaign for Senators more hotly con-
tested than in ordinary years.
Assembly Godfrey, of Atlantic, will be
a candidate for the Senate to succeed
Edge, who will run for Governor.
Assemblyman Hates, of Camden, will in
all probability be his party's candidate
ior senator to succeed Read. Senator
Democrat, of Cumberland, will
not seek reelection. Assemblyman Ray
nond Sheppard, who is serving his third
term in the House, aspires to be the can
dIdate of the Republicans for Senator in
but is likely to have on
at the primary next September.
In Morris county Senator Rathbun does
have the cordial support of Uncle
Dan" VOORHEES, and some other Republi-
can leaders, and it is expected that he
Will be opposed for denomination by As
semblyman Harry W. Mutchler. Having
almost completed four years in the House
Assemblyman David G. Conrad. of
Ocean, will be a candidate for Senator
from that county on the Republican
ticket. Neither Bergen nor Hudson
members in the Assembly who seem
to have Senatorial aspirations. In Mer-
GER county Assemblyman James Ham
nond, a Republican and local optionist,
is a candidate for the Senate.
M o.