The Penn's Grove record., 1916-01-07
STATE CAPITOL NEWS NEWS
What The State Officials Are Doing.
What The Political Leader Are
Talking About.

Trenton. Jan. 5.-Yisitors at the State
House yesterday for Governors Day who
expected a big crowd Of legislators and
politicians, gathered in anticipation OF
legislation for modern political reform. In
putting the final touches to the arrange
ments for the opening of the 10th Legis-
lature next Tuesday at noon, were dis
appointed as there was hardly the usual
number Of statesmen and political lead
ers at the Capitol. The lull seemed to
be due to the fact that the plans for the
beginning of the new Legislature are so
nearly completed that no special worry
of the turning of The law wheels, give
a striking comment on the changed pol
teal conditions in New Jersey since the
advent of direct primaries and the other
former years, when almost the entire leg
islative program for a session was in the
hands of a few men in both parties and
of big men in Trenton a week in advance
was necessary at this time. This deartF
lawmaking was more of a scramble than
of due consideration on the part of all
the members of the Legislature, the en-
tire week preceding the opening of a ses-
sion was exceedingly lively in Trenton.
Lawmakers. tpositieians, lobbyists and
others in those days came to Trenton
sometimes more than a week before the
session opened and remained in town over
the organization of the two Houses.
The Republican Senators held their
hnal conference yesterday on the bills to
be introduced by them, carrying out the
platform pledges, all being present except
McCran, of Passaic, and Stephens, of
Cape May. Discussing the meeting, Sem
ator Rathbun said that all the bills on
the Republican State platform planks
were ready for introduction next Tues
day except those providing for a new
State road policy. There has been some
little delay in the preparation of these,
owing to getting together the necessary
data, but they viii be completed and
ready for introduction on Monday night,
January II. Senator Rathbun stated
also that that there will be only two very
slight changes in the rules to be adopted
in the Senate next Tuesday. These VIII
no particular bearing upon legisia-
ton.
Senator Pierce, of Union County. is
of the Senate Committee, charg-
ed with preparing the important biIlsrun
tax reform and grade crossing removal. =
He said to-day that his tax bills win fol-
low closely those introduced by him last
year. These measures viii provide for
a revision of the methods of assessing
property for the equalization Of assess
ments by broadening the powers of tbs
County Tax Boards in this regard for
the charging of taxing districts N the
rural sections, and for the selection Of
better qualified assessors, who viii be re
CURED to give their entire time to the
work of assessing.
Senator Pierce's grade crossing bill win
be practically the same as his bIl Of last
year, except in one important Particular
His measure last session required each
railroad in the State to eliminate one
grade crossing fcSr each thirty miles of
track operated. yThere was OPP
position to this Aon the part of the rail- !
road company, Taagticularly the smaller
ones, they claiming thasteany such com
pulsory law would bankrupt them t.
viii be recalled that Presidenat Wise 8
while Governor of this State, vet6~ed a I ~
by Senator Pierce, requiring the rear6e##
of one grade crossing for every thir5#z#zsz=
of track operated. Senator Pierce
aCN DAn Will PfONluc 1OI Lie EOmDulSUIV
removal of all dangerous railroad cross
ings, but win raise the basis up to the re
moval Of one crossing for every forty
miles of track operated.
Assemblyman o. n. Hammond. of SOM
erset County, chairman of the Assembly
Civil Service Investigating COMMITTEES.
announces that a joint resolution win be
fnSr05nood in tho Ta~.l.-.
authorizing the appointment of a Joint
to continue the work OF in
v~estigating the operation of the Civil
Service law. This action viii be taken
because Attorney General Wescott has b
ruled that the existing Assembly Commit =
tee had nc legal power after the final adj
journment of the Legislature last May
The new Commission. if the Joint resp
luton be enacted, viii be composed Of
members of the Senate and Assembly ap-
pointed by the respective presiding Of
fcers. 1t will take up the work from
where the present committee has STONED.
and the work already done viii be made
a part of the record of the new body.
The Democratic leaders in several Of I
the counties are already starting acfivi-
ties for the campaign for the election Of @
President, United States Senator, Gov I
ernor, Congressman and other officers.
For the purpose of laying the foundation
for the campaign in Atlantic County in
the interest of the Democratic ticket, the
County Committee has just held an en-
thusiastic meeting at which many party
workers from all over the county were
present. Secretary of State Martin was
the principal speaker.
Speaking in Elizabeth on the subject
THE Future America" United States
Senator James f. Msrtine praised Presi-
dent Wilson's preparedness program and
lauded the President in the highest
terms. Senator Marines speech was r.