The Penn's Grove record., 1919-02-28
SENATE VOTES ON
DRY BILL MARCH 3
Republicans Back of Scheme to
Have Legislature Meet But
Every Two Years in Jersey.
WOULD AVOID DEADLOCK
Ratification Of Federal Amendment
May Pass Upper House, But Not
Assembly - Propose Biennial
Sessions of Legislature.

at the RED nag anu lHe leu hdSSCiS'
providing for compulsory voting, pro
posed changes in the state constitution
and the announcement thai a nearing
would take place on The Wells resolu-
ton for the ratification of the proHibl-
ton amendment to the federal Consti-
tuition at = o'clock on the afternoon Of
March. 8 in the senate chamber We're
the features of the first business SEES
sion of both houses of the legislature
Monday.
DR.. James X. Shields, superintend-
ent of the Anti-SaloOn League, was
here preparing for the hearing and the
date was announced after he had con
ferred with Senators Wells and liam
ntond.
DR.. Shields was reticent as TO de
tails, but minated that the Anti-Sa-
loon League forces would make an I'M
pressive showing at Trenton on the
day Of the hearing.
1t was apparent from the lobby talk
that the prohibition amendment Will
not have smooth sailing in the senate
that the A~nti-Saloon League agents be
lieyed it would have.
These agents have figured that SEN
ators who supported local option last
year would support prohibition. Sen
ator Mackay, joint author with the
late Senator Gaunt of the local option
bill. has made it known that while he
fayors local option he is opposed to
prohibition because public sentiment
in Bergen county is opposed to IT. Sen
ator Pilgrim of Essex, Senator Smith
OF Passaic and Senator Whitney, all
Republicans, are outspoken opponents
of prohibition, and it was said that
Senator Haines of Camden may also
be found in opposition to he resolu-
ton, although no statement was forth
coming from him.
The six Democratic members are be-
lieved to be united against the resolu-
ton. but Senator Ackerson of Mon
mouth county has refused to make
known his position until he is ready to
vote.
Eleven votes are necessary to pass
the resolution: Only nine members
of the senate are outspoken in favor
of prohibition.
Would L%engthen Officials Terms.
Proposed changes iii Tie state con-
stitution came from two quarters.
Senator Moore of Mercer county
would make the term of the governor
four years instead of three years and
the terms of the senators four years
instead of three years. He would make
the terms of the members of the gen
eral assembly two years instead of one
year.
Senator Cochran of Atlantic county
submitted his bill, which would make
the terms of assemblymen two years
instead of one year. and a companion
bill providing for biennial sessions of
the legislature instead of yearly ses-
sions. All of these matters were re-
ferred to the Committee on Judiciary.
The compulsory voting law was in
troduced by Assemblyman Thomas
Foxhall of Passaic. The FoXhall bill
would make it mandatory upon every
citizen to vote unless there was a rea-
sonable excuse. 1t would be the duty
of the city clerk 10 days after election
70 transmit to the prosecutor a list OF
the names of those who failed to vote,
and upon conviction of violating the
compulsory voting law they would be
fined not less than $40. Half the fine
would 90 to the police pension fund
and half to the county. The bill also
compels employers to give employees
an hour off on registration and election
days.
Red Flag Bill Evokes Discussion.
A bill introduced in the house by
Assemblyman Moore would make the
display of the red flag in public or pri-
vate a high m~isdemeanor, punishable
bv a fine not exceeding $1,000 or ID
years Imprisonment.
In the senate a similar bill intro
duced by Senator Hammond came up
on second reading and evoked a lively
discussion because some of the sena-
tors believed that it vas not drawn
with due care.
Flood of Bills in House.
Assemblyman Morgan of Union
county introduced II bills affecting
buildine and loan associations. The
objects of these bills are: To prevent
building and loan associations from
borrowing money for a longer period
than one year without a confirming
resolution of its Board of Directors
ad interim appointments to fill vacan-
cies requires counsel to be bonded F;
limits to one year the term OF officers
other than auditor; precludes build
ms and loan associations making
mortgage loans to corporations With
out having proper evidence hat the
CORPORATION has authority to borrow
and mortgage its property, and is q
legally established concern; estab-
fishes a maximum charge for becom-
ing a member; ~reimburses state for
extra service necessary in
tons; safeguards building and loan
associations against unauthorized can
collation. of mortgages given to them
as security places a limit on the total
amount of fines which an association