The Monmouth inquirer., 1921-04-21
Control Too 0ne-Sided to Make
Legislatures Closing Hours
the Usual Wrangle.
HAD TO WORK OVERTIME
One Mill Tax, Reassessment and
Building Probe Pass-Highway
Bond and Open Paving
Bills Fail.

IroDIOn.-AnlQ scenes OF ulidIlly III
the house of assembly and somber dig
nifty of the senate the one hundred and
forty-fifth legislature adjourned sine
die Friday night five hours after the
hour originally set for the final rap OF
the gavel. The threatened jam of bills
at the last minute failed to materialize,
the senate having notified the house
shortly after o'clock that no more
bills would be gwen consideration.
The house in turn shut down on senate
measures.
Shortly before 8 o'clock a senate
messenger arrived in the house with
resolution calling for immediate ad-
journment sine die. A committee OF
members from both houses called
upon the governor and informed him
that the legislature was awaiting his
pleasure. He told the senatorial COM
mittee that he might find it necessary
within q month to call that body into
session to act upon an appointment OF
a state superintendent of police to car
ry out the provisions of the state con-
stabulary law.
The committees then returned to
their respective houses and moment
later Speaker Hobart marched the
members of the house through the cor
ridors, singing "Auld Lang Syne," TO
the senate chamber. There he inform
ed President Allen that the house was
prepared to adjourn sine die MEAL
len tapped the gayel for the last time
and announced the one hundred and
forty-fifth legislature at an end.
With Senator RunyOn leading, the
members of the two houses then join
ed in singing my Country, 'Tis of
Thee" "There's a Long, Long Trail
and "Auld Lang Syne." Mr.. Runyon
then sang 1.-The End of Perfect Day."
Adjournment was preceded in the
house by much horse play. Speaker
Hobart, ordinarily stern in keeping or
der, allowed q free rein, and the men,
bers of the lower house acted like
schoalboys. The strain of the final
week was over, and in cleaning out
deska the members seemed to want to
see just how far they could throw the
waste paper and books Resolutions
were passed in both houses thanking
every one, from the printer to state
officials, for courteous and helpful
consideration.
Action on Important Measures
Except for the disposition of a few
major measures, save for the last day,
there was little of Importance done in
the closing hours. Open specifications,
soldiers preference, extension of the
powers of the State Tax Board, con-
tinuance of the l mill tax for road con-
struct.on and investigation of Morris
canal properties and building condi-
tions led the calendar. All but the
first named issue had the support of
both houses. The assembly unan-
mously favored open specifications for
road work, but the senate for the sec
ond time this year voted it down.
The last day, too, saw the $50,000,-
600 road bond bill die with the senate.
Strenuous efforts put forth by propo-
nents of the plan to have the bill re-
leased from committee failed. On top
Of its failure to put over the road bond
bill, the 500 mile road program which
calls for work in 10 counties at an es-
timated cost of $50,00O000, was pass
Ell by both houses and sent to the gov
einor.
Daylight saving also died with the
sr.nate. All efforts to get Senator
Sturgess of Gloucester to report the
bill out of committee failed. He an
oo,pood +Iot bo u,oc ,roDorod 70 4oI-o
tie responsibility for its death. Mr.
S.urgess comes from ruraA county,
where the population is opposed to the
II easure. The house had passed the
oil early in the session. Only munich
Dalities that pass local ordinances will
aave an hour extra daylight this sum
n'er.
Passage of Road Tax Bill
Refusal of the senate to concur in
.iie $50,O00O00 bond bill left the state
fer the moment without any method of
rSising future funds to proceed with
rad work. The house held the whip
hand, though. in the form of house
2S3. This bill, in committee since
February 10, provided that the / mill
tax on real and personal property for
tie construction of public roads be
continued The act previously provid-
ing for this tax expires this year. The
state gets $3,500,000 annually from
this source.
when hope was abandoned in the
senate in the afternoon of putting over
tie big bond bill hurry call was sent
to the house leaders for action on
house 2S3. The lower branch had been
a bit worried for fear the senate
would force adjournment before the
house was ready. To guard against
this Majority Leader Rowland and
Speaker Hobart placed house 2S3 at
the bottom of the calendar. When all
else was done they moved it's passage
and sent it to the senate. There was
no delay in that body in adopting the
bill.