companies of the national guard, not to exceed two, to be drilled in the use and practice of the Gatling or other similar guns, the minimum of which organizations shall not be less than two commissioned officers and twenty-five enlisted men; which companies shall be entitled to the rights, privileges and allowances and be required to perform the like duties now provided by law for infantry companies of the national guard. 2. And be it enacted, That this act shall take effect immediately. Approved March 29, 1878. CHAPTER CXXXVII. A Supplement to an act entitled "An act to authorize the incorporation of rural cemetery associations and regulate cemeteries," approved April ninth, eighteen hundred and seventy-five. sell, purchase purpose of lines. 1. BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly Empowered to of the State of New Jersey, That any cemetery association and exchange within this state existing under special statute or by virtue and for the of an incorporation under the general statutes of which this straightening is a supplement, is hereby empowered to sell, purchase and exchange its lands and any lands adjoining its premises for the purpose of straightening its lines, and to sell and dispose of such parts of its land as have not been laid out into burying lots, and appropriate the proceeds received therefrom in paying the debts and liabilities of the said association and improving the cemetery. property, how 2. And be it enacted, That any association incorporated Income of trust as aforesaid may take and hold any property, real and per- applied. sonal, bequeathed or given upon trust, to apply the income thereof under the direction of the trustees or managers of such association for the improvement or embellishment of such cemetery, or the erection or preservation of any buildings, structures, fences or walks erected or to be erected upon. Bonds may be renewed. the lands of such cemetery association or upon the lots or plots of any of the proprietors, or for the repair, preservation, erection or renewal of any tomb, monument, gravestone, fence, railing or other erection in or around any cemetery lot or plot, or for planting and cultivating trees, shrubs, flowers or plants in or around any such lot or plot, or for improving or embellishing such cemetery or any of the lots or plots in any other manner or form consistent with the design and purposes of the association, according to the terms of such grant, devise or bequest. 3. And be it enacted, That whenever any bonds heretofore legally issued by any association incorporated as aforesaid under the authority of law, are now due and unpaid, or shall hereafter become due, the managers or trustees of any such association may renew ninety-five per centum of said indebtness, or any less part thereof, by the issuing of the bonds of said association for that purpose, which said bonds shall be When payable. made payable at periods of time not exceeding twenty years from the date of issuing the same, and shall draw such rate of interest not exceeding seven per centum per annum, and be issued in such sums as the managers or trustees shall by resolution determine; which bonds shall be of the denominaDenomination. tion of not less than fifty dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, and shall be executed under the corporate seal of said association and the signature of the president thereof, and shall have coupons attached for every half-year's interest until due, payable at the office of the treasurer thereof; which coupons shall be signed by said treasurer and numbered to correspond with the bond to which they shall be respectively attached, and which said bonds shall be exempt from taxes as burial grounds or cemeteries are now by law exempt. Exempt from tax. 4. And be it enacted, That this act shall take effect immediately. Approved March 29, 1878. CHAPTER CXXXVIII. An Act to suppress the sending of indecent communications. ished as for a 1. BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly May be punof the State of New Jersey, That any person who shall wil- misdemeanor. fully and wantonly send or convey to any female against her will and consent any insulting, indecent, lascivious, disgusting, offensive or annoying letter or communication, without lawful purpose in sending or conveying the same, shall be deemed to have committed a public nuisance, and be liable to be punished as for a misdemeanor at common law. 2. And be it enacted, That this act shall take effect immediately. Approved March 29, 1878. CHAPTER CXL. An Act to prevent the pollution of the waters of any of the creeks, ponds or brooks of this state. any creeks, 1. BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly Penalty for polof the State of New Jersey, And it is hereby enacted by the luting waters of authority of the same, if any person or persons shall throw, ponds or brooks cause or permit to be thrown into the waters of any creek, pond or brook of this state, the waters of which may be used for the cutting and harvesting of ice, any carcasses of any dead animal or any offal or offensive matter whatsoever, calculated to render said waters impure or to create noxious or offensive smells, or shall connect any water closet with any sewer or other means whereby the contents thereof may be conveyed to and into any such creek, pond or brook, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof Approved March 29, 1878. Recital of section to be amended. Amendment. CHAPTER CXLI. A Supplement to an act entitled "A further supplement to an act entitled 'An act concerning corporations,' approved April seventh, eighteen hundred and seventy-five," which said supplement was approved February twenty-first, eighteen hundred and seventy-seven. 1. BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, That the first section of the act to which this is a supplement, which reads as follows: "1. BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, That it shall not be necessary for any of the directors of any water company heretofore or which may be hereafter organized under the act to which this is a further supplement, or any other act, general or special, or in pursuance of any special charter, to reside in any specified township or city in this state, although it may be so required by any such act or special charter, neither shall it be necessary to limit the number of directors of any such company so organized or which may be so organized under any of such acts or under any such special charter to the number named therein or in any of them; provided, that the directors shall not be less than three in number," be and the same is hereby amended so as to read as follows: 1. BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, That it shall not be necessary for any of the directors of any water or manufacturing company heretofore or which may be hereafter organized under the act to which this is a further supplement, or any other 2. And be it enacted, That this act shall take effect immediately. Approved March 29, 1878. CHAPTER CXLIII. A Further Supplement to an act entitled "An act concerning taxes," approved April fourteenth, one thousand eight hundred and forty-six. duction of sonal debts to 1. BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly Claim for deof the State of New Jersey, That in making the valuation amount of perand assessment of personal estate within this state for state, be made under county, township and municipal taxes, no deduction of the oath. amount of any personal indebtedness shall be made therefrom, unless the individual claiming such deduction shall sign a statement in writing, under oath or affirmation of the truth and justice thereof, and of the several debts owing by such individual which he desires to have deducted, to whom owing and where the creditor resides, and also of the total amount of personal property of such individual, including debts due and owing to such individual from solvent debtors; and also that no part of such indebtedness was created for the purpose of reducing the taxes of such individual; and that the stated actual value of the personal |