New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-05
nat down the needed reform vii! have been
only begun.
4 sceNE mn LEGIsLATURE.

Tho Honorable James NJ. Scovel Of New
.Jersey IL an eminenty lively citizen. As
Iogislotor he bas been said to have loose no
TONS. IA a politician he is reported to be
man whom you are much more cerean ABOUT
when your thumb is on him than whcn there
is nothing to prevent his exercising tne roya'
prerogative of skipping; but az eitizen no
NAV always be counted on for items OF lh'er-
estipp news. Wherever he comes, st0rmS
gather and hghtnings play. He presages trou-
ble. The rayeled edge of q quarrel is always
an near him that he can gather it about MN
and have a jolly row at, say fifteen minutes
notice. 1t has been complained OF hIm that nc IL
turbulent. This is an invention OF the enemy.
He is simply nervous. 1t has been charged
that he is not always trustworthy; that he says
things the truth of which it requires great
talent and persistence to discover. This can
hardly be. Mr.. Scovel has been senator OIL
the State of New-Jersey, has presided over
the Senate Of that State with much dlg-
nifty, and has said so many things that were
found upon investigation to be entirely true'
that it is now safe to say that whenever ne
makes deliberate statement OF tact the
chances are that it is worth while to make
further inquiries about It.
The Honorable Mr. ScOvel il not now mem
Der Of the New jersey Legislature. But ne mas
been. Having been, he is entitled to the prlVl-
lege of the floor. This privilege he exercised
Yesterday in q manner at once unique, Deautl-
full, and generous. There was bill up IN
which he was interested. AS to the merits OF
the bill there seems to have been difference OF
on1 IN Aacpm blyman
BIZ the name of Cole. In the course OF q CONVEX
sation on the merits Of the bill, AssemOiyman
Cole in the must cursory way expressed the
opinion that Scoyel was liar and perJurer.
Scoyel in the warmth of his nature responded
under Coles chin, or in that neighborh0od, and
Cole went down. The Speaker of the Assembly,
with q remarkably keen eye for the properties
of the occasion and the chances for falr nght,
ordered the doors to be closed and time 10
be called on the first round. Assemblyman
Carse took hand in the business at TINS juno
tlire, and made remarks of an unfeeling char
acter to Scovel, whereupOn the latter, who was
on the floor as a privileged character and In
some sense guest of the Senate, launched
what the votaries of the prize-ring call his
cleft duke"-which, by the way, is highly
lature of q republican State-on Mr.. Carses
Legislative nose, and brought him to the floor.
The accounts at this crisis are confused, but
great many people seem 10 have rushed III
and prevented the ex-Presdent OK the Senate
from continuing the unparliamentary proceed
ing of giving the floor to more than one mem
Der at time.
The dispute originated in the passage OF
proposed passage Of bill relating to the
probate of wills, in which Mr.. ScOvel had
personal interest 1t is possible that Mr..
Scovel may be perjured liar and scoundrel,
as the Messrs. Cole and Carse charged, but
being man of excitable temperament and
considerable muscular development, it would
seem to wholly indifferent spectators to be
discreet thing to debar him the privileges OF
the floor before calling him pet names. He
appears to be an uncomfortable man to have