The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-21
NEW JERSEYS VICTORY.
The General Railroad Bill Passed
Both Houses.
McPherson's Repentance Applauded-The Vote
in the Senate Unanimous-A Blow at Pat
terson's Bill-Local Option Killed.

Monopoly which was killed In the New Jersey
Legislature Wednesday, was laid in It's little bed
yesterday, when the General Railroad bill passed
the Senate, without dissenting voice, all the
Senators being present. There was no debate, yet
a remarkable and pleasing scene was witnessed in
the public conversion Of MCPHERSON to the ranks
OF the people, He was the only Senator who spoke
on the bill, and he spoke in explanation OF his
position. lie reoiced that the hour was at hand
when the people Of New Jersey might cry
out that they were at last rescued
from the power OF the monopoly. When this end
would be accomplished New Jersey would sit robed
in white, for she had been redeemed through fire.
In this strain he proceeded, provoking hearty
laughter from Hopkins, Trick, Sewell and Jarrard,
his late companions, but ellciting applause from
the galleries, which the President, however,
quickly suppressed, and he announced that the
galleries would be cleared II the demonstrations
were repeated. McPherson's pride ence more re-
gained sway over him, when he announced that
in his past record he had nothing to recall, nothing
TO regret. This referred to his vote on Assembly
bill No. 8, when he waged war and waged 1t sue
cessfuly against the people OF the State.
When the vote was being taken Sewell explained
his vote by saying that, though ne had offered
several amendments, he offered them in perfect
good faith and with view to render the bill
perfect. He had been from the beginning in favor
OF general railroad law, and would, the refores
gladly vote aye on the present bill.
When the President announced "The bill Is
passed. twenty-one Senators voting in the aflrma-
tive and none in the negative" another storm
arose in the galleries, which could not be sup
pressed till they were cleared. There ia nothing
in the entire history Of New Jersey legislation so
remarkable as the unanimity with which the Scott
Senators voted for this bill few grumberS
yyhn ou16
credit for good Intentions construe this action into
"a niger in the fence" Their suspicious were
passage of the General Railroad bill, offered a resO
luton that after that bill should become law (by
be taken BY the Senate during the present session
on bills giving power to build railroads That resO-
ty a%ans through ne bill which Is
simply reproduction OF No. B. with few trifing
alterations
Williams moved to lay the resolution on the
table. Trick soon afterwards had 1t called up.
Ravens opposed it, declaring 1t was out OF order
Alter some further debate, In which Cutler, SeWels
Williams, Hopkins. Mcpherson, Ravens, Hewitt,
Trick and Stone took part, Stone protesting that II
was unjust unfair and dlsrespectlul to the Assem-
bly, o division was taken, with the following re-
suit
sseSy ana a
y wood Hfndr''k'0n' hewitt S'0ns i''0' "'AA' '
The resolution was accordingly lost.
Ine Local OpJlOn Dill came up III tuc uousoi aIu
Morrow moved the indefinite postDoDement OF this
veXatious question. Macknett, in supporting the
BILL read some temperance lectures ;but he was COM
pletey nOOred by Ryder, who defended the square,
straight drinkers, by advancing the doctrine that
more persons descend to premature graves for
excess of it. At length division was taken, and
as this is question which has agitated the people
of New Jersey for the past four years, the record
will be instructive. For the indefinite postpone
ment OF the bill the vote stood
YEAs-Messrs. Anderson J. Anderson, J. j.; Bsldwin'
Foreman Gaede, Clifford Ill., Hopper. Jones, Letson,
Lindsay, Morrow, Mutchler Patterson, Pympon Rear.
burn-2a .
NAys-Messrs Borton Carsc Cavieer Cooley. Dorrell.
Eldridge Hemingway Hobart, Hoppock, Howell1
Iszard, Leaning, Lee, Lufberry; Macknett Marter.
McDanold, Mckinley, Schenck, Schultze smith, A.. u
Smith, A. W.; Thompson, whltticar, Wilde and Will
lets-8
This is the last of local option during the present