The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1886-10-31


apparent that its supporters were going to
rush it through with haste. Just as the Bill
was about being passed, Mr.. Hudspeth,
who had been in New York, not knowing
of Is coming up, arrived in the House and
upon his attention being called to the mat
ter under discussion examined the me-
mortal. He found that there was dove
tailed iIrthe resolution paragraph to the
effect that the Legislature of the State of
New Jersey would never grant the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad Company practic-
ally any legislation on the subject-in
fact placing the members on record as op-
posed to any legislation asked for by
that company without their know
ing as to what Legislation
that company might desire or ask for.
Mr.. Hudspeth obtained the floor, and in
emphatic and forcible language protested
against this clause of the memorial, yet
expressing himself strongly in favor of
the State of New Jersey having the right
to legislate on its own affairs. without any
assistance from Congress. This was a
bombshell in the camp of those favorable
to the passage of the memorial intact.
The House was Immediately adjourned,
and some of those prominently advocating
the measure conferred with him and
agreed to amend by striking out the OBJ
noxious paragraph. After recess this was
done, and the memorial was then passed.
Afterwards the famous Senate bill No. AZ
known as the Chase Bill). designed to
amend the General Railroad Law of this
State. and introduced in the interest of
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and
against the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company, was passed by the Senate, but
never reached the House, as the railroad
lawyers finally concluded that q coach
and-four could be driven through It,
However, a substitute was offered, passed
the House and Senate, went to the Gov
ernor, was vetoed by him, but finally
passed over his veto. Mr. Hudspeth voted
against this bill at every stage of its pro-
gress and voted to sustain the Governors
veto. He was heard to say in the House.
while being urged to vote for the measure.
that he would resign his seat before he
would cast his vote for the measure. Mr..
Hudspeth was the only member from
Hudson county who voted against the bill
or to sustain the Governor in his veto.
He claimed it was a Pennsylvania Rail-
road measure, introduced in its behalf,
being carried through by its influences
| and for the purpose of perpetuating the
power Of that rich corporation in this
| State--a power well understood by the
people of the State; that to vote for its
measures Immediately places one in the
category of monopolist and all that the
term implies in this State. The last great
measure in which Mr.. Hudspeth strength
ened himself as legislator was the famous
contest against the Morris & Essex Rail-
road Company and its lessees, the Della
ware, Lackawanna 81 Western Railroad
Company, regarding the payment of taxes
out of what it is claimed they have de-
frauded the State. Legislation on the
subject it will be remembered, was rec
commended by Gov. Albeit in his last
annual message. Towards the closeAof
the session last April House Bill 400 was
introduced in accordance with the rec
ommendation of the Governor on this
subject. Had this bill become law in
its original shape it would have placed the
State in position to have realized several
hundreds of thousands of dollars in the
| shape of taxes which these corporations
had so long and successfully withheld from
| it.After its Introduction the bill was kept in
committee severalweeks without anyreport
| whatever, end when report was finally
made it was minority report. When
the minority report was taken up it was
at once apparent that, for some unaccount-
able reason, the opposition was enough to
defeat it on any ground, and the House
| refused to concur in the report on the
| ground that the bill was defective in that
it had not been properly recorded. I'M
mediately substitute to the bill was pre-
pared by the committee and reported to
the House. This bill was also defeated.
That disposed of the subject until the June
session. At that time 3ov. Albeit seat a
special message to the Legislature urging
immediate action on the subjecs. Mr.
Hudspeth lat once took up the
fight, and before the first day
of the June session mad closed
by the most indefatigable and untiring
efforts, had ucceeded in having the
measure considered by the House on its
second reading, referred to Committee on
Engrossed Bills, engrossed and placed on
the calendar or final passage the next
day. Mr.. Hudspeth, the next morning
obtained the floor, which ne held till he
had seen the bill through on final passage.
1t was Immediately sent over to the senate,
passed by that body and sent to the
Governor whose signature made it q
law.
1t will be observed that all through Mr..
Hudspeth's career he has been one of the
staunchest supporters of the Governor in
the House. Every measure introd uced in
accordance with suggestions contained in
the Governors annual message he urged
with all the ability at his command, and
measures that were vetoed by the Governor
he not only generally voted against when
under consideration, but in every instance
his vote was to sustain the veto.
The Sunday Morning News.
Illustrated with ocal cuts; eight pages;