The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-03-06
PLEDGED TO THE .wERTS BILL
The Denloc. tic Caucus Accepts the
Baker Amendment.
Tspecia1 to the Jersey city Ne,cs.l

Baker Amendment.
[Special to the Jersey city Ne,csl
III sNToN, March 5, 1889. The Demo-
cratic leaders got their forces well in hand
today, and great advance was made
toward the promised legislature. Sch
tor Moses K Everitt folded up his kick
and Assemblyman Edward 3. Potts re-
signed himself somewhat sadly to be q
martyr for his party if he must. But
amid the general wreck and ruin OF
the battle the backbone of Senator
Philip Pontius Baker rears itself
triumphant The Democratic members
of the Legislature in Joint caucus decided
to accept the Werts bill with the Baker
amendments and later the bill was ordered
70 its third reading in the Senate. Some
Assent. iymen were still grumbling when
they left the caucus, but after they had
had their dinner they felt better natured
and the measure is likely to receive the
full Democratic vote. AS has already been
.pOinted out, it is in the line of Democratic
policy, and while it may not satisfy all
tsections of the State, the leaders Of the
i)arty believe it is the best that can be ac-
coriplished this year.
An the forty three Democratic mem
hers of the Legislature were present.
President WertS, of the Senate, read the
Baker amendments, which are very long,
and explained them as he read. Then he
made short speech in which he urged
the importance of Democratic unity, and
smoke of the great advantage which the
r5sssaqe of the bill would be to the party.
THE first symptom of trouble was caused
bv Assemblyman Mutchler He asked
point blank if Senator. Baker would pledge
himself to vote for the Werts bill in case
his amendment. were rejected. Before
xvas on his feet. He declared that the
nuestion was not. d fair one, and that Mr.
Maker should nosansweri it. This position
vac also taken.ip speech made by Sen
afor .Pfeftfer. Mr.. Mutchfer woHld not be
he be satiSfied, however, and insisted on an
ag,sycrer Then 1t was moved that the ac-
tion of the caucus be considered binding
~, All present This motion was carried
unanimously.
4 FEW POLITICAL MARTYRS.
Assemblyman Potts earned scolding
fsom President WertS by saying that he
gbouId not be asked to vote for the bill, as
It would mean political deathto him. Mr.
Wertb told him twas the duty OF good
Democrat to sacrifice himself for the sake
of The party in case of necessity, and that
the policy at the party should be consid-
cred above the fortunes of individual
members. AS for himself, Mr.. Werts said
: uas ready to be a sacrifice. Senator
..rls and Assemblyman Feeney also
gave aNgood example to Mr.. Potts and pro-
fpssed themselves ready for political mar
tyrdom. Mr. Potts said nothing more.
= vote was then taken on the Baker
amendments, which were carried 20 to II.
Assemblymen Norton, Feeney, Heppen-
heirner and Francois, of Hudson county,
sware among those voting in the negative.
But they will be bonnd by the action of
the caucus. Among others who opposed
she amendments were Senators Mallon
and Eyeritt, and Assemblymen Hoover,
Weidenmayer, Schmelz and Mutchler.
The Senate Chamber was crowded to see
the bill reported from the Committee on
Revision OF Laws fer second reading.
Senators Edwards and MyckoH made a
favorable and Senator rGardner an un-
favorable report. senator Baker per-
formed the long expected act OF offering
T,is amendments, and.the clerk read them.
sf,l,ess senator Gardner proved to have his
ay,7anSInent. 1t provided that persons who
- fis vino of grapes Of their own raising
1,ig11t aell ID at their own wine vaults in
Quantities between one quart and five gal
IONS without license The amendment
was accompanied by petition frora South
Jersey grape growers.
senator Edwards moved that the
a,1inrYdment lie on the table, but discover
inr that the motion would affect Mr.,
43Sfxeris production as well, Withdrew it.
senator PfeifTer declared that it and all
other amendments offered by Republicans
should be incontinently thrown out be
.c-llsc the Democrats were not allowed to