The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-04-11
M'DHRMIT'S NERVE.
He Gets the Railroad Grab
Bill Into His Very Own
Committee.
He SAYS IT WILL REAPPEAR.
Interesting legislative Views on
the Marriage-a-Failure Question.
[speciaI to tAe Jerseu oitv Ne.cs.l

loPctfAt ~ Htc ScfSc0 CttY AfcUs.l
TRENTON, April 10, 1889.-Frank Nc
Dermit has as much nerve as any man
connected with the Legislature. That
statement will not be seriously questioned
after today. Some people say that he has
more nerve than any other man, woman
or child in the State; but this is only one
of those things uttered in the heat of the
moment.
His nerve was probably used for the
good Of the public and the confusion of
the railroads today. 1t is not likely that
the infamous Railroad Grab will come up
again this session in its present form.
McDermit laid aside an overcoat which
would gain him admission to game any
where, busted his diamonds, and took the
Speakers chair temporarily. Presently
Mr.. Marsh moved to recommit the Rail
road Grab bill The Senate had come
down from its high horse and had con-
sented to have the job recalled from the
Governor. Mr.. McDermit put the mo-
ton.
Quick as a fash he said:-"Motion's Is
carried. Committed to the Committee on
Corporations.
This is Mr. McDermit's pet, own com
mittee. He is its chairman, and labor
under the delusion that he is the whole
not permitted a meeting since the session
began.
He acted so quickly that the members
heads swan Then they burst out laugh
ing and with the clerks insisted that it
was joke. Frank smilingly assured
later Speaker Hudspeth decided that the
bill must stand unless a majority of the
House ordered otherwise.
Here is consolation for. the public:--"It
would see daylight again this session., re-
marked Mr. McDermit.
Senator Edwards head was also made
to swim this afternoon. The concurrent
resolution requesting the Governor to re-
turn the Railroad Grab bill had been
called up in the Senate. The Hudson
county representative made speech
urging the passage of the resolution and
looked around to see who was going to
speak against it. To his surprise, instead
of anyone doing SO, the resolution was
whirled through by unanimous vote.
Senator Edwards was simply astonded.
The sudden change of front on the part of
the Senate is easily explained. Governor
Green had prepared veto and intended
to send it in as soon as he had received
the report of the House Committee of In
quiry. Rather than have the bill vetoed
they consented to its return to the House.
1t is said that Senate bill 297, Gard
ner's supplemental Act of Infamy will be
entirely without effect as long as the first
bill is not a law. Bills will be watched
closely during the remainder of the ses-
sion to prevent renewal of the grab.
The investigation of ''all the facts" con-
corning the alleged passage of the bill
was of the most perfunctory character.
Marsh sat with his head resting on his
hand, Voorhees, with his feet resting on
the desk, and Klotz with his hands in his
pockets, while any one who wanted to
talked to them. The pious Goble started
off about an editorial in newspaper
which said he had lied twice in
one day. Speaker Hudspeth said that
the bill was passed regularly and de-
MED that he had known anything of
the provisions of the bill Kalisch, Pagan,
Donnelly, Kane, Cutter and Riker de-
clared that they believed they were voting
for the amendments when they voted for
the passage of the bill. Harris Ulrich,
Harrington, Herbert and A. A. Higgins
sustained the Speaker. The committee
reported that all the proceedings had been
regular, but that large number of the
members of the House were under a mis-
apprehension when they voted for it,