The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-03-02
A FOR THE FRAY.
Important Bills Are Coming Up for Dis
cussion at Trenton Next Week.

cuSSiOn at Trenton Next WeeA'
TSpecial to the Jersey city Neses.l
TRENTON, March 2, 1SS9.-This will be q
great week for eloquence unless all signs
fail. The ~eloquence will be supplied on
tap by the Republicans, who, finding That
they are not able to successfully oppose
the passage of certain measures proposed
by the Democrats, have about decided TO
keep up one continuous howl for all they
are worth. The gorgeous stained glass
skylights of the House and senate
will pale before the forid flights of oratory
which are now preparing in many a town
and hamlet, and while the sky is compare
lively safe from damage, it would be an
adventurous insurance company, when
would take a risk against the cracking OF
those skylights by the words OF lnd1gna-
ton and scorn which will be uttered.
Senator Edwards is likely to have to bear
the brunt of the fighting on the Demo
cratic side in the Senate, and if he has any
consideration for the feelings of his Repub-
lican colleagues he must quickly allow
himself to be withered with their scorn.,
The first measure likely to provoke
trouble is the Werts' excise bill. Ii the
full Democratic strength is present, 1t Will
be brought out. Senator Baker will Of
fer his amendments, which have hereto
fore been described in THE Jersey CITY
NEWS, and they will be adopted as soon
as the Republicans kindly stop talking.
There seems to be no doubt that the bill
and the amendment will slide through as
quickly as the Democratic Senators can
push it. What it's fate will be in the
House is more uncertain, although Presl-
dent Werts, of the Senate, Colonel Hep
penheimer and the other q believe
that it is all right, What opposi-
ton there may be will come chiefly
from Essex county, where objections
are made to the provision allowing licenses
to be revoked by the Courts, as well as by
the bodies granting them, n from
ties where local option has been adopted,
and which have since Q n members to
Trenton with the express mission of abOl-
ishing local option. Although brewers
and liquor dealers in cities are willing to
accept the measures as the best that can
be accomplished this year, those in
smaller towns and in dry counties are in
clined to feel that their interests lave not
been sufficiently conserved. This is a
source of danger. From what Senator
Baker has said, it is doubtful if he would
vote again for the bill If it were sent back
to the Senate with amendments in the
House.
Senator Edwards bill to provide a new
charter for Jersey City, with single headed
commissions appointed absolutely by the
Mayor, is about drawn up. He took it
back to Jersey City with him to show to
the leaders there, and it may be presented
any time this week. 1t will first be sub
mitted to the conference of Hudson county
members for approval. AS it is drawn it
will not excite't the opposition of Newark, it
is believed.
Another bill which Senator Edwards
has in charge, and which is expected to
come up for second reading this week, is
the redistricting bill. This will excite
louder bowls on the Republican side than
even the excise bill. On the latter they
only care to make a record for themselves,
but the matter of redistricting affects
them vitality. The bill is probably as
equitable q measure as regards both sides
as could be prepared but it is a natural
and inevitable result of the rearrange-
ment of boundaries that some heavy Dem
ocratic majorities should fall on Republi-
can corns. The Republicans have for so
long been in possession of districts to
which they were not entitled that being
evicted from power will come hard to
them.
The Hudson county members are ask
ing when the appointment for lay judge OF
Hudson will be made. There is nc indica-
ton that Governor Green has decided upon
whom to bestow the prize. The running
seems to be very even between Judge
Davis and Albert Hoffman, with Judge
Beach, a dark horse, well up. OF the two
leaders there seems to be no doubt that
Judge Davis would win if the matter lay
with the individual members of the Hud-
son county delegation. He is warmly
supported by Senator Edwards and AS
semblymen Norton and O'Neill, and
Speaker Hudspeth among others. Hoff-
man is the present interpreter of the
Court and is backed by Assemblymen
Heppenheimer, Francois and Pagan. Be-
sides these he has a very large outside
backing. who are pushing him for all thew
are worth. 1t is admitted that both gentle
men are well qualified for the post. One
of the possibilities of the race is that Gov
ernor Green may be unable to decide be-
tween the two, and that as a result Judge
Beach, who is the incumbent, may serve
another term.
There will be trouble this week unless
members are more punctual in attend
ance. Speaker Hudspeth's blood is up,
and Sergeant-at-Arms Corist will have a
job on hand if there are as many vacant
seats as there were last week.