The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-01-26
Legislative Passes Produce
Some Very Remarkable
Situations.
Tue CHIEF JUSTICE IN A FIX.
4 Toe Youthful Legislator and a
Very Diplomatic Super
intcndent.
Special % the su,lday Morning Nelos


House, number Of the members were
gathered in the Assembly Chamber when
one of the new members called attention
to the fact that his railroad pass was
limited to ten days after the final adj
journlnent of the session. An old mem
Der explained that for the past two years
some of the railroad companies had thus
limited their Legislative passes instead Of
issuing ANNALS as was their custom
formerly. A general discussion as to the
reason for such action on the part of the
companies and their right to do so fol
lowed.
The general impression among the
members seemed to be that they were
entitled to ride free all the year round.
and one member from Union declared
that If he ever had occasion to travel on
the railroad after the expiration of his
pass he would carry with him mis- certih-
cate as q member of the 114th Legislature
OF the State Of New Jersey, and woe be-
tide the conductor who should dare to
demand fare from him or attempt to
eject him from the train.
THE CHIEF JUSTICES EXPERIENCE.
From this the conversation drifted upon
the subject of passes in general during
which a member from one of the South
Jersey districts related ain anecdote of
Chief Justice Beasley. Although the fact
may not be generally known the Chief
Justice is an ardent sportsman, and much
given TO laying aside the judicial ermine
for the sportsInan's corduroy and taking
himself down to the swamps and lnlets
of South Jersey, where the wild duck
makes his home. One morning not many
years ago, the Chief Justice was return
ing from such trip over one of the in
Vulnerable branch roads that gridiron the
lower part of the State. The weather dur
ing the previous few days had been rather
rough, and the Chief Justices appearance
was not at all in keeping with the dignity
Of tne position he occupies. His clothing
was despatched with mud, and bore evil
dences Of rough usage. A three days
growth of beard covered his chin and he
looked ike everything else but the chief
law judge of a great commonwealth.
Pretty soon along came the conductor
with swing and general air about him
which threw out the impression that he
was on pretty good terms with himself
He was none of your ordinary, common
place conductors, but one Of those rare
individuals who knows it all and who
considers himself pretty tough Gus
toner for any one to try 60 have any non
sense with.
Hehalted in front of the Honorable
Mercer, and in naughty tones demanded
his ticket. The Chief Justice, with his
usual grace, handed ont his pass. The
ticket puncher perused it carefully. and,
with i'll concealed scorn, surveyed the
espattered individual before him.
"Chief Justice" he repeated with a
sheer. sob. see here, you old duffer, you
can't play anything like that on me.
Where did you get this pass, anyhow"
Sir" demanded The Chief Justice,
crowding all his official dignity into the
monosyllable. what do you mean. sirs"
.sOh, come off, you old snoozer, you
can't play me for a jay. You're sweet
looking Chief Justice, you are, amt your
You'll pay your way, and that - quick,
y too. Come, where are You goingYo
Words fail to describe the Indignation
{of his Honor. The cool impudenee of the
man was too much for him, and for a
hmoment he lost speech. Before he could
k1ecover gentleman who had been an
amused spectator Of the scene stepped up
and addressing the Chief Justice by his
title enouired if he could be of any ser
vice to him. The self conscious conduc-
4 tor went all to pieces when he discovered
his mistake, and was most aoJec5 in his
apologies. The Chief Justice, however,
4 forgive, and hereafter arrays himself in
Ma manner becoming his position when he
ktrayels.
HE THOUGHT MATTHEW'S A BOY.
This anecdote called to the mind of
an old member an experience IN the leg
islatiye career of young. John j. Matthews,
the present efficient clerk of the House.
Matthews is d young man ofsrather youth
full appearance which was considerable
more boyish when he was a member or
Assembly. One day he boarded train,
and when the conductor came for his
ticket John produced his legislative pass.
The conductor gave but one glance at it
and then broke out into rage.
i've had this thing worked on me
until IN sick and tired of it, he began.
sits bad enough to have a man flash this
kind of a pass, but when a boy tries to
beat me on it, its too thin altogether.
I'm going to stop it, and I'm going TO be-
gan on you, young fellcr. II you don't
pay your fare l'll fire you of at the next
station, do you heary''
Poor Matthews was in a quandry and
did not know what TO DO. He tried to
explain to the conductor who he was, but
that individual would not listen. You
couldn't make him believe that they
elected boys to the Assembly. He seemed
to be laboring under the impression that
the attempt of Matthews to ride on the
pass was an aifront to his intelligence
and he proposed TO soothe his wounded
feeling by putting the youthful legislator
off the train.
He put the pass in his pocket and
started on his ticket collecting tour with
Nthe awful threat that if Matthews fare
ffN WAS not forthcoming when he came back
of the young statesman would 60, and
there wouldn't be any bones made over
the going, either
Poor Matthews was overwhelmed. The
talk Of the conductor had brought him
under the suspicion of his fellow passen-
gers and he began to feel uncomfortable.
In short time back the conductor came
and renewed his demands for fare Mat
thews insisted that he was member of
the Legislature and stood upon his rights.
The thDgsSxss getting interesting when
another Maeiber of the House came
along and assured the conductor that
Matthews was all he claimed to be. 1t
took considerable argument, however, TO
make him change his opinion of the
youthful member from Union. and when
he finally handed back the pass he did so
with lock at the two Legislators which
plainly said he thought that they both
were fabricating.
A DIPLOMATIC SUPERINTENDENT.
member from Somerset next told a
pass yarn about u member from rural
kcounty who. it was said. used to lend his
)passes for a consideration. One day one
/ kt the conductors on a small branch road
game across the members pass in the
lands Of commercial traveller who, he
uew, full well, had no right TO it, So
Ae promptIy took the card up. made the