New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-29
ACROSS TIE NORTH RIVER.
ASPECTS OF THE &C NSTTTtTIONAL AMEND.
MENr ELICIT
IMPORTANCE ~ THE srRrGGI.H FOR STATE
s!,NATpEIIr.I-, Ar'C,'i - o. Tllr wAvtfs.
LEY FA!E-ni.NI RAJ nRuBB's
FRIEND, PLEASED.


Trenton. " j. S.pi. =. ,-pcchll.-- The election
upon tn" proposed amrrTncnt, t. tie stat" toHatu-
lion MI ," held on Iuc-'iay. While thor" has been
"n" Newspaper discussion a.d an "c,a>l NAL speech
upon tie charges to hr voted upon II i prbnb" the
vat" viii De- Eight. IN" public Iitcr'ot shown having
been ,'inarnahly small II the w. proposed amend
meats simply T. error IN trin-' riding III"
iin.udmcIt> Il to, hy which bin der two WAY o!
,lr Common Pleas jude, wrrr prescribed. THO
,DuiI, immediately d'h"i TIT matter. 10y pucES tho
''ro!ninrnt in the hands 81 The Governor ard sen
49,. and th' an"iiH"ut HOW proposed will simply
ia" this decision pu'Ir Approval The ot'"r pr"
r,-l i in-' the important one. II - intended -
permit ia" legislature to enact law r".ua'irc ah'ir
,ii'> and Townships II II wcr" aioprd. the Legs
ntur' c"uld pass Laws altering any one c'tY III the
tate any feature Of II, government. That cannot
80 done nov. excepting by roundabout methods. The
ceiling against this and AGAINST III" corruption AMI
political trckcry tha' prevailed In the Legislature "H
account Of 1t. grew steadily. ard when III" time Ar
rived. sudden movement was mad" which event
ually accomplished perfect rc'"ution In the t"nda
mc,ial law. Not only tho Lrsi>Litnrc restricted
a, what it mi-ht do. but It Was also directed 10
pa, general laws the subjects Indicated. II il
vilr thing restrict. and another To command a.
ton Tho courts Naw 10 II that the legislature did
not exceed It's constitutional powers. but there Is no
power IN state government that can make "A Legs
ld.urc dc what II does not want 10. some genera
law, wsrc rnartc, at once by Legislature Of tx
crpiinual ability that If 1-76 and for several wears
iifr. efforts made to adopt measures that would
al and cnuntic> Hut systems OF i"al -ov
crnmcnt had rrown up IN the va l"nS towns widely
differing from each other. and each Thought It's own
the best aud objected Ia yielding any part NJ ID
Ia meet the views Of others. Tie general legislation
for cities practically failed. and then followed ~
series of effort, to dodge the constitutional prohib
ton. some II these We're sharply checked 10y the
courts. and IN others the rather unfOrtu
natcly lcnicnt. Many never tested AT all. and
while probably unrOn,;ilIt onIl have been accepted
b''ai>" no one caI'd to test them The court, have
not. perhaps. been who'll, consistent In their ruling
Ihr situation WAS Ii" >ntirln tory. Then new
way uf cludlns the constitution was discovered. IN.
Producing form of popular government wh,h lad
before been tried in New Jersey to any extent. Laws
were passed which applied 10 al citir>. bur which
ne" t" TAN" effect until the citizens had by prpunr vote
determined To accept the provisions. new city
charter. for instance. prop ~cd for Jersey city
a general law wa, passed. drawn In lines To suit tho
Jersey city puaitican. and consequently obj@tonlbir
To every else. Tho law Affect city
untIl the Mayor ard Aldermen thereof had called IL
special election and the people hni voted for accept
ancc. Jersey Citys o.nrials AMI politicians thus
secured their charter. while Newark. its sister
cy III legislation. wa, not compelled t.. and did not
take it, The opinion o. the majority is evidently that
the change would bc u loss rI,lirr than gain. and
many feel that IL would be real disaster.
me Newark city election VIII BE- held on October
law. The only contest IS for AMcrncn. and these Is
only nngud interest In the matter. outside OF the
balloting schcnle
Tho campaign for state senators has begun with
great activity. In Gloucester and Camden counties
1ln Republican candle are already IN the nold.
senator Koc having been rcnomina,cd In the former
last week. lie was Especially useful to the state
his s,I ,%r. IN n the I;" "a"S ny.saon /"
be- u sharp one all along the line. and Il Is Of tho