The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-08-04
SPECIAL LEGISLATION.
Politicians Beginning to
Consider the Proposed
Amendments.
speeial to be Jerseg city Ns.gs.

TRENTON, Aug. 4, lSJO.-There is no
lack Of discussion on the constitutional
amendmendments which are to be
adopted or rejected by popular vote on
September 80, while there is la OK Of in
terest in the West Jersey counties the
question is being fully discussed in
Newark.
Colonel e. Livin gston Price, the chair
man of the Democratic Executive Com
mite of Essex county, who is conducting
kindergarten school for the instruction
of election officers in Newark, has made
number of statements on the subject, He
is heartily in favor of the amend
ments proposed, and the wiping out
of the constitutional restrictions
which make special legislation
an impossibility. His argument Is
based on the fact that the amendments
adopted years ago. and now part of the
State constitution do not absolutely re-
stricted special legislation. He frankly
remarks, however, that every lawyer who
attempts to draw q bill for the Legisla-
ture has his ingenuity taxed to employ
such language as will apply 60 the mun1-
cipality that needs The particular act
without interfering with others of the
same class. He explains the situation by
this statement:-
"The whole mass of municipal Iegisla-
ton since the adoption of the restriction
amendment has been one continuous
game of evasion of the provisions Of the
amendment. The Supreme Court itself,
on account of the impracticabiIity of its
provisions, has been forced from its origi-
nal ground taken thereon from time to
time, until it has really become, not a
question of law, but simply a-question as
to the effect of the act without any re-
gard to legal precedents or a consistent
line Of adjudication.
LAWS THAT DO NOT WORK.
David Young, for many years mem
Der of the Newark Aldermanic Board
has given much study to municipal gov
ernment, and he states emDhatically:-
Especial legislation is bad and should
not be permitted, but what value is there
in placing a restriction on legislation
that does not restrict, and what good is a
clause that can be and is evaded with i'm
punity?"
Ex-Chancellor Runyon is strongly in
favor of the repeal of the amendments, as
is also Attorney General Stockton. The
latter would not discuss the amendments
cause he nad not given them any consid-
Grafton. He had read them, however,
and does not object TO going on record as
being in favor of the people adopting the
amendments that are to be submitted on
September 3d. Leonard Kalish is
d 1OQAS OClAOClcLlC uCu1D6T III
the Assembly. who is sincere in
the legislation that he seeks. He is
disposed to be Indifferent about the pos
sible outcome of the election, but an
nounced himself as favorable to the re-
peal of the amendments now in the con
stitution, by the adoption of the new
amendments. He gives as his particular
reason that "it is very difficult TO be con-
sistent and pass a general law for all cities
of the same class that would be beneficial
to all interested"
EX-GOVERNOR GREEN'S VIEWS.
Ex-Governor Robert s. Green, who was
member of the commission that framed
the amendments which restricted special
legislation, said:--
''The expectation upon the adoption of
the amendments was that the Legislature
would be forced into devising laws for
the government of the towns, cities and
counties of the State; but it went to work
instead devising means OF evading the
new restraints. Acts were passed that
taxed the ingenuity of the courts, and it
was some time before anything like an
intelligible basis of legislation was estab-
GShed. The courts have, however, con-
strued the clause with liberal breadth,
and many lawyers insist that it is now
possible to secure for any city in the State
whatever legislation it can decently or
properly ask for, and that whatever ex-
cuse there may have been in the past for
the proposed repeal of the clause, it does
not exist now.''
POLITICAL ODDS AND ENDS.
Fred S. Marsh has formally announced
that he will be candidate for State Sem
ator in Union county. He will not have
Assemblyman Voorhees, as his opponent,
but Major Rankin, who has been selected
by the leaders as the Republican stand
ard bearer.
1t is reported that there is a deep
scheme on foot in Essex county to alien
ate the vote of the colored men from the
Republican party. The Democrats are
raising big fund to secure the organiza.
tion of the colored men.
The Mercer county Democrats are ar
ranging to have Senator George Werts
deliver an expository lecture on the bal
lot reform law during the month of Sep
tember.
The State House Commission will meet
on Tuesday and will then discuss the
feasibility of moving the State Library
from its present quarters to d handsome
room in the new part of the State House.
1t is expected that they will agree on
the change.