The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-02-04
A Queer Question Raised By
a Little Hunterdon
County Bill.
TO KILL A GERRYMANDER.
The Governor Files the Measure the
Day of IT'S Passage Without
His Signatures 1t a Law?

sensation in the House this morning when
Mr.. Campbell moved that the Sergeant
alarms produce before the bar OF the
House the Clerk OF the Committee on
Engrossed Bills. Mr.. Campbell said that
he understood that the committee had
given the clerk several bills and he did
not think that the business of the
House should be blocked because the
clerk chose to wander off with the
bills in his pockets. The motion was car
ried and the Speaker solemnly directed
Mr.. Harrigan to produce the clerk. The
Sergeant-at. Arms asked IL he might ask
the name of the clerk. He was told that
he was ex-Alderman Michael J. O'Rourke,
the predecessor of Family Rumster Nor
ton in the Jersey City Board Of Alder
men.
Mr.. Harrington went upon his quest
and in few minutes returned to the bar
with Mr.. O'Rourke. He very solemnly
announced ''Mr. O'Rourke, the clerk of
the Committee ON Engrossed Bills.u
The Speaker asked what the pleasure
OF the House was. and Mr.. Campbell said
that he understood that the clerk had
been given eight bills this morning and
ne WOulQ llkt 10 KNOW WlcEe l0ey were.
Mr.. OsRourke replied that he had the
bills and was waiting for Mr. Madden,
the chairman of the committee, with
whom it was customary 10 compare the
bills. He had not left the building, he
said, but was waiting outside for Mr..
Madden, who, he expected, would be
along every minute.
The Speaker said that no one had any
right to take bills from the State House,
and directed Mr.. ORourke to compare
the bills with Mr.. T. d. Smith, the second
member of the committee. This was
done, and the whole State breathed easy
once more.
The bill providing that the wine meas
ure of 23l cubic inches to the gallon the
standard in the purch Sc and sale of
milk, with u penalty of 800 for it's viola
tion, passed the House. The object of
this measure is to establish uniform
milk measure throughout the State. In
the northern part the wine measure is
now used. and in the southern the dry
measure. The bill establishing a stand
ard or weight was also passed, in order
that INSCRIPTIONS dealers purchasing
from the farmers could not take advan-
tage of the agriculturists. Usher's bill,
appropriatiug 81 900 for the current ex-
penses Of the Labor Bureau, also passed.
The House then adjourned for the
week.
A QUEER LEGAL POINT.
The action OF the Governor In fling a
law yesterday after refusing TO sign it,
has caused considerable discussion this
morning. The constitution provides that
if any bill shall not be returned by the
Governor within five days after it shall
have been presented to him, the same
shall become law.
The bill was the first of the session to
reach. the Governors hands. II was a
measure introduced by Senator Everitt
of Hf1n han lob
House aud Senate yesterday, under sus-
pension of the rules. 1t was meant TO
meet the special case Of High Bridge,
AuntefdOn County.
The last Legislature passed an act
authorizing the inhabitants of any two
miles of territory having a tax valuation
of 100000 to incorporate themselves into
borough on petition. Each borough was
given a member in the Board of Free
holders. In this act the Republicans of
Hunterdon county thought they saw an
opportunity to secure control OF the Board
of Freeholders, and they began to estab-
lisn boroughs all over the county. The
first was formed by an outrageous gerry
mander which cut out the heart OF tine
Democratic township Of High Bridge
A election was held in the borough
yesterday and it was evident that the
Republicans would WIN. In order TO avert
this calamity, the Democrats determined
10 repeal the law. and for that purpose
the bill was introduced early in the ses-
sion in the Senate by Senator Everitt
The Repu blicahs caught wind of the
scheme and tried to block its passage.
1t went through the Senate and when it
was brought over TO the House and re-
ported Mr.. Potts objected. claiming tnat
the committee could not meet during the
session of the House without permission.
This being remedied, Mr.. Potts wanted
the bill TO lie over so that he could read it
over and consider the measure. His OBJ
jsctions, however, were overruled and
the bill went through
SET BACK.
The advocates OF the measure were
jubilant and hurried into the Governor to
have iU signed. The Governor heard the
friends of the measure. and then, much
to their chagriu. refused 10 sign 1t. He
said that the measure destroyed the local
borough system all over the State and he
considered it too periious way to heal a
little local trouble in Hunterdon county.
Senator Everitt thought that the Gov
ernor's action was unwise politically be-
cause the Republicans would make
enough boroughs out Of patches in every
strong Democratic county 10 control the
Boards of Freeholders.
Later in the day Governor Albeit re-
considered his action and allowed the bill
to become law without his signature.
He said that under the second section the
DOrOugnS now III eAlSteucc cOutu NOT De
disturbed, but in order that there might
not be any uncertainty he would file the
bill provided that another was intro
duced next week which will assure the
existence of the boroughs now formed.
The question now raised is whether the
bill becomes a law until the five days
specified in the constitution have expired
or whether it becomes a law Immediately
upon being filed yesterday Secretary of
State Kelsey sent a telegram TO those in
terested in the bill at High Bridge yester-
day, saying that the measure had become
a law.
Those who pushed the bill through say
that the Secretary of State ought 10
know, and that that is enough for them.
Governor said that if there was any doubt
upon the matter, the Supreme Court
could decide the question.