The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-12-20
Interesting Information
About the Upper
Chamber.
NO REPUBLICAN LAWYERS
Boss Gardner's Long Term and
Senator Keys Thrilling Ex-
perience During the
Draft Riots.

1luetlty Fitzgerald has about ready for
the press his Legislative Manual for 1892
ana it will contain some exceedingly In
terestiug information concerning our
law makers. For instance we learn that
IN the next Senate there will be five law
yers (ali OF them Democrats), four mer-
chants. three farmers. two manufac-
turers- two real estate dealers and one
each as follows:-A hotel keeper, an edi-
tor, brewer. a contractor and one
gentleman Of leisure. The Republicans
have no lawyer to represent them on the
committees on legal questions, and con-
scquentIy they must fall back on Senator
Gardner. who knows nearly as much
law, however, as the best man on the
other side, altt. ugh he has never studied
~ law school or In a lawyers Office.
Fourteen Senators are natives of New
Jersey, five were born in the State Of New
YORK, one in Canada and one in Phila-
aelphia- New York city produced Messrs.
Winton. Fowler and HInchcliffe; Dobbs
Ferry, Mr. Keys, aud Madison County,
Mr.. Barker Mr. Hudspelh Is a Capad-
ian, and Mr.. Rogers halls from the
Quaker City. OF the JeFseyinen Hunter
den and Mlddlesex Counties each claim
two, and the following counties one Sem
ator each: Darlington, Cape May, Essex,
sussex and Union.
YOUNG SENATE.
The Oldest Senator In years, but not In
service, is Mr.. Fowler. who represents
the Prohibition county of Cumberland,
and who Keeps dry hotel in Vineland
age OF three score and ten. Mr.. Brown,
Of Monmouth, the only representative in
the Senate of the Blodgett-Little wing of
the Democratic party, comes next
70 Mr.. Fowler, and is very near
the three score and tenmile-
stone. Twelve Senator'S are over
forty years of age and nine are under
i. The youngest Is Mr. Rogers of Cam
Glen. who is only thIrty-four. and next TO
him come Messrs. Marsh, Cornish aud
Barker, each of whom being thirty-five.
Messrs. Barrett and Miller are only
year or two older. The average age of
The Senators is fortY-four years. which
makes them q pretty young body, con-
siaefing the grave aud dignihed duties
which tradition says they must perform.
Boss Gardner Of Atlantic is just en-
teriug upon his fifteenth consecutive
year of service His long, unkempt hair,
massive forehead and cowhide boots
make him Quaint figure, indeed. In the
group Of lawmakers. Yet. withal, he is
considered one of the brAiniest men who
ever held a seat III the New Jersey Legis-
= iature. Senator Cranmer, from the sand
barreus OF Barnegat City, Is about to en-
ter upon his ninth consecutive
year of service. The Senator is
q Chesterfield in manner and deport-
ment, but as lawmaker his star
has never shone with any effuigence. Mr..
Weris, who is the Democratic giant in in
teliect. and the slated candidate for the
Executive chair when Governor Albeit
vacates 1t, is beginning his sixth and last
year OF service. Perhaps no other man in
many Years has so clearly left his impress
sion on the statute book as Mr.. Werts.
He drafted the Liquor License and Ballot
Reform laws, which relieved his party
from serious dilemmas. and his long head
has solved knotty problems of statecraft
by which his party has been greatly bene-
TIED. -,
THE SILENT MAN OF MERCER.
Senator Rue, he silent man from Mercer
Is also entering upon his sixth and last
year Of service. 1t may be truly said of
the Senator, and without disagreement.
too, that ne knows more about the quail
ity aud price OF agricultural implements
than he does of lawmaking. Editor
Winton and Hotel-keeper Fowler came
into the Senate together and will
go out at the same time
Esch will have had three years of
experience when his term expires nextfall.
The second year men are:-Messrs.
Rogers, Barrett. Barker, Brown, Butcher,
Keys, Marsh and Cornish. The new Sem
atots are:--Messrs. Perkins. Miller. Hud-
speth. Martin. Hinchcliffe and McMickle-
Mr.. Cornish is a modest Young man,
with a strong pub from Warren County,
and Is ex-Ccngressman Pidcock's right
bower. He came here last year compara-
lively unknown. but In a quiet way he
soon demonstrated that he had weighty
influence. He asked for the appointment
of his friend. Samuel G. Thompson. as
Assistant Secretary of the Senate, and he
got it, aud next turned his attention to
other offices which he sco0ped in for his
friends without much apparent trouble.
SENATOR KEYS NOTABLE CAREER
Perhaps the most interesting career of
apy Seuator can be furnished by Mr.
Keys of Somerset. His father was one
OF The original builders of the old Hud-
son River Railroad, and the Senator him
self, for eleven years, was an active men,
berof the old volunteer fire department
OF New York City, During the war the
Senator. through the recommen darions
J, al Governor seymour and General John
A. Dix. was awarded a contract for haul
ing aud delivering supplies, provisions
etc., for the Eastern Department.. The
late Presidect Arthur then had
charge OF that department., and he and
Mr. Keys became close friends. Oar
Ing those exciting days Mr.. Keys says he
had his hands full, bus it WAS during the
draft riots that he experienced the great
est trouble. He had difficulty then
III getting drivers for his wagons, and it,
through the streets while in the Govern
.n,ent,s employ. One afternoon during
riot al attempt was made to blow up the
6as house at the foot of East 1wenty-first
street. and large body OF soldiers was
stationed at the Arsenal. on Seventh av-
enua. between Thirly-fifth and
Thirty-sixth streets. In readiness,
70 be called ont at any time. Al
1eQuisition was sent to the Battery Bar
racks FOR cooked rations to be delivered
~ Tie Arsenal. The streets were lined
with angr7 men, and not q driver would
venture ont with team. Contractor
keys volunteered to drive himself
and ordered out the best team
hitehed to loaded truck He started
up Greenwich street and was assaiied
from every side with stones, bricks
apd ether missiles aud several SHOTS
we're Cred at him. Nothing daunted.
however. he urged on the team
nne reached The hungry soldiers In safety,
naV1nf received only few cuts In the
e e s! IN another occasion, while making
similar trip to General D;x's headquar-
Sers as the old st. Nicha2as Hotel on
brQsdway, he was aRa Attacked BY 4
mob. put WAS rescued by pc OF his old \
krieuas Of the Voinntee re Denart-
Wen5 y ho declared iii, >illn Keys
snoqlQ NE be nlolestefl \Sepator
eEft tjlet per ps no lir{ ut him
eSkk SAD eny thAt he sti4l pxses In