The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-03-10
RECKLESS NEWARK.
Jersey City's Whole Govern
ment Threatened by One
of Jim Smiths Jobs.


TRENTON. March 10, 1S91.-There was a
battle royal in the House last evening
between the giants Of the State, Hudson
and Essex, which resulted IN victory
for Hudson. The fight was over the bill
which creates a Board Of Public Works
in Newark, to be appointed by the mayor.
This has been a pet scheme OF James
Smith, Jr., Senator Barrett, Comptroller
Connolly, Col. E. l.. Price. and the other
Newark leaders for some time. They had
not had the courage however to introduce
the measure until both branches of the
LEGISLATURE were Democratic, and even
then they were not sure of securing its
passage, and they carried the bill around
In tn cir pockets until the Democratic
joint caucus had put the seal OF its APP
proval upon 1t. This was done last week,
not however until the Hudson members
had been solemnly assured that the bill
would not in any wise affect Jersey City.
LIGHTNING CHANGE ACT.
When the members took their seats last
evening. they found lying on their desks
large printed bill numbered 3Sl. They
were little surprised, as the last bill in
trOduced last "Wednesday when the House
adjourned was No. $40. Upon examining
the bill they found IL 10 be the long ex-
pected Board Of Works bill The House
L. ID. Smith introduced the bill, aud
moved that IL be placed on second reading
without reference. This was carried. and
in few minutes the bill was rushed to
third reading and placed upon final pass
age. For a while It looked as though the
bill would fail to secure enough votes.
Colonel Price and Comptroller Connolly,
In utter disregard OF the rules and with
out any rebuke from the Speaker, rushed
all over the floor and finally succeeded in
securing thirty-five votes for their meas
ure. Sixteen Republicans voted against
it.
wHooPlEG IT UP.
Colonel Price and Comptroller Con-
molly then beseiged the Speaker to sign
the bill and rush it over to the Senate.
and this was done. Senator Barrett
caught it as 1t flew over the corridor and
Immediately began TO railroad it through
the Upper House. BY this time the Jer-
sey City members had a chance to exam
inc the bill. Several prominent lawyers
from Jersey City who were present also
studied the measure and gave il as their
opinion that It wiped out the JERSEY City
Board of Finance and materially affected
her Street and Water Board.
MIR. Mullone then moved that the bill
be reconsidered.
NEwARK's TREAcHERY.
Mr.. Hardin raised the point Of order
that the bill had left the House and was
over in the Senate where it had already
passed to a second reading.
At this Mr.. Mullone sprang to his feet
and wanted TO know how that had hap
pened, as the rule requiring that all bills
should remain in the possession of the
House twenty-four hours after passage
had not been suspended.
The Speaker ruled that the resolution
adopted by the House early in the session
that all bills passed should be imme-
diatelv sent over to the Senate covered
the case.
Then Mr.. Boyle offered a resolution
that the Senate be requested TO return the
bill TO the House.
MIR. Mullone supported the resolution
in a speech in which he waxed exceed
ingly warm. He declared that the Essex
members had not treated the Hudson
members fairly or honorabiy. They had
represented to the Jersey City members
that the bill did not affect their city and
now they had passed the bill surreDtl
tiously and had imposed upon the MEM
bers from Hudson.
Mr.. Hardin reiterated his statement
that the bill did not affect Jersey City.
He claimed that the bill could not pass
the Senate until to-day. and that the
Hudson members could study it over
night and il they found that IL did apply
to Jersey City they could go over TO the
Senate and oppose 1t. This little sophistry
did not deceive anyone. Alderman Smith
said that it would be another case of the
Aldermen's Salary bill While it was be-
fore the House it did not apply to Jersey
City, but just as soon as the bill became
law 10 it applied TO Jersey City.
Mr.. Hardin made motion to lay Mr..
Boyle's resolution on the table and it was
lost.
CAMBPELL's CHEEK.
Mr.. Campbell made an eager plea for
the bill on the ground of party fealty, and
appealed 10 the Hudson men TO stand by
the pledges they made in caucus.
MIR. Mullone retorted that as those
promises were secured by misrepresent-
ing the facts, ne was not bound to keep
them.
Then as last resort Mr.. Campbell
moved TO adjourn, but that was lost, and
Mr.. Boyles resolution was carried on an
aye and nay vote.
While the vote was being taken,
Comptroller Conolly, Colonel Price and
other Newarker's skirmished about the
floor for votes. and when the result was
announced madden set of men than the
Newark delegation was never seen in
Trenton.