The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-07-27
STATE HOUSE TALK.
Governor Abbett's Busy Vacation
Sea Girt Lies.
Special to the Jersey citg Yelrs.

TRENTON, July 27. 1s9I.-Governor Abb
bett has finished his cruise through
Yankee waters aud he is expected at the
State House on Tuesday. He has been
away for two weeks. but It must not be
implied that be has been neglecting busi-
ness, for he has not. The week he was at
camp he was always accessible to all the
heads Of the departments and no business
suffered. Last week be was on his cruise
for his health, and during his absence
Leon Abbett, Jr., the Governors
son and private secretary, ans
wered all the letters. The only
business that Is occupying the Gov
ernor's mind at this time is the improve
ments that are being made at the State
House. He gives every detail his closest
attention. ana TO see the Governor Of the
State climbing among mortar beds aud
upon scaffoidings would leave the impress
sion that ne is getting this work done for
himself. The work goes merrily on.
The Assembly chamber has reached the
second story. The Improved library
quarters will soon be ready for the plAs-
terer. The foundation for the extension
to the executive chamber is in position.
and being rapidly pushed. The electric
light men, who have been putting iu the
wires. are through in the front part OF
the State House and are now at work In
the court rooms. The first of October
Will see nearly all OF these improvements
completed. The work is being carefully
inspected, not only by the Governor. but
by Superintendent Ford, and dozen Of
other men who have constituted tn em-
selves supe1nteDdents and bosses.
STATE CAMP ISLANDERS
There is q revival or the charge that
beer is sold at the Sea Girt camp ground
and that the authorities know all about
it Each year just rs news becomes
scarce, the old, old story Of beer at Sea
Girt is revived. This year it has new
phase to It, General W. Bird Spencer.
the Inspector General OF Rs1le Practice,
is selling the beer. The facts are as fol-
lowsi-There is a restaurant on the camp
ground. 1t is just now located near the
range. It Is a private institution run by
a man named Gleason, a restaurant IN an
from Newark. He has associated with
him John Kennel, who Is well known in
Trenton. This restaurant Is run more as
a convenience and at the request OF the
authorities If II was not there the men
who come to Sea Girt TO qualify on the
rauge would either have TO 20 hungry
or tramp over to Manasquan and
put up with crackers and cheese: an ex-
pertinent by no means pleasant on
warm July day. There are no gorgeous
profits, because the patronage is more or
less limited. 1t Is an accommodation for
midday lunch there and pay for it.
Visitors and those who come to shoot can
receive the same accommodation IL
there is beer sold there it is without au-
thority. 1t has TO be done quietly. 1t
may 20 with the meal, If such is a fact,
but il so it is sold only at the risk of the
men running the restaurant General
Spencer has nothing 10 do with 1t. He is
a rich man and is not obliged 10 exc out
his existence by selling beer.
THOSE EXTRA CARTRIDGES
It Is also charged that General Spencer
is making money selling extra rounds of
cartridges to those shooting on the range.
This is where the soreness of the inform
er's head is shown, because the State con-
sidered that it was favorlng the guards
men, when it allowed him 10 buy ad-
ditional rounds of ammunition TO con-
tinus the practice. Some men would
shoot all day at the expense or the state.
General Plume in an interview stated
that it had always been the order to allow
each man a certain number OF rounds OF
ammunition, and Il they desired any
more than that for private practice they
were Obliged TO pay for it. as was per-
fectly right. He said further that the
rife range at Sea Girt was the most Der-
feet in construction and location, and the
most literally managed range TO be
found AS for beer being sold, General
Plume said every one knows that Gen
Head Keeper Patterson, of tue state
Prison says.-"Sinse the parole law went
into effect the general con n1uct of the
prisoners has been much improved.
They all appear to be on their good be-
havior in anticipation of being made ben
eflciaries under the parole system You
see that's good thing for prison disci-
pline. aud It won't do the prisoner any
harm either. There are TWO cases before
me now for my consideration Both men
are here tor the fret time, and were com
mitted for atrocious assault. Now, l
want 10 be reasonable in every case, and
II. after thorough examination into a
conyict's past life, fad it has not been
one OF crime, / will cheerfuliy sign for
his release on parole.
''lf, on the other hand, the crime COM
mitted Is that of murder, arson, and may
be the convict is here for the second or
third time, / think the people of New Jer-
sey will uphold my course when l refuse
20 sign a parole | would not take the re-
spousibiiity Of turning them loose, and
think l should not be asked TO do any
thing of the kind.
1--WE bad over a thousand conyicis here
some time ago, but the number has been
reduced considerably the past month,
until at present we have but 944. This,
of course. gives us more room. and we
are not crowded SO as TO be necessitated
to have two eonvicts in so many single
cells as formerly.