The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-02-23
LOOKING into THE DEAL.
First Legislative Glance
At the Reading Com
bination.
SENATOR BARRETTS ELECTION BILL,
Washington'S Birthday in the Legis-
lature-Matters Affecting
Jersey City.
spectol to Me Jerseu citu Nelus.

Special to the Jersey City Ne,os.
TRENTON, Feb. %, 1S92.--Ihs first prac-
tical step towards investigating the pro-
posed Reading deal was taken last night
when Mr.. Beekman. Chairman of the
Committee on Railroads, presented the
following report
Your Committee on Railroads aud
Canals to whom by resolution of the 18th
of February, was directed to ascertain
whether any corporation mas entered into
any agreement with any other corpora
ton to advance or control, and etc,
would respectfully report that your com
mittee have appointed William Harrigau,
our Sergeant-at-Arms. to secure all pro-
cesses, and have also appointed the
lar clerk of your committee as our secre-
tary, that your committee rave waited
upon the Attorney General of this State
n consulted with him as TO the legal
bearing of the matter, referred to your
committee. that the Acknowledgement is
unable, as YET, to advise intelligently as
to what proceedings YOU committee Is to
take until he has inspected the alleged
leases and agreements under which the
alleged combination between said railroad
companies has been made. That he has
written for copies OF the same aud when
obtained will at once advise our COM
mittee what action your committee can
take and how far iJ can proceed in said
matter legally, and what steps are neces-
sary to protect the public and State
against said combinations; that it IL Il
matter that should be intelligently and
not hastily acted upon.
THAT your, committee further reports
that as soon as the Attorney General adj
vises how and when it can proceed with
effective and not abortive results, it will
push the matter with vigor In the interest
of the public and the State.
Your committee further report that
the first question seems to be, whether in
making the said leases or compacts. any
existing law OF the State has been yiolat-
ed, and until that question has been set
tied by the Attorney General, it is not
possible to advise what legislation, if
any, is needed to prevent an Injury to the
people of this State by such combination,
or what action is necessary on the part of
your committee"
SOMETHING ABOUT THE LAW.
Whether the law prohibiting corpora
tions from leasing other corporations,
without the consent of the Legislature,
has been violated, it is not possible to de-
y termine until the terms OF the alleged
deal are known by an inspection Of the
leases or agreements between said rail-
( roads. -4e
The Attorney General announced that he
has received a despatch from EXCHANGED
lor Williamson stating that he would se-
cure him the necessary documents in
reference to the lease of the Contra Rail-
road OF New jersey.
Assemblyman Lane of Union. who is
Chairman of the Special Committee. ap-
pointed for the purpose of conducting the
same Investigations, made a verbal report
to the House. He stated that the COM
mittee had organized by selecting Thos.
F. Noonan, the present Clerk Of the
House, as clerk of the committee. and
Allan L. McDermott MS counsel. The
committee has consulted with the Attor-
ney General and called on President
Maxwell of the New Jersey Central Rail-
road and requested 4 copy of the case and
he las promised to furnish a copy in the
near future.
This may lead to a conflict Of authority,
but the matter will probably be adj
justed.
Mr.. Barrett's bill, changing the date of
charter elections, has awakened wide
spread interest owing to an %rroneous
impression that it applies to borough and
township elections. As a matter OF fact
its only effect will be felt In Essex county.
The act is now a law. Its full text is as
BE 1t enacted by the Senate and General
Assembly of the State of New Jersey, that all
elections of AL officers elected by the voters of
any municipality in any county of the first class
in this State shall hereafter be held on the
second Tuesday in April, where any election for
MayOr. councilman or OIQoF fnuuiclpAl ONCE OIL
any municipality in any such county is now by
law directed to be held on any day other than
the second Tuesday in April, such cleo
ton shall be held on that second Tues
day in April next following the date now fixed
by the law for the holding of such election. The
terms of office of all municipal officers elected
in any county Of the first class in this State
shall Commences on the first Monday in the May
following the election of such officers.
's.-And be 1T enacted, that each and every
officer of every municipality in any county of
the first class in this State shalt hold his office
until the election and qualification OF his sue
cessor."
One of the bills which passed last week
was Senate bill No. 1875, which provides
that the State Board OF Ed ucation shall
hereafter supervise the taking of the
State School census; gives the Governor
the power OF appointing a State Superin-
teudsnt of Census, at q salary to De liked
by the State Board Of Education, who
shall have the owe OF appointing as
many clerks as he may deem necessary.
and also the appointing of a number of
enumerators. to be paid at the rate OF
five per cent. per capita.
The bill introduced by the Senator from
Gloucester County cutting off a portion
OF Lands township. III Cnms erlaud
County, and making it a part of Glouces-
ter. Will be vigorously opposed by the
representatives from Cumseriand when
it shall reach the House. This bill. the
Cumberland County Democrats claim.
will increase the Democratic vote in
Gloucester, and they do not propose TO
let il 90 idly through, as it Will materially
reduce their majority in their W county.
for which they have worked so hard in
the past. A large delegation will be
on hand from Cumberland every week.
and will circulate among the Democrats
I'm their efforts to defeat 1t.
COMMISSION BILL
Trenton Republicans are opposed to the
Police Commission bill, not because they
do not want a Police Commission and a
Police Justice but because they do mot
want Democrats to hold the offices. II
they could name the appointees they
would be as heartily in favor OF the
messnre as some years ago they were in
favor of n bill giving Democratic JERSEY
City Republican Commissioners Of all