The Jersey City news., 1892-01-27
RAILWAYS AND RUM.
Two Subjects Which Occupied the
Assembly Yesterday.
specfa1 to the Jersev city Ne,cs.

Special to the jersey City Ne,os.
TRENTON. Jan. %. 1S92.-The House was
in session about two hours yesterday
afternoon when Mr.. O'Neill arose and
said he had some sad news to impart to the
House. He had just received word over the
telephone that Judge Knapp had dropped
dead from apoplexy, and he moved that
the Assembly adjourn as a mark of re-
spect to the dead jurist. The motion pre-
vailed and the House adjourned.
The Railroad Commission bill intro
duced by Mr.. Tumilty yesterday has
caused considerable comment. The ef-
fective manner in which it puts
the railroads at the mercy Of a
State Board is said to be its
weak point. and 1t is declared that it
cannot pass. There are some who
look Spon 9pcara it tEa M'h bs ovs
it's introduction is Questionable. But
Mr. Tumilty says he has introduced
the bill in good faith being lead to do so,
he declares, by the many fatal accidents
which have occurred on railroads during
the past year. A brief synopsis of the
bill appeared in The JERSEY CITY NEWS
Yesterday, but fEller presentation of its
provisions will be read with interest.
SWEEPING POWERS.
1t requires the Commissioners to have
general supervision of all railroads. to ex-
anime them and keep informed of their
condition and the manner in which they
are operated for the security of the pub
lie. The Commissioners may enter
and remain during business hours
in cars, offices and depots
and may examine the books and affairs
of any corporation and compel the pro-
duction of books and papers. In giving
hearings they are TO have the
same power as courts to COM
pei the attendance of witnesses.
They are to embody the results and con-
clusions of their hearings and investi
CATIONS in an annual report to the Legis-
lature. The Board is TO investigate the
cause of any accident on any rail-
road resulting in loss of life or injury
and the general superintendent or man
ager of everv railroad must inform the
Board of any accident Immediately after
its occurrence. If it shall appear that
any railroad corporation has violated any
law or that it uujustly discriminates
in its charges for services, or persistently
refuses to comply with any recommends
tion of the Board. the Attorney General
is to be directed to take proceedings
against 1t.
ities etc., and also as TO the rate of
charges for passengers and freight.
and the Supreme Court is
to have the power 10 COM
pei compliance with the recommen-
datious Of the Board. The total expenses
of the Board must be borne by the rail-
road companies and The share OF each is
to be apportioned by the State Comp
troller.
A SALOON VICTORY.
The Committee upon Revision of Laws
reported adversely a bill which sought to
prohibit the opening of saloons within 800
feet of a church, and the report was con-
Cured in by the House The Dill author
izing the State Treasurer to pay $40
to each school district for library
purposes and the Senate bill which pro-
vides for the retention in office during
good behavior of the chiefs and captains
in second class cities were passed. The
bill was soon after signed by the Cover
nor and is now law.
O'NEILL VS.. POTTS.
The proceedings were enlivened by
political scrap, the first of the session, in
which Mr.. O'Neill and Herbert Potts
crossed swords over Senator Werts' bill,
which takes the licensing power from
boroughs and vests it in the Court of
Common Pleas. The bill was in
trodnced in the Senate Monday night
aud was rushed through the Senate yes
terday morning. 1t came up in the House
on second reading Mr. Ross, Republican
from Cape May, wanted 1t post
poned until next week so that it could be
looked into by those whose districts it
affected. Mr.. Potts made strong ap-
peal ror postponement, and Mr.. O'Neill
appealed 10 his fellow Democrats to put
a ST top to all such nonsense" to take the
bull by the horns ana pass the bill with
bells on.
This brought Mr.. Potts to his feet, aud
he made strong partisan speech. He
accused Mr.. O'Nein of trying to intro
duce into the House the buildoZing tao
tics which he employs in the Jersey City
Board of Aldermen. Too much
haste. he declared, prevailed in passing
important measures, and he renewed his
appeal for postponement. Mr.. O'Neill