The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-03-08
Amusing and Novel Incident
Over Mr.. Bob" Eli
otis Bond Bill.
DolNGS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
Fire Escapes May Yet Become a
Reality-Second Class City
Political Measures.
Special to the Jersey citv Ns,os.

Impression that last evening was the last
Monday night of the 10th Legislature
drew the largest crowd to the State
House that has been seen there this
year. 1t even exceeded the great throng
that came here to protest against
the race track bills. As early as seven
Chamber were crowded, and ladies and
their escorts were looking for seats in the
Senate galleries, Still the crowds
came pouring through the long
corridor leading from the main
entrance to the Halls of
Legisl alton, until it looked as though all
Trenton had turned out to see the show.
Men and women packed the galleries un-
TIL every square inch of sitting and stand
ing room was occupied. Then they
swarmed down upon the floor, and for
the first time 1n the history
of the new chambers the lobbies were en-
livened by the presence of gaily dressed
women. Some of these possessed some
infu ence. for they secured chairs and
sat in front of the mob.
Some idea of the density of the crowd
can be conceived from an incident which
happened soon after the Assembly got
under way. The Clerk was droning
through a bill when suddenly the shriu
treble Of Father Nash, faint and feeble,
was heard somewhere exclaiming;-
Mr.. Speaker, move that the crowd
pc cleared away from the doors, q MEM
ber cannot get through"
Immediately there was q movement
among the throng in the right lobby and
soon after Father Nash appeared at the
entrance to the floor. with his face
his wonted benevolence. He bowed pro-
foundly to the Speaker, waved his stick
above his head triumphantly and took
his seat.
THAT AWFUL SIXTY.
When the clerk started to read the
Journal, Mr.. ketcham arose and said that
the printed minutes showed that he had
voted for Senate bill No. so, the Justice
of the Peace bill. when in reality he had
voted against 1t. When the roI was first
called he had asked what bill it
was. and had been told, as he understood,
That II was sixteen. When he discovered
his mistake, he had requested to have his
vote changed. He did not want that rec-
ord to go uncorrected and have coming
generations see that he had voted
for that measure. Mr.. It. d. Smith made
the same request, and moved that all
record of the first ballot be expunged
from the minutes. which was adopted.
When the Speaker announced, that the
motion had been carried Mr. O'Nein
pobbed up with motion to lay the mat
ter on the table. which the Speaker
promptly declared out of order.
VERY GASEOUS
Mr., O'Neill was in rather pugnacious
his ghting qualify to assert
itselff soon occurred. Previous
to oonvening OF the House the Co mmitree
on Municipal Corporations held a meet
ing, Bob" Elliott was present, and
among the bills which the committee con-
sidered was No. 126, which Is the bill
authorizing the Board of Finance to bor-
row on four and one-half per cent bonds
money to pay ''Bob's" company some old
city gas bills. Mr.. Lane objected to the
bill. He said it effected every city in the
State, and there were some people who
wanted to, to be heard uPon p.a7 it. it.
laid over until this morning
and four of the Committee agreed with
him.
Thereupon Mr.. O'Neill said that he
would lay the bill over.
Don't you lay that bill over" ex-
claimed Elliott in commanding tone.
This was pretty bad break for gentle
man with some reputation for shrewd-
ness. 1t made the mem bers OF the COM
mittee open their eyes in amusement.
Mr.. Lane Immediately poured out the
vials of his indignation upon Roberts
head. He objected most strenuously
against lobbyists coming into the meet
ing Of the committee and debating to
members what they should do with bills.
THE FIGHT ON THE FLOOR.
Mr.. O'Neill remarked that he would re-
port the bill and Mr.. Lane said il ne did
he would denounce him upon the floor.
knir vl oil n
ported the bill and Mr.. Lane told of the
proceedings of the Committee and moved
that the report be not concurred in.
Mr.. O'Neill obtained the floor and be-
gan speech about the trouble he had to
get his bills out of committee and the
manner in which bills were smothered
therein. Mr.. Hardin raised point of
order on him, and Mr.. Lanes motion not
to concur in the report was carried while
Mr., O'Neill was still speaking.
IL is generally believed that Mr..
Elliott's preposterous act of dictation has
hopelessly killed the bin.
FIRE ESCAPES AT LAST,
The appeal of THE JERSEY CITY NEWS
for the passage Of the fire escape bill had
its effect last night The bill was
one of the first introduced. being
No. 68. and was reported without
recommendation on February II. Mr..
O'Neill said that he had frequently asked
but could not succeed. 1t came out lasr
evening, however, and was passed TO
second reading and ordered to be en-
crossed. Mr.. Heaney says that he will
hurry the measure through and the Hud-
son members here tonight will vote tor 1t.
NORTHERN LIGHTS.
Mr., Zeller got through his bill provid-
ing for the sewerage of West Hoboken.
and Mr.. O'Neill was equally fortunate
with his bill making 1t unlawful for any
insurance company to declare forfeited
any policy upon which two full years'pre-
minm had been paid. The House bill
making the term of the clerk and tax re-
ceiver Of West Hoboken two years was
also passed.
There has always been some doubt
about the legality of the appointment OF
the battalion chiefs in the Jersey City
Fire Department and bill to remove
that doubt passed the House.
TRENToN's BOARD OF WORKS BILL.
The Board of Works bill drafted by the
Democrats of Trenton to give them per-
manent control of the city government. Is
causing some trouble. 1t applies also to
Camden and Paterson, and the Demo-
Gratis of the latter place don't like it the
least bit. They want to have it amended
40 as to exempt them. Pending some ar-e
raugement by which that can be done
they had the Committee on NUM-
cipal Corporations put in a
number OF amendments, among
tnem one relieving the Mayor OF the
power OF appointing an Almshouse Su-
perintendent. That duty will deyolve
Continued on Third Page.