The record-union., 1893-03-08
ANTI-RACE- TRACK MOVEMENT.
\ SENSATION IN THE, NEW JER-
SEY LEGISLATURE.
The Speaker of the House Refuses the
Citizens Committee a Hearing
Before That Body.
Special to the Rrcorp.ux1ox.

TRENTON On. j., March 7.-Hutchin-
son, in the Assembly, to-day presented
the memorial ofa committee OF fifty APP
pointed at mass meeting of the Citizens
League of Trenton last "Wednesday. In
connection with the memorial he offered
resolution providing for public hear
ing at 1890 p. NJ. upon the memorial,
which was presented solemnly against
the race-track bills, and asked for their
repeal.
Half dozen members sprang to their
feet to make motions, but Speaker Flynn
(who is a Gloucester race-track starter)
shut them all off by declaring the resoIu-
ton out of order. The galleries and floor
were crowded, and the ruling created a
great sensation. Hutchinson in a strong
speech denounced the Speakers ruling
and the spectators applauded loudly.
The Speaker said if the demonstration
was repeated he would order the specta-
tors removed. The Legislature, he added,
would not be influenced by outside
clamor. The Speaker said the people had
gone about the matter of obtaining a
hearing in the wrong way. The proper
course was to apply to the committee
which had the bills in charge.
Hutchinson said that would be farce
as the committee had repeatedly denied a
hearing to the public. The Speaker per-
sisted in bis ruling, and Hutchinson ap-
pealed from the decision. A vote being
taken, 80 sustained the appeal and % were
against it, but the Speaker refused to
allow the result to be announced because
Swartwout was absent.
Byrne of Essex said he had been in
formed that the Committee on Municipal
Corporations was ready to give the Citi-
zens' League hearing, and he therefore
changed his vote, going on record as
against the appeal. Other changes were
recorded, and the clerk continued to call
Swartwout's name. He was the only alb
sentee not excused. The Speaker would
entertain no motion directing the Ser
geant-at-Arms to produce Swartwout,
and arbitrarily ruled every motion and
resolution out of order. Lobbying on
the floor was allowed, despite appeals for
the enforcement Of the rules.
Swartwout finally appeared and voted
in favor Of the Speakers ruling. The
Speaker himself voted for his ruling. and
his attention was called to the fact that
under the rules he could not vote He
consented to have his vote stricken out.
and the total vote then stood 20 to %.
The Speaker declared the motion appeal
ing from his decision lost, it requiring
majority vote. He then announced that
the Chairman of the Committee on Mu-
nicipal Corporations would accord pub
lie hearing on the bill at o'clock, and
the fight for the present was over.
In the Senate Marsh presented a petit
ton from the committee of fifty asking
for a hearing on the racing report. He
made a motion that such hearing be
granted, but President Adrian declared it
out of order. He was inexorable. and
| the whole subject had to be dropped.
| The House Committee on Municipal
Corporations this afternoon heard The
committee of fifty. Tomorrow the adj
vocates of racing legislation will be
! heard.
CLEVELAND MAY TAKE \ HAND.
! New York, March THE Commercial
| AdUestise,'S Trenton special says: Cleve-
land has said word about the race-tracl
1 bill, at least the story comes straight from
! Washington that within forty eight hours
| the President informed some of the New
Jersey Democratic leaders in attendance
at the Inauguration that he was disguised
with the condition of affairs in one of the
perpetually Democratic States in the
North. 1t is also stated that Cleveland
threatened to keep every New Jersey Re-
publican in Office rather than recognize
Democratic applicants indorsed by the
gambling element. There are reasons for
believing this story to be at least parti-
ally true. The conduct of the bosses
when they got back from Washington
last night sustains it.