The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-12
TO TINKER THE LAWS
Measures Which the Repub-
leans Propose to Put
Through the Leg
islature.
SMITH AND BROWN MUST GO.
Judges to be Elected and Courts
Simplified-Will Have a Big
Demonstration at the Open
ing of the Session.
SMITH AND BROWN MUST GO.
ing of the Session,
Special to The Jersey city y.,os

TRENTON, Dec. II, lS93.-The legislative
and State Offices are not the only objects the
Hudson and Essex republicans had in view
when they attempted to make a combination
to control things at Trenton next year. At
the recent conference held in Newark, and
referred to in The JERSEY CITY NEWS
dispatch from this place yesterday, it was
declared to be desirable that the Essex and
Hudson republicans cooperate in legislation,
and that they would do all they could
toward securing harmonious action. Any
laws in relation either to city or county
government will affect both counties, and
such an agreement is consequently of much
Importance.
Tn sentiment of those present was gem
orally in favor of eleeting officials, as far as
possible, and that policy is favored by Essex
men as a rule. The sentiment is against
partisan action; that is, against measures for
purely partisan imposes. Little was dis
cuSsed in regard to city legislation, that be-
ing left for future conferences. The law on
which all are agreed is to repeal the act
creating superintendent of fire and police
departments and repeating the appointment
of police justices by the Governor. 1t is
probable that justices will be elected by
popular vote. Assemblyman Storrs has an
act to regulate naturalization proceedings.
This proposes to follow the Massachusetts
plan, and one requirement is some knowledge
OF the English language. 1t was agreed
that the Road Board should be abolished.
As to the election of freeholders, it is proba-
BILE that the recommendation will be in favor
OF choosing them on a general county ticket
next Spring. There are legal obstacles
against changing the districts and the county
plan has a number of supporters.
TO ABOLISH COMMON PLEAS.
An important part of the discussion was in
reference to the courts. There is general
complaint made of the large expense of the
courts, the appointment of Judges by the
Governor through political Influence, and
the existence of useless lay judges. 1t was
suggested yesterday, without any final de-
cision, that the Common Pleas courts should
be abolished; that nine circuit judges should
be selected, with nine Criminal Court judges
for the nine judicial districts of the State.
and these should perform the work now done
by the numerous judges of the county courts,
and the saving effected would be not less
than S60,000 a year, mostly paid by county
treasures. There is strong sentiment in
favor of choosing these judges by the popu-
lar vote. Judges are now elected in practic-
ally every State of the Union excepting
Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Whether
any general reference is made of the kind
indicated, it is certain that the courts in
Essex and Hudson will hereafter hold month
~ OEi LIS. lnSbcdu VI Quarterly. Ibis Is I'M
perative on account of the present delays and
expense and difficulties OF securing proper
jurors. 7,xxr,,xe rur
A subcommittee of the Republican State
Committee have prepared and circulated an
address to the members of the Legislature
advising certain legislation during the next
session. Among the recommendations it
has a number of changes in the existing
laws.
1t starts off with a strong one in reference
to race track legislation. 1t urges the pass
age of laws which will stop every form of
gambling connected with racing. If the
laws cannot be enacted which will stop the
gambling, then the racing should be pro-
hibited. It suggests the repeal of the
County Excise law and the passage of a
local option law giving the towns and
cities full power to regulate the liquor
traffic.
1t urges a high license fee and the closing
of saloons after eleven o'clock at night. It
also urges that all useless offices be dispensed
with and the corporation tax law amended
and that the money received from corpora
tions should run the State government and
the surplus be divided among the counties.
The election law, they think, can be amen
ded and made stronger, so that there will be
less corruption of the ballot.
LAST PLAN OF ORGANIZATION.
It is well settled that Senator Maurice
Rogers viii be President of the Senate, and
John | Holt of Passaic will be Speaker of
the House. There is more or less uncer-
tainty about the other offices. The indica-
lions are that j. Herbert Potts will be the
Clerk and John F. Loyett of Mercer Ser
geant-at-Arms Of the House. Lovett has made
an aggressive fight and has already enough
pledges to insure his election. Assembly
man Exton, of the Mercer Third district,
has a candidate in Alexander Turford. Cap
tain Lovett is well known among the Grand
ARMY MAJ ha1inO hoon T11pior Vioa Cono
mander of the National Department. Sena-
tor Thompson announces that he has a can
didate for Reading Clerk of the Senate.
Editor 81. B. Robinson of Railway comes out
as a candidate for Secretary of the Senate.
Assemblyman Glassfell of Bridgeton is going
to lay claim to Bill Clerk of the House for
one of his constituents.
John Ulrich, organizer of the State League
of Republican Clubs, is still in the contest
for State Comptroller. He has the indorse-
ment of the Union county republicans and
has the promise of support from members in
other parts of the State. Ulfich is well
known throughout the State, more SO than
any other person mentioned in connection
with the office.
DEMOCRATS DID 1T.
The Secretary of State has finished the
compilation of the election returns, and some
of the figures are interesting in view of the
tidal wave that swept the State. The Re
publican plurality was 23,S2S on the total
Assembly vote. Last year the total Demo-
cratic plurality was IA, 1854. The Republicans
nave a clear majority over all other parties
Of 10,474. The Prohibitionists polled 8,518
votes: which was larger than last year, when
they polled 1920. The heavy Prohibition
vote was d suSprise to many. because it was
thought the Prohibitionists have in many
rounties voted with the Republicans, but
this was not the fact. The Social Labor
party, particularly in Hudson county, polled
BIOS. The Independents in the same county
L,329, Independent Citizens Association, 1913;
Citizens League in Camden, 496; Peoples
party, 161. The returns show that Essex is