The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-23

members, the Court to make inquiry and de-
eide comprehends all the members qualified
to sit. To say the two classes of Senators
only, ignoring the third, may pass upon such
certificates is not in accordance with the
Constitution. l claim my right to pass upon
such questions is equal to that of any ether
member.
sPlease also note carefully that the provis-
ion of the Constitution which invests a ma
jority with the sole p~reogative to do business
is a part of the very sentence which refers to
the right of the House to inspect the creden-
tials of members, showing plainly that the
trainers had no thought of ~delegating to an
intermediate body what belonged to the en-
tire House.
"Are the eleven Republican members then
regularly organized as the Senate of 1894!
We are Senators by virtue of our creden-
tials, which are regular, and nave never yet
been challenged. No contestant has ever
appeared, and the correctness of the papers
is without dispute. Our oaths of office have
been duly taken and subscribed, and are on
record in the office of the Secretary of State.
If any cloud rests upon the title of a Senator
this nHouse'' car and ought to investigate it
in the regular way. Let charges and speci-
f~ications be preferred, and we, being judges,
will try an issue so made up.
"Were we remisS in not following custom
and precedent? We answer custom and
precedent avail nothing as against the plain
letter of the Constitution, and when these
are to be invested with unusual and revolu-
tionary powers, they lose their time-hon-
ored characters. We did endeavor to EN-
ploy the usual courtesies, but were driven
by force to stand upon our constitutional
rights.
HLet us, Mr.. President, employ every
honorable method for a peaceable solution,
but let us never betray the confidence or sac
rifice the honor of the people of this State.
eff adjustment is impossible, then let us
proceed to the work of the Legislature and
leave the results where they belong"
Mr.. Ketcham's remarks aroused great en-
thusiasm in the crowded Chamber and he
was frequently interrupted by cheers and
applause. When he took his seat Mr.. Skirm
sprang to his feet and said
SKIRM WANTS A PLAN.
81 would like to know what the Senator
from Essex would have us do. If he has a
plan, / for one would like to hear it. Here's
a Governor recognizing a Democratic Senate
that refuses to let us in. If We cannot do
anything l believe in letting the matter go
over until the first Tuesday of next Novem-
Der and giving the people another chance of
teaching the Democrats a lesson. Can the
Essex member give us a solution OF the
trouble"
81 think I CAM said Senator Ketcham.
sit is an easy one; eleven beats ten every
day in the week III under any administra-
ton. We have the eleven, it's our duty to
go ahead and work"
~PUBLICAN PLAN.
At the close of the meeting the republi-
cans, assisted by John Kean, Jr.. Frank
Bergen, Franklin Murphy and several other
leading members of their party. held a long
caucus, the upshot of which was the resolu-
ton to go ahead and transact business on
their own hook. They agreed to set their
Senate up in business in one of the House
committee rooms. 'sSuch measures as the
people demand and which were an issue in
last falls campaign will be enacted and the
passed bills taken to the Governor. He may
take them or not. Then a temporary ad-
journment will be taken until some day in
November, when other adjournments will
be had until the next election, when the
matter will be referred to the peo-
pie. The chairman of the caucus was
authorized to arrange with the Chairman of
the House caucus for a joint caucus to be
held next Monday night to choose candi-
dates for State affairs to be elected in the
joint meeting the mex day. At the close of
the caucus the Senators looked over the
House Committee room and finally deter
mined to take the one belonging to the Judi
ciary Committee across the corridor from
the Assembly Chamber.
Althouth the election has one over for a
week, the various candidates for State Urea
sure and Comptroller kept open house last
night Barring combinations and deals,
Sammy Dickinson will be Comptroller, and
George B. Swain, of Newark, will be Urea