The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-26
ALL NIGHT SESSION.
New County Courts Bill
Keeps the Legislature
Until Daylight.
sALINGER DECIDES THE MATTER.
Law Makers Expedients to Keep
Awake During the Weary
Hours--CIosing Scenes.
Special 10 the jersey City Neaes.

all night session. The last one was in 1889,
when the House was held under a roll call
while John P. Feeney, P. FL. ONein and
other intrepid spirits journeyed on a hand
car down to the wilds of Ocean county, in a
biting wind, to bring back the one vote
necessary to pass the Jersey City charter.
There were late railroad journeys connected
with last nights session, but as they were
on regular trains and in modern passenger
coaches, they are not to be compared with
the midnight ride of Patrick 81. The cause
was also different, this time being Senator
Voorhees, County Court bill, which abolish
es the Court of Common Pleas, Oyer and
Terminer, Sessions and Orphans courts, and
erects in their place a County Court, to be
presided over by a justice elected BY
the people. Gloucester and Salem are to
nave but one judge between them. and so
are Cape May and Cumberland, Hunterdon
and Somerset and Sussex and Warren,
while all tho others get one each
THE FIRST
This arrangement did not please the re-
personalities of the counties which get only
half a judge, so to speak, and they sharpen
ed their t~omahawks for the measure. Mr..
Ross, of Cape May, opened the attack with
an amendment giving his county a whole
judge. Messrs. Storrs, Alcott and Austin
VOOC klO EAA ~ NSAS 49,.
MI. Ross tried another line Of attack and
brought In an amendment reducing the
salary of the Judge for Cumberland and
Cape May from s., 800 to $1,000, but it was
quickly disposed of in the same manner.
Then the bill was put on final passage.
Father Coursen. of Sussex, made his second
speech in opposition to the measure, and beg
gei the House not to fire such a law on his
county, as the people to a man, woman and
child were against it.
The strongest speech against Che measure
was made by Mr.. Lewis, whose chief objec-
ton to it seemed to be its elective feature.
He claimed that better judges were had
when they were appointed by the Governor
than when they were elected by the people.
Messrs. Olcott, Storrs and McEwan favor
ed the bill, claiming thot it was a step in the
interest of economy and reform,
as it abolished the useless lay judges and re-
duced the expenses OF running the courts.
When a vote was taken on the bill Messrs.
Ross, Reading, Lewis and Coursen, republi-
cans, voted against it and it could only
muster t~wenty-eight votes. Then began one
of the most persistent and stubborn fights OF
the session. Senator Voorhees, came over
into the House and closely watched the pro-
ceediHgs. He was Joined by Senators Sklrm
and Rogers. The roll call was kept up while
the friends of the bill started out to try to
induce members to change their votes. Thu
opponents of the bill strenuously insisted
that the rule which prohibits lobbying be en-
forced. 7
Tho Speaker rigidly enforced the rule. 1t
became apparent that the bill could not pos
si5ly get the thirty-one votes requisite to
pass it, and q conference was held by its
supporters. 1t was agreed that there should
be no surrender, and that the roll call must
be kept up all night if necessary.
AFTER A~BsENTEES.
Timetables were consulted, and Assistant
Sergeants-at-Arms, with warrants, were
dispatched to Jersey City, Newark and Cam
den to bring back the absentees. 1t was no
ticed, however, that the warrants contained
only the names of those who were known to
favor the bill, or who. it was thought, would
vote Tor it.
When the opponents of the measure saw
this determined fight they ceased their ac-
tave tactics. The first members
who could be brought back were
the Jersey City or Newark men,
and they could not get to the State House
before half-past two o'clock. Several Of the
members then vent into the Speakers and
Clerks rooms, and stretched themselves out
on the sofas, tables and chairs with the idea
they could get some sleep. Others distributed
themselves around the tables IN the Capltol
restaurant for the purpose OF getting some
refreshment.
In a short time the Chamber was deserted
except by a few members and the relay OF
clerks, who kept droning the names Of the
absentees. The House was technically in
session., ana DlSSoI5. OlCOOt, QUILL dAA 1O"AS
relieved each other In occupying the
chair.
It was said that those against the bill were
hard at work secretly trying 60 get some or
those who voted in favor of the measure to
change their votes, while William j. Thomp-
son, one of the bitterest opponents the
scheme had, went down to the station to in
tercept the absentees as they came in. The
friends of the measure were not Idle, ana all
sorts of rumors were flying about in regard
to the methods each side were employing.
Neither. however, met with any success, and
the vote remained the same, when about
half-past two a loud yelling and cheering
broke I'D the sleepers in the ante-rooms and
brought the others rushing into the cham
bers. The shout announced the appearance
of Messrs. Murphey and Edwards, who had
beeu vanked out of their beds at Newark by
the Assistant Sergeants-at-Arms They voted
for the bill, and it then only lacked one
vote.
MAX sALINGER IN DEMAND
Then q great cry went up in the land for
Max Selinger. 1t was known that he had
been also yanked from his bed in Jersey City
and brought down on the same train with
the Newark members and everybody wanted
to know where he was. He soon appeared
IN the Chamber surrounded by.a number OF
the friends and opponents OF the Dill all OF
whom were at the same time trying to IN
duce him to vote with them.
Mr.. Salinger was the hero of the hour.
He went to his seat with the air of Benjamin
Harrison about to deliver a law lecture, and
had no sooner seated himself when be was
surrounded by a crowd eagerly soliciting his
vote.
Mr.. Michael J. Coyle OF Hoboken raised a
great rumpus by loudly demanding that the
fioor be cleared. His actions and words
we're SO ludicrous that members and spec
tators went up to Mr.. Salinger for the .pur-
pose of seeing Mr.. Coyle make an exhibition
of himself.
Finally Salinger was inveigled into the
Speakers room, where tire friends OF the
bin got at him and argued him into promIs-
ing to vote for the measure. When ne came
out the floor and loudly voted aye Presl-
dent Rogers who was sitting near the speak.
er's chair, and who is said TO be the real
father Of the bill, gave a shrll yell
jumped at least four feet In the air waving
his arms about in a wild cowboy fashion
Dick Reading jumped upon a chair and yell
Sd like a Comanche, while Jack Graham
added to the uproar, which was caused by
this, and the yelling, shouting of the friends
the bill by emitting several fiendish wnoops
OF triumph. Mr.. Coyle grew very red IN the
face as he shouted something nc one could
understand.
SPEAKER HOLT C-OMPLIMENTED
Gradually the excitement died down, and
matters were hurriedly brought to a close:
The Senate concurrent resolution, proyld-
ING that the Legislature at 4 Am. take Q re-
cess until Tuesday, October z, at ECON, was
The Clerk read the resignation ofSDeaker
-.nohoe IF fba Aeeamhly ann on