The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-03-28
The Courts Decision on the New
Jersey Senate MuddIe.

The Courts Decision on the New
Jersey Senate Muddle.
The deadlock in the New Jersey Legislat-
ure was ended Wednesday by decision Of
the Stale Supreme Court, which, after assert
ing its own jurisdiction in the matter, sus-
tained all Of the contentious OF the Repub-
icans. There was but one dissenting voice.
Good citizens everywhere viii rejoice that
the Supreme Court of New Jersey. compos-
ed Of five Democrats and three Republican
Judges, has decided, with only one dissent
ing vote, that the Rogers Senate, composed
OF Republicans, Is the legally constituted
Senate Of the State. The decision is based
on the doctrine that the majority must rule.
The former Legislature, controlled by DEM
ocrats, sold itself out to the race track gam
blers. The result was q revolt by the people
last November and the election Of Repub-
lican Senate and Republican House The
House Wss organized by the Republicans
without any difficulty, but two Senates were
organized, one composed exclusively Of
Democrats and the other exclusively Of Re
publicans. The Governor, by the advice Of
the Attorney General, recognized the Dem
ocratic or Adrain Senate (Mr. Adrain being
President), and the House recognized the
Republican or Rogers Senate (Mr. Rogers
being President Legislation was impossi-
bic nor did the Legislature or the Governor
possess ony authority by which to break
the deadlock that prsne7
The question, however, was at length tax
en- TO the Supreme Court and exhaustively
argued. both parties agreeing TO abide by
the Courts decision. In the mean time the
Republican Senate aud House had passed
several alts; including a repeal Of the OBJ
noxious race track legislation, and in joint
session had elected & State Comptroller and
State Treasurer.
The problem presented to the Court 70 de-
termine was not very difficult, in spite Of
the ingenuity Of the Democratic counsel in
trying to prove that the constitution intend
ed to give the minority OF the Senate the
right 10 pass upon the credentials ofthe ma
jority. TIE Senate Of New jersey is CON-
iDotu Ul = iIri-ocIs. vi lutSt nine were
hold-oyer Senators and Democrats. The re-
volt Of the people against race track corrup-
ton resulted in the return of IL Republ-
cans and only one Democrat to the vacant
seats. The Democrats set up the preposter-
Gus claim that the hOld-over Senators could
organize the Senate and pass upon the ere
dentials Of the newly-elected Senators. The
Republicans would not submit to this, as it
was the well known purpose Of the Demo-
erais to reject Bradley, of Monmouth, admit
his Democratic competitor and thus make
the Senate Democratic instead Of Republi-
can. The newly elected Republican Sena-
tors. therefore, met by themselves and or
ganized. They were eleven in number.
The Democrats, ten in number, also met by
themselves. If they had met together on
equal terms the Republicans could Of course,
have controlled the organization.
The Democratic obstructionists are thus
routed. foot, horse and dragoon. The Will
Of the people Of New Jersey expressed at the
polls last November by over 10000 majority
has al last been carried into effect and the
laws legslizing race track gambling are wip-
ed of the statute books.