The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-02-28
REPUBLICANS SIDE.
Senator Voorhees, Testimony
in the Quo Warranto
Proceedings.
WHAT HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES DID
Cross-Examined by Allan L. Nc
Dermott Senator Hoffman
Also Testified.
Special to the Jersey City Ne,rs.

Court Commissioner Dickinson'S Court IN
which the depositions in the Senatorial quo
aoagranto proceedings are being taken was
the cross examination of Senator VOORHEES,
by Allan McDermott Mr.. McDermott is
considered one of the shrewdest cross exam
iners in the State while Mr.. VOORHEES, is
recognized as lawyer of brilliant attain
ments. 1t was to be expected that when
these two crossed swords the sparks would
fly in all directions, and those expectations
were fully realized The entire proceeding
was characterized with the most charming
urbanity and the dulcet tones in which the
two addressed each other were most refresh
ing.
Mr.. VOORHEES, began his testimony with
answers to Mr.. Coult's questions concerning
his election last fall and the majority he re-
ceived He said he was sworn in as Sen
ator by Senators Hoffman and Ketcham
about noon on the day the Senate organized,
at the Windsor Hotel. He and Senator
Stokes as a committee of the major
ity called upon Mr.. Adrain as the
leader of the minority to tender him the
tempo rary Presidency of the Senate, i'll ac-
cordance with the custom which has pre-
vailed in the State for years. They met Mr.
Adrain in the large room OF the Executive
Department He expressed himself as ap-
preciative of the honor but said he could
not, as gentleman accept any fayors from
the Republicans, because he would not be
able to return them. Mr. Voorhees, then
asked him if there was any truth IN the ru-
mors that the Democrats would not allow
certain Republican Senators-elect to take
their Seats and Mr.. Adrain said, laughingly.
that he was not responsible for rumors. Mr..
VOORHEES, told him that that was quibbling,
and again asked him if there was any truth
in the rumors Adrain replied that he had
heard rumors that the Republicans proposed
to organize another Senate, and asked II
they were true Mr.. Voorhees, said that he
and Mr.. Stokes had the authority to give
him assurances that the Republicans would
meet in the Senate Chamber. Mr.. Adrain
said that he would expect them, but could
show them no favors, and they had better
look out for themselves.
Judge Stevens objected to this testimony,
but as the Commissioner has no power to
rule on any question and can only certify the
objection to the Court, the testimony went in.
AN OFT TOLD TALE
Mr.. voorhees, next repeated the oft told
tale of how the republicans marched up to
the Senate door. He and Senator Stokes did
not march in the procession headed by the
band and the Rogers Association of Camden,
and SO they reached the State House before
the Others. He had considerable difficulty
in making his way to the door of the Senate
Chamber, and, when he finally got there at
ten minutes before three o'clock, he found it
locked Then he rehearsed the exciting
scene in which he was shot through the mar
row opening in the door into the Chamber.
When he picked himself up he went to the
desk on which he had seen his name the
week before when he visited the Chamber.
His name had been removed from it and it
was encumbered with a huge floral piece,
which was not intended for him, however,
but which obstructed his vision. So he left
the desk and took a chair in the aisle.
He looked at the clock and it was between
twenty and twenty-five minutes after three
o'clock At that time Mr.. VOORHEES, said the
silence of death was in the Chamber.
Gas bad as the Eden Musee, remarked
Mr.. McDermott.
eyes, as bad as the Eden Musee," replied
Mr. VOORHEES,, with the Senator from Mid
dIesex (Adrain standing as stiff and erect as
one of the statues and the genial Chairman
of the State Committee Mr.. McDermotD
likewise
This sally of Mr.. Voorhees, provoked loud
laughter in which the dignifed commissioner
and lawyers joined. When this had sub
sided Mr.. VOORHEES, proceeded. Secretary
Thompson began to call the roll, he said.
and called two names when Senator Stokes
arose and asked what it all meant. He then
made the speech which has been repeated SO
often since and asked Adrain what the pro-
cedure was to be-. Mr.. Adrain replied that
he did not know personally, but perhaps
some one on the floor could tell Then it
was that Senator DAILY introduced
his resolution to the effect that
the credentials of the newly
elected Senators should be referred
to committee controlled by the Dem
ocrats Mr. VOORHEES, next told of the bold
but vain stand which he made for his rights
and his encounter with ergeant-at-Arms
Nathan Adrain told him very politely, he
said, that he was too good a lawyer to make
such a statement Mr.. VOORHEES, replied
wishing to be as polite as MIR. Adrain, that
the gentleman from Middlesex was too good
a lawyer to deny him his rights. This caused
Mr.. Adrain to remark that neither Mr.
voorhees, nor any of the newly elect
ed Senators had any rights and he was not
going to respect them Mr. Voorhees,, how
ever, insisted upon his right to participate in
the temporary organization, and then Mr..
Adrain told the Sergeant at-Arns to make
him sit down.
REPUBLICAN SENATE ORGANIZED.
1t was at this point that the Republican
Senators went to the ante room to organ
ize. Mr.. VOORHEES, said that the reason the
Republicans did not remain in the chamber
and insist upon their rights was that they
did not wish disturbance. Excitement
ran high, and they feared if they resisted
violence would follow.
w uen tilC D6lhbOlS ASs1Cllc0 VllC dAUS-IOOul
Mr.. VOORHEES, said he called the roll, and
said that if there was no objection Senator
Stokes would act as chairman. Mr. Voor
hees then related the events which followed;
the election of Senator Rogers and the other
officers, and the visit of the committee to
the Governor.
Mr.. McDermott interposed the objection
of this testimony on the ground that nothing
done by either party or any committee OF
any body after organization can effect that
body.
Mr.. Voorhees, said he was certain that
none of the Republican holdovers answered
the roll call He had heard, back in Decem-
ber, rumors that the Democrats proposed to
keep the Republicans out of the Senate. At
ter his interview with Mr.. Adrain he felt
certain that those rllmors were true and af-
ter DAILY had introduced his credentials there
was no doubt about it.
Judge Stevens objected to this testimony
as in it the witness expressed an opinion.
'sMay add Judge, If not Objectionable"
remarked Mr.. Voorhees,, in his blandest man
ner, "an opinion based on my political ex
perienceW
This raised laugh, and when it had sub
sided Mr.. VOORHEES, said that he went to the
Senate Chamber several times between three
P. M. the day before the organization and
three P. M. of that day and always found
the door locked. He knew that there were
people inside but he could not get in.
CRoSS-ExAMINED BY MR.. M'DERMOTT.
Mr. McDermott then took Mr.. VOORHEES,
in hand for cross examination. The witness
acknowledged that at the conference between