The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-20
Law OFFICES BILL PASSED.
Leader McEwan Voted Against 1t
A Caucus Debate.
Special to the jersey City NciCs.

Special to the Jersey City News.
TRENTON, April 90, 1s94.-There was an
other family quarrel among the republicans
of the House over the bill which provides
for three law officers of Jersey City and
Newark. The arguments, if they can be
called such, for and against the measure
were on the anne lines as those OF Wednes-
day. Mr.. Murphey, the nov of the bill,
said that while the bill might increase the
law expenses of Jersey City $500, it would
save Newark $13,J 500. Mr.. Harrigan wanted
to know what Mr.. Murphey proposed to do
for the FL, 500 which was to he spent under
the bill, Mr.. Murphey explained by
enumerating the present long list of New
ark's legal advisers which the bill would
abolish. Then Mr.. Harrigan took exception
to some of the items and said they could
not be properly charged to the city. This
Mr.. Murphey denied and after they had
spatted for a while Mr.. McEwan opposed
the bill.
Instead of increasing JERSEY City's ex-
penses 1900, it would do SO to the extent of
$1,000. He reiterated his words of Wednes-
day to the effect that this was not the lime
to increase salaries or create new offices. AS
to it being a caucus measure, that he denied,
and said that he had never bolted a caucus.
"For twenty years. he began, when the
Speaker interrupted him to call him to
order. He said that talking of caucuses was
not talking upon the question.
Mr.. McEwan said that Mr.. Murphey had
said it was a caucus measure, and that the
thought justified him in talking upon that
subject.
The Speaker was Of the impression that
| Mr.. Murphey had not used such language,
but when both Mr.. Flynn and Mr.. Thomp-
son informed him that Mr.. Murphy did, he
allowed Mr. McEwan to go on. But the
zon,,c 1ao Ia- catd thot If tho SraoIay want
ed him to stop he would. He remarked,
however, that the meeting to which Mr..
| Murphey referred was a conference and not
a caucus. Mr.. Thompson moved chat a
committee of two from each party be APP
pointed to determine the difference between
a caucus and q conference.
MI. Murphey again called upon all republI-
cans to vote for the measure on the ground
that it was a caucus measure.
"We have been treated to an elegant dis
sertation on caucuses and conferences" began
Mr.. Storrs, when the Speaker sharply called
him to order and directed him to confine
himself to the question. Mr.. Storrs then
went on to say that the law left it optional
with the Mayor to increase the salaries of
the law officers, and it was sure a man of
Mayor Wanser's character would not in
crease the burdens of his city. In paying
Mayor Wanser q glowing tribute Mr.. Storrs
alluded to him as having been "~unexpect-
Mr.. Thompson suggested that it would
nave been more appropriate if Mr.. Storrs
had said accidentally elected"
Eyes, accidentally for the democrats"
replied Mr.. Storrs, and then he went on to
declare that the money which Newark would
save was SO much larger than the increase
Jersey City would have to pay that it ought
to pass.
The bill barely got through with thirty
two votes in its favor. Mr.. McEwan voted
with the Democrats.