The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-17
SEWELL ANXIOUS.
Wants the Republicans to
Concede Something to
the Democrats.
THEY REFUSE TO DO so.
United States Senator Smith Has a
Talk With Governor Werts
The Outcome.

Special to the Jersey City Ncacs.
TRENTON, Jan. II, 1S94.-It was All exceed
ingly difficult thing last night to make any
predictions concerning the Senatorial mud
die. When the time for calling the Legisla-
ture to order arrived yesterday morning,
every one predicted a speedy compromise of
the difficulty, and when Senator Adrain said
that if the Republicans had come into the
Chamber yesterday morning they would
have been given their seats and sworn in,
the impression spread that the Democrats
were weakening, and that the farce Of two
Senates was over. But as the day progressed
these hopeful signs disappeared, and by night
every one was declaring that a reconciliation
| was impossible, and that nothing could be
foreseen but a deadlock and an entire alb
Sence of all legislation. Several things oc-
Cured during the day to substantiate that
opinion. 1t was declared in the morning
that the Governor was weakening. His
friends said that he never was in sympathy
with the Democratic policy in this matter,
and that he was not aware of the plan which
they intended to pursue. In substantiation
of this, they point to the conclusion of his
message, in which the Governor plainly ac-
knowledged that the Legislature was Repub-
lican in both of its branches.
VAT SMITH ON THE SCENE.
This rumor gained much credence until
the afternoon, when United States Sen
ator James Smith, Jr.. suddenly ap-
peared upon the scene. He sailed into the
State House under full steam, and, stopping
for nothing, bore down upon the Governors
room, where he had a long and secret con-
ference with the Chief Executive. When
the conference was over and the Junior
United States Senator had folded his tents
and ci1nntlU cfnlQn ayVaV If was boldly AS
serted in the lobbies that the Governor had
receded from the conciliatory attitude and
was now firmly standing with the Demo
Gratis.
The hopes, which the appointment of a con-
ference committee by both the Republican
and Democratic Senators raised, were rude
ly dashed to the ground by subsequent de-
velopments. 1t was generally accepted that
| the appointment of the committee was due
to a hint from Governor Werts that some
| such movement toward a settlement should
be attempted. Out of the respect each
group of Senators entertained for the Chief
Executive the committee was appointed; but,
if anything is to be judged by the utter
ances of representative men OF both parties,
the cesired settlement is much farther off
than ever. The Republicans say that the
only solution of the difficulty will be a COM
| plete recognition of them. The seven re-
| publicans-elect must be sworn in n seated,
and Senator Rogers must be recognized as
President and the other officers chosen by
the Republican Senat be recognized as the
proper Senatorial officers No promises not
to pass partisan legislation would be given,
and if any concessions were to be made they
must come from the other side.
WILL MAKE NO CONCESSIONS.
On the contrary the Democrats. declare
they will make no concessions. They say
that the Attorney-General has declared that
they are the only constitutional Senate and
that the Republicans ''are not the Senate OF
New jersey They will stand upon that
legal rock and remain there if it takes
all summer. They might consent to a COM
promise, some of them say, If the Repub-
licans would consent to come into a Senate
of which Robert Adrain is president and
Sammy Thompson is secretary. They say
rather than give into the Republicans now,
while they nave the law on their side, they
will consent to a final adjournment and go
home without passing a bill.
This threat is very much of a parent to the
thought. That final adjournment would be
a contingency which the Democrats would
welcome with open arms no one doubts and
many profess to believe that is exactly what
they are striving for. 1t is asserted by the
Republicans, and the Democrats have said
much to strengthen the belief, that all the
Democrats wish to obtain is a deadlock,
which will preclude the repeal of all laws
which are keeping the Democrats in owe
in Newark and other localities.
GEN. SEWELL ANXIOUS.
One of the most persistent laborers for
some adjustment of the difficulty by which
the Legislature can get to work is General
Sewell. 1t is five years, with the exception
of the coal combine year, since the General
has been as prominent in Trenton, as he
has during the past two weeks. He has at
tended all the conferences of the Republi-
cans and has been one of the strongest advo-
Gates for a settlement. None of the Repub-
licans has consulted oftener upon the subject
with Governor Werts, and he has been in
constant communication with the Chief Ex-
ecutive upon the subject. The General, it is
understood, is al advocate of some slight
concessions upon the part of the Republi-
cans. Nothing material, nothing material, /"
as he expresses it in his brusque way, but
just enough to enable the Democrats to back
down gracefully from the position they have
taken. There are other good Republicans
who differ with the General in this regard,
and are firmly opposed to any concessions
whatever, whether material or otherwise.
o MAN
Much of the trouble with the Republicans
seems to be that they have too many leaders;
the tail is wagging the dog, and each leader
presumes to speak and act on his individual
responsibility for the entire party. A good
illustration of this occurred yesterday. Mon
day night the Republicans held a conference
and prepared a statement in answer to the
Attorney-Generals opinion, a copy of which
had been furnished them by the Governor.
EARLY yesterday morning a copy of the reply
was given to the newspapers by one who was
supposed to have authority to give it out. 1t
was sent out of the town by telegraph. About
noon Franklin Murphy, Chairman of the
Republican State Committee, foully abused
the correspondents for sending out the state
ment. He said it was all wrong and I'M
authorized and wanted it corrected. The
correspondents obliged him. At six O'Clock
Senator Stokes, the Republican leader,
hunted up the correspondents and gave them
copies of what he declared was the only cor
rect and authorized Republican statement.
He claimed to nave alone the authority to
give out the statement, and said some hard
things about people sticking their noses into
matters which did not concern them
DIT r q TINT mur