Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-01-13
TWO JERSEY SENATES.
Both Republicans and Democrats
Elect Officers.
THE FORMER WERE LOOKED OUT.


Bue They Subsequently Secured Possess
sion Of the Senate Chamber and Passed
Bnl Repeating the Race Track Lsgss-
iation OF Last Winter.
TRENTON, Jan I0.-New Jersey has two
senates. The Democrats claim that the
senate il a continuous body, and shall
therefore organize before new members
are admitted. The Republicans deny this.
and the Republican holdovers refused to
take part In such organization. The nine
Democratic holdovers met In the senate
chamber at 10 o'clock yesterday morning.
and locked the door. In the afternoon
detachment of Trenton police. acting
under instructions from the governor.
forced back the crowd that had gathered
In the corridor and formed passageway
to the door of the chamber.
: In the senate chamber the Democratic
holdover members were seated, waiting
for 8 O'Clock, the time for meeting, to ar
rive. No one but few sUte officers and
favored persons were admitted, newspaper
men excepted.
At five minutes to o'clock Samuel
Thompson, the clerk Of the senate, called
the senate to order, 0pd Robert Adrian, Of
<tAAAaAOoCAf was SiCttCQ CndtEl1d4@ 4ASA
call of the senate was made, and recess
taken for five minutes.
Shortly after o'clock the Republican
senators were admitted, after some lively
diminishing. Senator Stokes protested
against the organization of the senate
that had been perfected, and Chairman
Adrian asserted that the senate had been
organized in regular manner. He re-
fused to recognize the credentials Of the
newly elected Republican senators, and
the Republicans then withdrew to lobby
room. Here they organized by electing a
full set of officers, with Maurice A. Rogers
of Camden, as president. They sent Q
committee to the governor. who informed
them that he had already received a mes
sage from a body calling themselves a
senate. The house recognized the Repub-
lican senate.
TRENTON, Jan. 11.-Large crowds of ex-
cited men were at the capitol before the
time came for the meeting of the Repub-
I1can senate yesterday afternoon The
doors of the senate chamber had been
locked by the Democrats, and the Repub-
icans held conference, after which Pres
ident Rogers waited upon Governor Werts,
but the latter replied that he could do
nothing. The janitor of the state house
said the keys were gone. The excitement
OF the crowd in the corridors was intense,
and it increase 4 as the senators discussed
the advisability of forcing their way into
the senate chamber
Senator Skirm ordered cab and went
after locksmith, who arrived, but was
unable to open the doors. Captain Ora
ham, well known worker in Hudson
county, pushed open the door to the gal
lery, and entering in that way climbed
down to the floor and opened the door.
The crowd then surged into the gallery
and the senators were soon in their seats.
The Republicans propose to change the
locks on the doors of the senate chamber
and hold possession. An opinion Is hourly
looked for from the attorney general up
holding the course of the Democrats
After gaining admission to the chamber
the senate at once proceeded to business.
The committee on rules presented report
that the rules of last years senate be
adopted, with the exception of Rule SO
This rule requires a two-thirds vote in
passing bill through the senate without
reference to committee. THIS was done
In order to pass the race track repeal bills
at once, they having been passed by the
house. These bills were taken up and
passed by unanimous vote, and will be
sent to the governor.
= A resolution was offered by Senator
Ketcham that twenty-five assistant ser
geants-at-arms be employed to maintain
possession of and hold the senate cham.
Der for the use of the senate of New Jer-
sey. After discussing Mr.. Ketcham's res
olution at length it was adopted, and the
Republican senate adjourned until Mon.