The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-02-19
EXPECTATIONS
Democrats Hope Lindabury
and Stevens Will Break
the Deadlock.
BILLS TO BEINTRODUCED TONIGHT
Mr.. Kelly's Trouble with His Equal
Taxation BilI-Republicans
Oppose the Measure.
Special to the Jerseu Citu Nears.

1880 1ON1 ASO| 49, AOc'
of the Legislature opens tonight, and will be
attended with the usual rumors OF a settle
ment of tina Senatorial controversy. Al
though these rumors fly about with more
persistency than ever those who have
watched the progress of events at the State
House during the past six weeks are not I'M
duly elated by their purport. Much, how-
ever, is expected in certain quarters from
the conference held between the Attorney
General. Judge Stevens of Newark; and
Richard V. Lindabury of the State House
last Friday. TIL earnestness which the
Governor has displayed in this matter as set
forth in THE JERSEY CITY NEWS on Satur-
day has revived the dropping hopes of those
whos desire for an adjustment of the affair
runs away with their judgment.
1t was stated at that time that these three
| legal summarizes had agreed upon a plan
| which they thought would settle the matter.
They gave no indication of what their plan
is, and all that could be gotten out of them
| was a vague hint that the details of their
| scheme would be made public this evening.
One thing is certain, however, whatever
the outcome of the conference may be,
and that is that Governor Werts is in dead
earnest in his desire to have the Legislature
get down to its legitimate work and put an
end to this miserable farce of a dual Senate
whatever may be the motives which actuate
him, and if any heed was paid to his critics.
one would think that he was the sole author
of the Democratic plan of action and was,
single handed, maintaining the deadlock.
SNAGS FOR HANCOCK AND SWAIN.
There are many who believe that the
only serious effort to settle the controversy
in the courts will soon be made. 1t will not
be any of the plans suggested by the Attor-
ney General or the Democrats. but an effort
to secure the offices of State Treasurer and
| Comptroller by the Republicans. On March
q, the term of State Treasurer Gray will
expire, and on the 10Th that of Comptroller
| H~eppenheimer. The Democrats claim that
| there does not seem to be any chance for the
men elected by the Republicans as their
successors, Messrs. Swain and Hancock, to
get possession, or even to get into court in
an effort to secure the offices. Mr.. Hancock
| saws the matter is in the hands of able
lawyers, and he will follow
| their advice. He says they assure him
that there will be no difficulty in
making an issue. Other prominent republi-
cans are not SO hopeful. They agree with
the Democrats, that, to secure the places, or
get standing in court, Messrs. Swain and
Hancock m u nave commissions from the
Governor. The Constitution so declares,
and further provides that the incumbent
shall hold Office until their successors are
qualified. The Democrats say that the Gov
ernor cannot issue commissions now, since
the constitutional Senate took no part in the
1oint meeting at which Hancock and Swain
were elected, and did not adopt the concur
rent resolution calling the meeting. The
Comptroller must give a bond for $4,000, to
be approved by the Governor, and this will
| be another obstacle. The Treasurer's bono
is approved by the Legislature.
MR.. VOORHEES, TOD
"a 49, -. x.,lsal- rrsll h. 1lxN Fen.
ward to with considerable nteresttonight will
be the bill which Mr.. Voorhees, proposes to
| introduce to provide a method for getting
away from the necessity of the Governors
making some memorandum upon bills before
the Secretary of State will file them. Mr..
| Voorhees, scheme at first contemplated the
appointment of a new custodian of laws, but
the proposal met with such strong 'opposi-
ton from Messrs. Stokes and Skirm, with
out whose votes it could not pass the Senate,
thatit was eliminated from the bill. 1t was
announced with the usualfanfare of Repub-
lican foghorns that the Republicans did not
wish to create any more offices unless abso-
lutely necessary and the new law would pro-
vide that the Secretary of State should take
charge of the bill As the new custodian
would receive no salary, the virtue of this is
not so apparent as perhaps it should be.
Citizens of Jersey City will be interested
in an attempt Mr.. Hugh Kelly will make this
evening to get the Committee on Railroads
and Canals to report favorably Upon his
confederation bill. This measure provides:
That all real and personal property OF every
railroad, grain elevator or canal company
within this State, shall be assessed and taxed
by the same assessors and in the same manner
and at the same rate as the taxable property
of other owners in the same municipal divis-
ion or taxing district, and that it shall be
the duty of the treasurer, comptroller, col
lector or other officer having charge of the
funds of any city, town or township in this
State. upon receipt of the taxes SO levied
upon any railroad property, grain elevator
property, or the property of any canal COM
pany, to transmit to the State, Comptroller
for state purposes, an amount equal to one
half of one per centum on the assessed valu-
alton of such railroad property, grain ele-
vator property and the property of any canal
company.
WHAT STOPS THE BILL.
1t is currently reported that the committee
proposes to smother the bill. This has given
rise to considerable comment among those
who are acquainted with some of the facts
concerning the history of the measure. Til
Republican Committee of Hudson County
endorsed it, and the Hudson member of the
State Committee got that august body to
take favorable action upon the measure. 1t,
therefore, causes much surprise among the
friends of the bill to see a measure thus
stamped with the seal of Republican APP
prevail killed in a committee controlled by
republicans, who are controlled by those
who so stamped it. But those who are be-
ginning to appreciate the Pharisaical attri-
butes of the present Republican Legislature
do not wonder SO much. Mr.. Kelly
is a democrat, and il any glory or
advantage is to be gained through the pas
sage of a bill, the Republicans are going to
have that advantage. 1t is therefore said
that if an equal taxation bill is passed by
this Legislature it will be a bill drawn by
republicans and known by the name of
some republican and not that of a democrat.
1t is extremely doubtful an equal taxa
tionebilI will be passed by the Republicans
this year. The grip which the railroads and
other large corporations, which the bill af-
fects, has upon the upright aud exceedingly
moral accidents which compose the majority
| Of the present Legislature, surpasseth in ten
acity that OF the snapper which the enter
prising restaurateur palms off upon unedu-
Gated palates for genuine diamond back
terrapin.
It is not likely that they will permit to be-
come a law a bill which would take such a
large sum of money out of their treasures.
ONE M THREE GATTGHT