The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-20
M'EWAN STILL TOP
He Remains Leader Dispute
the Caucus Called to
Depose Him.
TOO INDEPENDENT FOR THE BOSSES
Speaker Holt Complains that the
Members Do Not Sup
port Him.
TOO INDEPENDENT FOR THE BOSSES

TRENTON, April 20, 1S94:-The bad feeling
which was e~ngendered in the House over the
law offices and Prudential Insurance bills,
yesterday afternoon. finally broke out into
q row, which it took a caucus to settle. Mr..
Harding's little measure, which repeats the
act of 1889, which puts the Lamp Inspector
of Jersey City in the tenur of office act,
was the cause of the outbreak. When the
bill came up on final passage the clerk start
ed to call the roll before anyone had ex-
planned the bin. Several of the members
evinced an inclination to shirk voting, and
it began to look as though the measure was
in danger, when Mr.. McEwan called upon
the Speaker to enforce his rulings of a short
time before chat under a call all persons who
answered the roll call must vote. Mr.. Elk
ton declared that he did not understand the
measure, as no one had explained it. Mr..
Storrs then strobe over to Exton's desk with
a big law book in his hand n began 10
point out the law which the bill repealed.
Some one called upon the Speaker to di-
rect Mr.. Storrs to take his seat when Mr..
Thompson exclaimed:-
sob. no: let him alone; he's the chaplain
of the House instructing Mr.. Exton in the
faith
Mr.. Stafford and one or two others still re-
fused to vote when the Speaker said he
would like to call attention to the able man
ner in which the Republicans supported
tLeir Speaker. When the vote was an
nounced Flynn challenged it, claiming that
two of the members recorded in the atfirma-
tive were not in the chamber when the vote
was taken. Upon investigation, however,
the roll call was found to be all right. A few
A.1,o Kills xxror.o noceod amid QYplQm0fJ0nS
which did not improve the Speakers temper,
and then an adjournment was taken.
RIOT ACT READ.
The Speaker Immediately called a caucus,
and when the doors were shut read the riot
act to the members. He complained of the
disrespect which some of the members were
showing him, and said that they ought to
sustain him instead of embarrassing him as
they are now doing. He also had something
to say about Mr.. McEwan n the manner
in which he was kicking over the caucus
and leading the party to disaster.
That gave Mr.. Murphey his cue, n he
soundly berated Mr.. McEwan for what he
called his double dealing. He said that in
the morning he had called upon ali the re-
was a caucus measure because it was agreed
upon at the Union League conference, and
then he refused to support the law officers
bill, which was also agreed upon at that
same conference. Messrs. Storrs and Wool
sew Joined in the attack upon Mr.. McEwan,
and their talk so incensed Mr.. Berry that he
would not stay in the room any longer, but
caine out declaring that he would resign
from the Assembly. He, of course, declared
that nothing was the matter, but muttered
something about two or three men thinking
they could run the whole House.
Mr.. McEwan wanted to defend himself,
saying that he had distinctly stated in the
Union League conference that he would not
support the law officers bill, which placedan
additional burden on Jersey City.
UNITED TO POS M'EwAN.
Mr.. Srorrs inc Mr. Murphey wanted to de-
pose MIR. McEwan for the leadership, but it
was argued that such a cours would be I'M
wise and produce a Daneful effect:
Others declared chat Mr.. McEwan had
acted properly, and insisted that he should
retain his position. 1t looked as though on
ter was finally adjusted apparently to the
satisfaction of all, and when the confreres
emerged from the caucu they were all
smiles and declarations that nothing had
happened.