The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-12
ROARING FARCE
The Two Senates Met This
Morning and Adjourned
No Quorum
AWAITING SToCKToN's OPINION.
Conference of Governor Werts
With Prominent Democratic
Officials at Trenton.
Special to the Jersey City Nescs.

~
farce that was enacted at the Senate Cham
Der this morning. A large crowd, anticlpat
ing trouble, gathered around the door to the
Chamber, and completely blocked the ap-
proach. Mike Nathan and green door
keeper were in charge of the Chamber. At
ten o'clock Senator Rogers came up to the
door, accompanied by William Mott, Secre-
tary of the Republican Senate, He knocked
at the door, but the green hand did not open
at first Mr. Mott then, at the direction OF
Senator Rogers, began to call the roll at the
door. He had called only two or three names
when the door was opened, and Rogers was
admitted Mott followed and Nathan at
tempted to put him out. Mott claimed to be
entitled to the privilege of the floor as being
an ex-officer of the Senate, That could not
be denied, and he was allowed to remain
Senator Rogers then took the chair, and
called an imaginary Senate to order. Mott
called the roll, and then Rogers adjourned
his imaginary Senate until Monday night
for want of quorum.
Rogers and Mott had scarcely gotten out
of the State House when Senator Adraln
rode up in cab. The crowd made way for
him and he marched to the Chamber. He
was admitted He went to the Presidents
desk and his Private Secretary, William
Pintard, called the roll of the nine Demo-
cratic and four Republican holdovers. Then
Adrain declared the Senate adjourned for
want of a quorum, and the fake was over.
VICAR GENERAL M'FAUL WAS ANGRY.
An incident of yesterday morning was fur
nished by Sergeant-at-Arms Nathan's effort
to have a clergyman open the Senate with
prayer Just before the meeting be remem-
bered that none had been summoned. Hasti-
ly grabbing messenger boy who was on his
way in. he ordered him to get a
minister as quickly as he could The
boy was Catholic, and no explana-
ton being given as to the purpose for which
the minister was wanted, he ran to st.
Mary's Cathedral and told Vicar General
McFaul that minister was wanted at once
at the State House. When the Vicar Cen
eral reached the Senate Chamber the session
had been adjourned. Father McFaul was
angry. He entered with prayer book in
hand, and supposed some one was dying, and
in need of the Last Sacrament.
The Republicans thought yesterday
afternoon, they had discovered plot on
the part of the Democrats to capture Sena-
tor Skirm, today, for the purpose OF getting
quorum and going on with business then.
The Republicans adjourned Wednesday un-
til today; it was with the understanding
that adjournment would then be taken until
Monday evening. 1t is usual in quieter po-
litical times for the Mercer county Senator
and the Secretary to be on hand and go
through the form of adjourning Skirm
is one of the holdover Senators and
his presence would make the eleven
needed to transact business, the legality of
which could not be questioned When the
Republicans heard the rumor of plot they
notified President Rogers to do the adjourn
ing act Rogers has just been elected and
as he has not qualified in the regular Senate,
he cannot be counted. His credentials, with
those of the other newly elected republicans,
are in the possession of Republican Secretary
Mott
SENATOR wINToNs OPINION.
Senator Winton, the Democratic leader,
was asked what the result of the present
fight would be- He replied that he did not
see that anything could be done at this ses-
sion, even if Attorney General Stockton ad-
vises that the Democratic body is the regu-
lar one. Should the Republicans stick
to their intention of disregarding the
opinion, there was nothing further to
be done but await the result of the
contest in the courts. This contest, as he
understood the Republican plans, was to be
made over the race track repeater passed
Wednesday. After the Governor had re-
fused to receive the repeater, as being the
tanned in the possession of the House five
days, and then taken to the Secretary of
State to be filed. Secretary of State Kelsey,
acting on the advice of the Attorney General,
would refuse to receive it, and the Republi-
cane would apply for writ of mandamus to
compel him to do SO. Thus the whole ques-
tion would be before the Supreme Court, and
that was just what the regular constitutional
Democratic Senate wanted. Then will fol-
low long wait, during which the Republic
can Senate and the House will go through
the forms of enacting laws
GOVERNOR WERTS OFFENDED.
Governor w erts came to Trenton yester-
day afternoon and had long conference
with the Attorney General and afterwards
with other State officers. He was very angry
over the situation of affairs, and declared
that if the present difficulties are not settled
within forty-eight hours he will himself force
a settlement. The Governor, it is said, was
not consulted in the matter of making the
fight for the Senate by the Democrats, and
this is borne out by the concluding paragraph
in his annual message, in which he said:--
SIN conclusion, l desire merely to express
the hope that the legislative and executive
departments, although not in political ac-
cord may be able nevertheless conScien-
tiorsly to cooperate in wise and beneficent
legislation for the public good"
He knew nothing OF the contest until last
Monday Secretary of State Kelsey and Su-
preme Court Clerk Lee, both of whom are
prominent in the party leadership, were not
consulted either, and are denouncing the
scheme as ruinous to the party in the State
This sentiment is growing among Democrats
and the rumor is renewed that there are
threats of break in the Democratic ranks.
Winton. Perkins and Miller are named as the
men who are weakening. Mere rumors of
overtures for compromise are afioat, but
can be traced to no reliable source, as those
who know decline to talk.
One store is that the Governor will ignore
the opinion of the Attorney General, and
recognize the eleven Republican Senators as
the legal body, in case the Attorney General