New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-15
WERTS INITIATES FLOWER.
REFORM LEGISLATION RUTHLESSLY
VETOED
WHERE NO OTHER EXCUSE CAN BE TRUMPED
UP THE NEw-JERsEY GOVERNOR DEGREES
THE BILLS AS PARTISAN"
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRTBUv'


Trenton, ~ j.. May 14-The Governor sent In
ten vetoes tonight. Anything and everything
which has the appearance of restoring home rule
to the people of the different localities and which
takes from the Democratic gang the power to
plunder further the people seem to come es-
pecially under the displeasure of the Governor,
who willingly lowered his high office to deprive
the people of their right Of selfgovernment at the
beginning of this session OF the Legislature
There is not strictly partisan bill among those
vetoed; but notwithstanding this fact the Gov
ernor bases all vetoes on the ground that all are
partisan. The first bill to receive the Governors
opposition was the one depriving his friend.
Bob" Davis Of Hudson, OF control of the jail.
The intent Of this bill was to deprive political
jailers like Davis Of the ability TO open the jail
doors on election days and roll up Democratic
majoritles. and also to return to the sherffs OF
the counties their constitutional right to manage
the prisoners.
The bill depriving the Governor Of the power
to appoint the supervisors OF the stone roads
and placing such power In the hands OF the
Boards Of Freehoders of the county building
the roads is also vetoed. The bill reduces the
compensation Of the supervisors from s. a day
to g. The Governor suggests that the power be
lodged in tho hands OF the President Of the State
Board Of Agriculture although in the first para
graph Of his veto he insists that, as the State
appropriates the sum of $4,000 for the building
Of roads, II Is proper that the Governor should
appoint supervisors.
The bill anncxlng the thriving towns Of Har-
rison and Kearny to the county Of Essex, to
which. by geographical location they properly
belong. is also vetoed He says the effect of the
bill would be to make Hudson a second Instead Of
a flrst-class county besides taking s1O,OOO,OOO of
taxable property from Hudson. He winds up
this long veto by saying that the right Of in
dvdual municipalities TO sever county relations
Is on the principal Of the heresy Of secession
The Jersey City and Newark Police Justices
bill also comes under the Executive ban. He in
sists that they are partisan. The bill providing
for commission 10 redistrict the wards or
Newark and Jersey City Is another and the
Essex and Hudson Freeholders bill is vetoed on
the ground that II Is complex, complicated and
partisan The bill provided for the election OF
FreehOders under tho old system. The bill
saving Newark many thousands Of dollars by
the establishment Of law department Is also
vetoed. also on the grounds OF partsanship. The
other vetoes refer to local bills.
Thecommissioners appointed to examine into the
causes Of the South Jersey oyster war and TO
suggest remedy reported TO the Legislature to-
night The trouble arose over the claim by
few men OF exclusive ownership TO oyster beds
which others insisted on regarding as common
property. The holders based their claims on deeds
from the State Riparian Commission The In
yeGtigatOrs say that there Is nothing in these
grants to indicate that any oyster privileges are
conveyed The report winds up with recon-
mendation that the State should take control Of
the oyster beds and manage the industry through
a board.
Governor Werts has appointed Riparian
Commissioners William Cloke and Richard B.
Reading. Republicans, and Miles Ross and Will
lam c. Fisk. Democrats. The appointments are
made under a new law requiring the appointees
To be equally divided politically. The Board
which goes out Of existence Is wholly Democratic.
Mcssrs Ross and Fisk are members Of IL.