The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-06-12
TRBNCHANT YETOES
Partisan Laws of the Repub.
Legislature Analyzed by
Gov. Werts.
UNJUsTIFIABLE LEGISLATION
Newark Bill Would Make Its
Mayor a Dictator-0ther
Bills Disapproved.
JNJUSTIFIABLE LEGISLATION
specialize the Jersey CITY Ne,rs.

FGlOeS OF tl6 NcWdlh P0i q 90
ures which the Republican Legislature
passed last week. He withheld them un-
til moor in order to give the Senate an
opportunity to recall them. But Senator
keteham was determined that they
should pass despite the protest of many
leading men of his party, who advised
their recall to save the party from the
severe criticism OF ~parrisanship which
has gone out against it. h struggle
went IN during the whole morning.
Chairman Carl Lentz, of the Essex
County Republican Committee, ana City
Counsel Chandler Riker. came down and
held up Senator keteham'S hands. The
report went around that one of the four
bills would prevent the Aldermen OF all
cities in the State from holding ONCE
longer than a single term. This aroused
quite a storm of opposition. But the Is
sex Senator and his partisan advisers
gained the day. II think the circrm-
stances warrant such heroic legislation
he said. "Our people don't want the city
to get in the hands of the crowd whlch
was in control for so long N when we
had so much trouble to GUST. THESE pliis
are only to be operative until the next
election. l am opposed 20 giving the APP
pointing, power over to the Mayor per-
~petually. If these laws prove li-advisea
they can be repealed next winter prior
TO another election" &
So the Newark people and the vetoes
we're sent in, and the power of king. eau
Gus prevented those vet9es from being
sustained. The following was what
Governor Werts said 20 the Senate
June II, 1895.
rafurn herewith to your honorable
hody, wherein it originated, Senate Bill
No. S4a, entitled \ act relating 70
vacancies in the office or OF in aid noarda Of
Aldermen or COMMON Councils, ia cities
Of the first class in this State" with
The bill provides that any such vacancy
as is referred TO in the tile q me aet,
whether occurring through failure u
hold an election or BY death. Dor 1 frHm
hy appointment of the Mayor of such
city, and that such appointees shan nGil
office until the next charter or mum M
eipal election. and until successors are
elected and qualified.
So far as known. no present necessity
or occasion EXISTS for the paSsege 10; el
Sought to be avoided by its passage
The object af the law is s%onssais @ha u
Formerly the city of Newark was
divided into nine wards ana the Com
mon cauncil consisted OF sishIeeh metz,
partisan reasons. under an act specially
passed for the purpose, the caty Was
rsdistrieted INTO 1orn nf1ee ao,s Wasa 81 t mateaH
vaemhers. The act under which the re-
distr.cting was accomplished Is now be,
taav ne courts, and i may % aaysFse
scheme and Vacancies thereby oecas.
Stoned, which it IS proposed the Mayor
shall hll by appointnssn., H wba,sve ans
anticipate and cireumvent a possible de-
cisien of the courts three other Gem en-
p psnsean BEING seIla ssss 0f bills NUMBERED VA
ssss and 40.
Should the redistricting law be set
ask aTiaa mii 81 p g. rsisggats sYS te the Ola @ Council Sna
of eighteen members and It's School
Board to the old Board Of Educati9n
undsr the p aSas ant fha the iee suee sasoIu
were duly elected and aualiasd; TIC
prevent such a result. Senate ~ was
passed. which provides ina no A ambar y
e Sos h'a IT any y city IN the state shall
hold ever after the expiration 1f IN r
| elected. notwithstandipg that his sue;
| elected. may not have qualified.
II ScHale NO. GOV COHldALS NAcNNAJ ti~
same provisions with reference to yacan,
cies In the office of school commissioner
e bosraas Az Of s sdsfst nnm IL as 81. slaas r eft.
dsrmsn e sr s= esmmos co % shs s seer v z. m
c sam $ 9 9ss,ss,sps in IN s poard Yfa IS e q sshon
through failure to hold an election. or BY
death, 'for from any cause Whatever
are TO be niied by the Mayer. > nro.
| visions as to school commissioners ane
members of boards of education as does
Senate No; S44, cd In difference T5 to a ais oa'.
Gals can hold over, notwithstanding theiI
successors may not have been elected
Having thus dissolved the municipal
| government in case the decision Of the
| Court should overthrow the restricting
chaos. to constitute the mayor a virtual
| autoerat' and dictator over q city of tWt
hundred thousand inhabitants. He is IN,
! Of all members of the common council
and all members of the board Of educa'
ton. A power 50 despotic was never pc.
The Hands Of any oficial in this State
He may appoint regardless OF partsal
OF. any other CONSIDERATIONS. HIS anfi
from one ward, No confirmation Of his
ass. Is required. and the popular will
nedthss s s smpgaasiS SE rs dgly t. characterize
such legislation. It is destructive q
| local self government, and centralizes al
power in the hands of n man. Tc
| Authorize any official to fill Offices prop,
erly elective, at pleasure, with men o.
| his own choosing means simply thar ne
ma appoint such az will do his BIDDING
! and record hts will. No reflection. is in,
| tended upon the Mayor of Newark; but
such authority. Is always liable. t. ahuss,
! however we'll intentionsd the individual
The proper course would be to avail,
| the decision of the court, and as Law
| abiding citizens accept and respect if
! The proposed legislation. cannot be tusti-
| ned in any event. and possibly never
| arise. Even. IL 1t should, ii Is better tf
submit to the law of the land than e
seek to evade or circumvent. IT by sucf
unfustifable methods. Should the pro
posed law be finally passed; II SHOULD t,t
followed by another, providing that !,
| shall be imperative ii the decision Of
! the court sustains the redistricting law
tor. If the decision be adverse. that thu
law shall become null and void. when j
| has accomplished It's object in defe atins
and circumventing the court. That. vii
| tend to prevent its pernicious results II
hope. II not faith. that local s~els-govern-
\ menf Is not altogether the plaything o.
| Interested partisan schemers.
Respectfully,
GEORGE T, WERTs.
Governor.
June II, 1895.
II return herewith to your honorable
body, Wherein it originated, Senate bill
Ir-atlto7 8 - -, ra1a+ino tn oil