The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-03-27
Erie Lobbyists Think They
Have Discovered a Fatal
Error in SINNERS
Crossing Bill.
Snccicl to the Je,seu City Ne,cs.

akt1'tN
TRENTON, March 81, 1S95.-The I'M
portance of trlfies was luminously illus
trated yesterday, when Governor Werts,
Attorney General Stockton, Assemblyman
Parker, Governors Private Secretary
MeaIaster, Assembly Clerk Parker and
two railroad lawyers wrestled with the
problem.
Does the transposition of a age in
an engrossed bill passed by both Houses
of the Legislature nullify the act?
The measure in question was Mr.. Skin
ner's bill, No. PA, giving the town and
authorities in Essex and Hud-
son counties power to compel railroad
companies TO guard grade crossings with
gates and fiagnen. This is specially in
tended for the Erie crossing at Avon
dale, where a number of lives hav been
lost. James S. Allen. the Fries agent
here, tried all he could to beat it.
Nh. Allen didn't succeed. Yesterday he
was on hand to learn. if possible, what
the Governor proposed doing with it. He
happened in the outer office of the Elk
ecutive chamber, right on the heels of
Mr.. Skinner. Mr.. Skinner explained to
Private Secretary McMaster that the bill
was all right in every respect except
that pages two and three were trans
posed.
That's a simple thing" Mr.. McMaster
said. when we're examining bills and
find anything SO trivial as that We gen
MINISTER'S QUIET REBUKE.
q object to that" ~interposed Mr..
Allen. You lave no right whatever to
it is no part of your business to do So
Mr.. McMaster's face flushed. Sir he
said, Il am not used to being spoken to
in such a manner. I am in the habit of
dealing with gentlemen. If you had en-
tered an objection in a courteous manner
it would have been sufficient
The matter was referred to Governor
Werts.
"oh, that error doesn't amount to any
thing" the Governor said, after hearing
purpose are plain. and anybody can see
that the misplacement of these pages
was a mistake and nothing else. No
act on such IA ground as that
But" remarked Mr.. Allen. the Leg
~islature which passed that bill has gone
out of existence and / submit that no
the bill in any shape"
The Legislature has merely taken a
recess, the Governor replied, and this
bill is in the possession of the Clerk of
"what would you advise, Governors.
asked Mri skinner: ~ 49,
A y : SSO - AetOiiiOy oOAA-
eral."
ATTORNEY GENERALS OPINION.
Mr.. Stockton came downstairs and
promptly quoted pTecedents and offered
suggestions. While Mr.. Albeit was
Governor" the Attorn>y General said.
"a bill was passed with some Senate
amendments which had been printed but
were not engrossed in the bill. Score
tary of State Kelsey was going to pub
lish that law without the amendments,
but Governor Albeit took strong ground
against that. and insisted that as it
was the amended bill which the Legisla-
ture had passed, and which he had
signed, it should be so published. I
agreed with the Governor. You, Cover
nor, in signing this act. could call at
tention to the displacement of the pages
end have Mr.. Kelsey arrange it correct
ly for publication"
Yes, if I sign it," the Governor re-
marked.
OR" continued Mr.. Stockton, 1.-THE bill
co.'ld be returned through the regular
hannels to the engrcssing clerk who
made the mistake and have him rectify
it."
The second suggestion appeared to
meet the approval of ~ concerned ex-
cept the Fries representative, and Clerk
Parker tool. the bill with him for the
purpose of having the. pages r~earranged.
1t will probably reach the Governor in
proper shape today, and he is eX-
pected to sign it.