The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-02-11
BIGOqRY SQUELCHED
Rogers Religious Garb Bill
Killed in the Senate
After Hot Debate.

SIA1E HOUSE, TRENTON, Feb. II,
1Ss6.-Religious bigotry lifted its head in
the Senate this morning and got such a
crack that it will probably not be heard
from again this session. Mr.. Rogers
called up his bill forbidding the wearing
in the public schools by teachers of any
religious garb or insignia. He said he
wanted it passed to third reading and a
day fixed for general discussion of its
merits.
Mr.. Daily promptly moved that the
enacuing clause be stricken out.
Mr.. Skirm, in supporting the motion,
said that the measure was iniquitous in
the extreme and was fire brand thrown
into the midst of the community to stir
up religious strife and dissensions. There
was no sect trying to crowd into the
public schools at this time and the bill
was unnecessary and unwise.
Mr. Rogers denied all Mr. Skirm's allie
cations and said that to kill the DILL in
the manner proposed was discourteous
to the influences that wanted it passed.
Mr.. DAILY wanted to know what neces-
sfty there was for the bill and Mr..
Rogers replied that one was liable to
arise at any time, as it did at McKees-
port. Pa.
Mr.. Voorhees, wanted to know why the
bill did not dismiss the teachers sum
marily.
Because" Mr.. Rogers replied. sit was
thought best to leave that matter to the
Board of Education
Then the Senators began to lombard
Mr.. Rogers numerically with questions.
Mr. DAILY wanted to know who was be-
hind the measure and Mr.. Rogers said
Sons of America and kindred organiza-
tions.
MI. skirm asked where they came from.
tofa of Inr saxrss soft IN.
Rogers.
Further questions brought out from Mr..
Rogers the fact that the bill came from
the Executive Committee of those or
ders, which includes a very small mi
nority of the entire membership CT those
orders.
Church, began Mr.. Daily, NOR does any
one belonging to me. Nor am l here as
the advocate of that chursn, bur | would
be recreant to my trus5 If 1 I'D not op-
pose this bill. 1t is not an attack upon
the Christian Endeavor er any Protestant
order, but a strike against the Catholic
Church. There is ample law 70 suit this
question now in the State. Every Board
of Education can control this matter
without any such law as this. It pnly
creates discord, foments religious strife
zens."
Mr.. Daily hoped thai the spirit Of in
tolerance which was creeping into the
State in this bill would be killed. He
claimed that there was already enough
in the constitution to accomplish what
the bill sought.
Mr.. Rogers read that clause OF the con-
stitution which guarantees freedom of
worship, and claimed taat that was not
&c ooNess thE scas ~ A9s fll-a
Jams had him read The next clause which
says there shall be no establishment of
one religious sect in preference TO an
other Mr. Williams Claimed that that
was suf6fient but NJ. Rogers thought
not. He dwelt at length upon what he
termed the danger of allowing teacher
IN a religious garb to instruct child
under the present kindergarten system.
The teachers would go into details and
50 strongly impress upon the youthful
child would never forget it.
Mr. voorhees, showed how what Mr..
Rogers sought to avoid by his bill, would
really be accomplished by it. The teachers
could not be prevented from wearing
their garb and insignia to and from school,
and the little tots noticing that the teach
er changed her dress when she arrived at
the school and when she lefs with the
quick perception of child. would begin
to ask the cause and when told would
want to know the reason. and that WOul1
afford the teacher the opportunity the
friends of the. bill claim she sought. To
influence the child.
Senator kuhl opposed the bill because
he could see no use for it.
There was some further discussion and
then the vote was taken. Senator Parry
in explaining his vote said that great
pressure was brought to bear upon him
last winter in his own county to vote
portuned him that if they would show
him the least necessity for. the bill he
would vote for it. They failed to do so.
and he was still opposed to the bill.
The measure was killed
Ffa.7se voting TO strike out were DAILY,
Gould. Herbert johnson, Keteham,
and Williams-11.
Against-Bradley, Engle, Hoffman,
Packer, Pa. * Rogers Ross, Stats and
Mr. Stokes was out of the Chamber
and President Thompson refused to
snd xo said MF sk an ea ead 5g 20 an
on that measure. Mr.. DAILY raised the
point thai. only those who were Within
came UP should be. compelled to vote,
The President sustained him. That let
Stokes out and the President was for
gotten Messrs. Hoffman and Kuhl ex-
planned that they voted against striking
out the enacting clause out of courtesy
to Mr.. Rogers, who wanted the bill dis
cussed on third reading.
The House had very short session
this morning. and adjournment was neces-
sary so that the COMMITTEES could DO some
the one authorizing the issuing. of bonds
for the Trenton High School and the cor
rection of CLERICAL error in the Mechan-
bill making. it unlawful to locate any
new cemeteries without the consent of the
Boa Of m be ssnaa the e
passed. Both Senators Kuhl ard
DAILY opposed the passage of the repeal
ers and criticised the Republicans for
the passage OF the acts under the cir
cumstances.
Among the bills introduced was one by
Senator johnson of Bergen, which pro-
vides a penalty for throwing anything
on highway that will injure bicycles
and bicycle riders. Senator VOORHEES, in
froduced a bill to keep small children
out of alrnshouses.
TO lMPBAOH STACK.