The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-07
APPREHHND TROUBLE
Republican Leaders Afraid
They Cannot Control
the Big Legislative
Majority.
ST RIyING FOR A SHORT SESSION
Lively Times Expected With the
Constitutional Amendment, as
no Agreement Can Be
Reached.
ST IRVING FOR A SHORT SESSION
Snecfnrto the .zeuseu Ctr Mems.


Special to the Jersey City Nears-
TRENTON, Dec. z, Seth Republi-
can leaders are anxious for a short ses-
sion of the Legislature. ard, doubtless,
they will have their way. With their UNI
wieldy majority in each House they are
afraid that in a long session opportunities
will be given for the making OF mistakes
which may prove costly within the next
two years, when a Governor is to be elect
ed and a United States Senator chosen.
Besides, there are SO many new lawmak-
ers that it is deemed unwise to trust
them long in the shaping of party policy
The Democrats have a smaller number
of votes than any minority party has
ever had in any Legislature in the his
Dry of the State. They have only three
kate Senators and four Assemblymen.
democrats. therefore, are not in a
to make a fight against any
of a political character. OF
fqators Daily and Kuhl will be
m during the session, but with
OF only three votes on their side
ISenate they can hardly make an
one Of the four Democrats of the
e II gifted with eloquence, nor even
the ability OF presenting a protest
inst any measure antagonistic to their
rty. and consequently, the Repqbl-
they feel so disposed. The Republican
4ity on their Side ee IS so no oyerw yhas nae m Th@v
would prefer that there We're three times
as many Democrats in the Senate and
six times as many in the House. Then
poltical issues could, be thoroughly dis
the argument, as they claim. on their
side, The Democrats to some extent
would thentshare in the responsibility of
LEGISLATION, and their party could be held
answerahle to the people for any opposi-
measures. The representation of the
democratic party being a nonen-
eniiven the proceedings Of the session,
must get up fights among themselves.
brief duration there is a prospect that
it may be exciting at times. The Hud-
a Determination to force the railroad COR
porations to, pay more taxes. The dele
OF its constituents if the agitation of this
question was allowed to drop. The watch
word of the Hudson county men, then,
Will be equal taxation" After making
ieg strenuous 5aee effort + t. to get get a ais; share are, Of the the
attention toward a continued agitation
during the last session, talked unceasing-
ly for his equal taxation bills.
The proposed constitutional amendments
are expected to provoke animated debates:
The one providing for biennial sessions of
the Legislature is already doomed, ac-
cording to general belief, although some
Of the lawmakers are in favor OF its adop-
tion.
The great subject for discussion will be
the amendments which provide for a re-
organization of the higher courts. These
propose to make the Court of Pardons
nor, Chief Justice and Attorney General.
The Supreme Court shall consist of not
less than fifteen judges. and shall possess
mrTaM gA11sdfction now vested in the
Court Of IT. E errors; the ; present Supreme sup me
Prerogative Court. The new court shall
be divided into three equal p~arts:-Ffrst,
division; third, the appellate division-five
judges TO each division. In the new APP
pellate Court four judges shall make a
quorum, and the opinion of three in every
case shan prevail.
justices of the present Supreme Court,
and the Chancellor and five Vice-Chancel-
lors under the present system, shall com
pose=the new courts and continue IN on
ice until their present terms expire. The
Governor shall make assignments to the
Appellate Court, but no Judge shall sit
longer than seven years consecutively,
nor be eligible to re-assignment thereto
until after serving for at least three years
in the law or chancery division, and for
the time being he shall not sit in any
other division or court. Judges of the law
division shall hold circuits throughout the
various counties of the State, the same as
At present held by the Supreme Court JUS
tees. The terms of Office and salaries of
the new judges are the same as provided
for in the present law, and the Governor
This reorganization is considered radical,
and it has not by any means the unaai-
bar. In fact, the lawyers Throughout the
State are at loggersheads over the propo-
are expressed of its receiving legislative
sanction. An entirely new system may
- 64i0 u -WOLSS Gull
founded may prevail over this matter be-
fore the end of the legislative session.
As a general thing, lawyers agree to dis
agree, especially on subjects of this kird.
One set wants one thing, another some
thing else, so that there is a bright pros
pect of an old Kilkenny cat fight among
the legal fraternity ere the Legislature Is
many days old
An ak here and ak there must be
ground before a consensus of opinion Is
reached, and even the foremost advocates
at the bar are imbued with certain jeal-
ousieS whenever a system is prepared for
q change in the present organization of
the Courts. Nearly all the lawyers
agree that the present Court of Errors and
ing a relic of bygone days when the State
was sparsely settled and litigation was at
a low ebb. They want a Court of Appeals
IN keeping with the times and I'D to the
march of progress, but how to arrive at
forming a new system which will be
satisfactory all around is q problem the
solution of which is apparently beyond
their wisdom The legislators will NOT act
IN the matter without they receive a
Practical recommendation from the legal
fraternity which wil1 simplify the Court
system and at the same time provide
against additional expense to the State.
With the court problem and others near
~ as abstruse the Legislature will be kept
busy, and, after all, it will not be a dun
session. Among the new members it is
reported there are several orators whose
lights hitherto have been hidden under
a buShel. Unless all signs fail they will
have an abundance of opportunity to give
vent to their latent powers Of persuasion.
end the session may last twelve instead
Of eight weeks, as Governor Griggs would
like to limit II.