The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-23
WORRIED SPOILSMBN
There Are Not Enough
Legislative Offices to
Go Around Among
Republicans.
FEW CHANGES IN THE SLATE
Lively Times Expected in the Or
ganization Caucuses and Page
ships Will Be at a
Premium.
FEW CHANGES IN THE SLATE

Special to the Jersey City Fsacs.
TRENTON, Nov. %, 1S96.-How may
the spells of office be distributed among
the faithful so as to leave no heartburn
ings? is a problem which is still sorely
puzzling the Republican leaders. When
they come here on the eve of the meet
Ing of the Legislature they must face a
horde of offiee-seekers from every sec
ton of the State, whose demands for
recognition will not be made in hoarse
.whisperS With loud acclaim, one and
LII W ct forth the merits upon which
| RleS lie their claims, and the dire dis
11hter to the interests of their party which
follow if they should be Ignored:
tA&ch county will make its own special
kpfsa, and Essex and Hudson will be in
The forefront. as usual, clamoring for
the fiesh-pots. The only offices which
will not be contested are the president,
secretary and engrossing clerk OF the
Senate, which are already pre-empted by
the ~incumbents of last year., because OF
the unwritten law which accords. them at
least another term. Those offices Will
be filed respectively by Senator Williams
of Passaic, Henry b. Robinson of Union
ana Edgar williams of Essex.
The great bones of contention in the
Senate are the reading clerkship, the po-
sitionS of sergeant-at-arms, assistant
sergeant-at-arms, journal clerk and some
of the doorkeepers. Senator Francis will
make a most determined effort to have
Edward NJ. Fielder reelected reading
clerk. and he will succeed unless a combi-
nation is formed against him. Mr.. Fran
els would not have been elected to the
Senate only Tor the big vote cast Tor MIN
in Neptune township, and it is not denied
that Mr.. Fielder was a potent factor in
bringing that vote out. II looks as II
Dick Starr of Salem will be made ser
geant-at-arms, because South Jersey
seems entitled to the position. and the
opposition to him is not considered for
midable. Candidate William S. Sharp, of
Mercer, is making an active canvass, but
his success IS very doubtful, owing to the
fact that he lacks the support or in
fuential politicians at his own home.
The assistant Sergeant-at-armS may also
go to South Jersey, although Bergen and
Morris counties have candidates 1t Is
understood that Joseph c.. Kingdom, of
burlington, viii be given the journal
clerkship, as it was promised him a year
ago, when he failed of reappointment as
private secretary to the President of the
Senate. James e. Stanton, OF Sussex,
will undoubtedly be reappointed bill
clerk, and Senator Engle of Ocean will
claim the assistant engrossing ~clerkship
for one of his constituents, William H.
Fischer. There wiilFbe a lively scram-
bic for doorkeepers and pages. OF course
some of the Senators may rebel against
this fixing of the slate in advance, but
it is believed that a majority favor the
arrangement, and the caucus will give
its Endorsement.
The distribution of the House offices
- " ~ AN ~ IOl5
cd6s. 1t will be impossible to satisfy the
craving of the fifty-six members because
there are not offices enough to go around.
II seems settled that George w, Mac
phersen viii be chosen Speaker. He has
most Of the big men OF his party with
him, his ability to fill the office is un-
questioned, and Mercer county's claim
fer II IS based upon strong grounds. It
IS true that there are other candidates.
Mr. Wiides, OF. Burlington, has an am
nition in that direction, and 50 have Mr..
Jones of Essex. Mr.. Coddington. af
Union, and Mr.. Gledhill, of Passaic.
It is the field against Mr.. Macpherson.
cording to general prediction. The candi-
dates for Clerk are William H. Cole of
Camden. Charles B. Duncan Of Essex
and James Parker of Passaic. Essex's
solid delegation of eleven votes, If united
for Mr.. Duncan, would almost certainly
make MS candidacy a success, because
tDat Dig county must get one of the prin-
cfpal Offices. But when it asks for two
fat berths trouble arises. Andrew J..
Brleaenpach wants another term as ser
g~eant-at-arms. and ex-Assemblyman Bene-
dict and Daniel D. Harrison dispute his
claim. With a triangular fight for SER
geant-at-arms and the conspicuous candi-
dacys of Mr.. Duncan for the clerkship
there is a premonition of disappointment
for the Essex statesmen.
Hudson county. with its eleven repre-
sentatiyes, will not stand idly by and
see the Spoils go elsewhere. This may
be the cnly chance Hudson Republicans
VII get in another score OF years to par
IaAS Sidtl4y tHelf dppetlIeS with LeglSia-
tive pluas. and they will enter into any
possible combination which will tend to-
ward. success. Should Hudson and Els
sex face each other in battle array the
spectacle VII be unusually interesting
and will afford an opportunity to South
Jersey TO sep in and dictate terms fer
us own recognition.
With ffty-six warriors battling for
tn3rty-siX ehices, from a pageship up, the
republican House caucus VIII present a
sight seldom witnessed in the arena of
political office-seeking.
All through the State there is a loud hue
ana cry raised against PaSsaic County.
because OF the allegation that it now has
IaF more than it's share CT the public pat
S3nage. Sourh Jersey. particularly Is
very jealous of Passaic, and demands that
no more Offices be given to that county. 1t
is true that Passaic is well cared fer now,
but It's Representatives contend that If
has vel earned all the offices the county
hoids. And, furthermore, the assertion is
made that it is only recently that Passajc
county mas been recognized, because only
a lew years ago it had hardly any repre-
Sentaton at all on the payroll of the
State. The State offices now held by Pas
sale are as foliowss-Governor. 1000 a
year; private secretary, 1000: Riparian
commissioner $l,500: member OF the State
Boarn OF Assessors, $500; Commissioner
OF Banking and Insurance, $4,000; Judge of
the Court of Errors and Appeals. $1,000:
assistant custodian of the State House
sl,2N; president of the Senate, $685.; mem
Der of uhe State Board of Arbitration.
el.ze0; Congressman of the district. IS, 600:
State Fish and Game Protector and IN
soectqr General Of the National Guards.
And BESIDES the county has the Viee-Pre-
siden5 of the United States. Hudson
County, as well as South Jersey, is APP
1aIled at this condition of things.
The Counties of South Jersey have good
reason for complaint, apparently. The
only offices of consequence now held by
Them are a United States Senator. a iudea
Of the Court of Errors and Appeals. the
factory inspectorship, a member Of the
State Board of Taxation and until the
resignation Of Sheriff Baird Of Camden. a
member of the State Board of Assessors.
And now in the organization of the Leeis-