The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-02-03

GRlGGS' HANDS FULL
Tie New Governors Life
Made Miserable by tho
Persistent Gfficeseeker.
LEGISLATURE MUCH TOO SLOW.
Voorhees, New Judiciary Bit
Opposition to Vice Chancellor
Pitney's Reappointmeni.
LEGISLATURE MUCH TOO SLOW.
snsciol to .he Jesssu Gin Ncaa.

TRENTON, Feb. 8, 1S96.-The Legisla-
ture will reassernble onigh when an
eHort may be made to transact some
business. 1t has been in session three
weeks. aRd yet not even one law has
peen ground out. There are 124 bills in
the possession of the various committees,
ana not more than half a dozen of them
nave been reported. It looks as if the
declaration of Governor Griggs to restrict
cessation by every means in his power,
has discouraged the lawmakers in the
prosecution of their work.
me proposed amendments to the Com
statutaon viii probably be taken up for
consideration very soon. TIL subjects
covered by them are of more than usual
importance and attract much attention
throughout the State. There is q likeli-
hood of the Introduction of new amend
ments and a revision of those which
We're passed last year. The Republican
leaders are opposed to the passage of the
amendment, which at one fell swoop
ends all the terms of the State Senators
as soon as it is approved by the popular
vote, and provides for the election of
new Senators in all of the counties of the
State. If. this amendment were adopted
eighteen Republican and three Demo-
cratic Senators would be iegislated out
OF office. The dominant party don't
want that. as it would be-too much of
a risk to run to try and ~re-elect all of
their representatives.
This proposed amendment is linked
with the one which provides for biennial
sessions of the Legislature. There is
much opposition shown = toward this,
also, and the prospect is that neither
will be adopted by the Legislature. Ow-
ing to this embarrassment the anti
gambling amendment must go over for
another year.
Senator Voorhees, will soon introduce
a new judiciary bill. but in different form
from that of last year. It will wipe out
the lay element in the County Courts, and
leave the administration Of justice in
the hands Of the Law Judges, enc in each
county. Some OF the Republican leaders
favor the passage of the old Judiciary bill
as an amendment to the constitution. This
would end the terms Of all the county
Court Judges and provide Tor the election
OF one Judge in each county by the popu-
lar vote. NSenator johnson. of Bergen,
has introduced another amendment which
provides for a reorganization of the Court
OF Errors and Appeals-oa different lines
from any yet suggested. The fact of the
matter is all these amendrh ants are so
conflicting that the Legislature cannot
avoid getting itself into a serious tangle
over them, and the upshot may be a dis
agreement which nay endanger the pas
sage of those amendments considered of
most Importance.
Governor Griggs is having rather an
unpleasant experience with ofice-seekers
and Their friends. Las Monidy night
and Tuesday. all day. they came to the
: ate HOUSE in droves, and at orc time
the Executive reception room was filled
with delegations from a.. sections of the
STATE. Of course. the Governor did not
a a talk with them all: that being ply
siealy impossible. lie listened to the ap-
Jeals of some. but die not give the remot-
est idea as 10 his mentions with regard TO
the candidates for offce who Were recon-
nended. Governor Griggs is a good lis
tener and a poo- proTniser. His eight
years experience as a law-rnaker is a
great help to him now in h S new and try
ing position as q dispenser Of patronage.
The hght for Prison Keeper continues
to attract widespread attention. Opinions
OF course. vary as to the strength of
State Senator says that Ex-Congressman
John Hart Brewer stands the best show
for the place. Some State officials believe
that ex-Sheriff Charles FL. Skirm will be
appointed And friends of ex-senator Roe
state that he has d powerful backing.
Then there are ex-senator Willets. Of
AAdS ., " -
Burlington, who must not be considered
by any means weak candidates. The
has numerous friends among the Repub-
,licans and men of independent thought
VINO would like to see him reappointed,
as ne has proved himself a thoroughly
good official. Several petitions and let
tiers have been sent to the Governor in
It IS true that Mr.. Patterson is a De-
mocrat. but then it is equally true that
Governor !Griggs has declared himself in
f. r~rT = +1a = - = II n I'D .@-a1 - =. H.
tions of the State being conducted upon
e non-partisan basis. The present Board
Of Prison Inspeet9rs is equally divided
parties. The Prison Supervisor, Major
Anderson. is a Republican, and the sixty
or more prison employees are equally d.
The fight for Inspector of Factories and
Workshops now lies between Hugh NJ.
James H Mulherron, of this city. If
the Prison KeeDership goes outside of
Mercer County, then it is believed Mr..
Mulherron's prospects are bright. One
thing seems certain-both offices will
not be awarded to Mercer. Mr.. Mulher-
ron is q very popular young politician,
leaders. And the candidacy of Assembly
man Austin, of Cumberland, for Factory
Inspector must not be lost sight of. He
has the local element of South Jersey at
his back, and the only objection urged
against him is that he is a member of the
Legislature 1t is generally believed that
Tie 4IQfEL-ipI 10 - wLitE
ment of any A~ssemblyman Or Senator to
public Office.
Reports. We're in circulation during this
week b County Clerk Barker Gummere
stands a good chance of appointment as
Clerk in Chancery. Still it is believed
that Colonel Toffey can have the berth
If he wants it. Ex-Assemlolynan Joseph
Mum and Major Carl Ientz. of Essex,
are also candidates for the place. If
legislation Is passed substituting salary
for fees 1t will have a far reaching effect
by having a similar system adopted for
all the county officers in the State. Some
of these now pay as big fees as the
office of Clerk in Chancery. There. is a
prospect of radical legislation in connec-
ton with all these fat berths.
For the vacant Circuit Court Judge
ship there are numerous candidates, the
leading ones being Roderick B.. Seymour,
and Flayei. MCGEE. of Hudson: William
f. IS. : X~rede 9sn2t ef M Msasr H. ana IL J..
Is nearest to the Governor and
can have the office if HI desires it.
But it is believed he does not care for a
1900 Judgeship when he can make twice
as much money from his law practice.
Ex-senator MENUS of Monmouth would
not refuse to wear the ermine IL it were
offered to him.
The contest for the District Court
Judgeship Of Trenton is being prosecuted
four prominent NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Macpherson. City Solicitor Rellstab. ex-
Assemblyrnan Barton B. Hutchinson and
Carroll Robbins. Each has influential
support. and 1t out of the question to
predict who will be the winner. It is re-
FOR intends making this branch Of the
irf5oiar vH nnn-D4rfisau There are nine of