The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-02-05
TARDY LAW MAKERS
The Legislature Enacts Only
One Law in Four
Weeks.
EFFORTS TO CORRECT THE EVIL
A Midnight Conference Develops
Opposition TO a Steering Com
mittee Race Track
Talk.
EFFORTS TO CORRECT THE EVIL
Special to tbs Jcrscv Cstu Nc,rs.

-ott% ~5@V~-
ture appears to be taking Governor Griggs
at his word, but not in the way he intend
ed. perhaps. In his inaugural speech he
besought the Lawmakers to curtail legis-
lation and not lumber up the statute
books with a mass of laws. They are
doing so with a vengeance. The Legis-
lature closed its fourth week yesterday,
and went home with the proud record of
one law enacted. four passed the House.
and a few more to the credit of the Sen
ate. That is a rather remarkable showing
for an economical Republican Legislature
whose sole aim in life was declared to be
to show the people of the State how cheap
~ the Legislature could be run and the
real business of the State transacted
with ~neatness and dispatch by the Re-
publicans as compared with wicked Demo-
Gratis.
Some of the leaders are worked up over
this state of affairs. and declare that some
Trims must be dom to conceal the rank
hypocracy of the Republicans from the
peopler For this reason the conference
held late Monday night and mentioned in
these dispatches yesterday was called. An
attempt was made to have a steer
ing committee, appointed. or as it is known
in digniied parliance. a Joint Committee
on Legislation"
There was much opposition to this from
the Assemblymen. especially the new
members: those of whom a State official
recently remarked:-"Oh. they are first
year men, give them a chance"
They based their opposition upon high
and lofty ideas. They say that the
Steering Committee is an invention of Sa-
tan's. which he ave to the Democrats for
the purpose of putting through their ex-
treme partisan measures. Messrs. Rob-
ertson, King, Lower and others of the last
House. who having an abiding faith in
partisan legislature. oppose the Steering
Committee on another ground. They say
the committee last year acted in an ar
bitrary manner and ruthlessly killed good
measures last year.
Speaker Derousse. however. is one of
those who believe that the work Of the
and with better advantage to the State If
the bills were first submitted to the Steer
ing Committee.
Considerable time was occupied IN try
the Supreme Court could be held respon-
sible for searches under the salary sys-
was suggested that a small fee be al
lowed in addition to the salary.
1t was practically determined to Y
ing the salaries at 5000. The proposed
Constitutional amendments were then
taken up for consideration. It was de-
termined that the race track amendment
should pass, no matter whether the judtci-
ary amendments failed or not.
The friends of the equal taxation bill
ceived information that the measure, will
not pass. At any rate there viii be a
public hearing on the bill a week from
Monday, and its advocates will have an
opportunity to present their side of the
case to a connmittee at least.
Mr.. Voorhees, resolution providing for
the passage of the anti-gambling amend
ment to the constitution has not dis
couraged the race track men. and they
are working to secure delay in its con-
Intentional ally in Senator Johnson, of
Bergen. The Senator does not fancy the
cool manner in which 1t is proposed to
sidetrack his amendment %nnen p pro ngsd fer
and will resist any effort to have it
sacrificed in the interests of any other.
If he succeeds, the anti-gambling amend
ment will be delayed another year, by
which time the race track people hope
to have their law passed. which cannot
be disturbed by any subsequent eonstitu-
being bent toward putting off the pas
sage of Mr.. voorhees' resolution as long
A large delegation from Monmouth
county Called upon Governor Griggs yes
terday and urged him to have the Leg
islature take. some steps toward ac-
ceDt1ng the farm given " Inc otdtS ny
FREDERICK Wilson and wife, of Chicago.
for a home for the blind. New Jersey
has no institution Of its own for these
the ASYLUM in Pennsylvania. Mr.. Wilson,
formerly lived in New Jersey, thinks
that the State should care for its blind
gave the farm. which comprises about
one hundred and sixty acres, and is sit
uated near Englishtown, Monmouth
county, to the State Charity and Aid
Society upon condition that the Legis-
iature passed a law providing for the
of a home for the blind within
one year. The time expires February is,
and the Monmouth people are anxious
to- rave the institution built for the ma
terial benefit it will be to the county.
Is much opposition to the enter
prise, as it only costs the State now
about $4,000. a year to take care Of its
could not be built and maintained for
anything like the sum.
M n-nr n