New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-15


Newarks Armory bill was defeated. not SO
much because the armory Is not needed oot
because there is general protest arising
AGAINST spendIng so much on military affairs
The National Guard expenditures have been
yrowinp yearly with extraordinary rapidly, and
nearly every city Of consequence has oeeh
c,arnoring for q costly armory. There are many
State institutions needing money, and the law
makers are showing a disposition to consider
them before any more drains are MADE upon
the excheouer for the development Of NEWER
sey's warlike spirit.
The BARRIERS sunday-Noon Closing Dill mas
passed the House. but 1t is doubtful If the SEN
ate will let it 90 further. The purpose Vi
10 legalize the general custom of keeping open
till noon on Sunday. and to provide pehai'ieS
sufficient to prevent cheap BARRIERS" from Keep
ing open after that hour.
when will some Of the ostrch-like Solons dis
cover that the old game OF smotherng pi'is IA
cornm,ttee IL antiouated and preposterous IN
these DAYS when the fierce light OF puo"ci'!
make, plain the motive? So long as measures OF
general public interest are held up IN co"-
mttee. SO long will the subject matter furnish
texts for agitation and discussion and II is oe''ei
for all concerned to report bills as promptly as
nossible-adversey favorably, by substitute or
without recommendation. The man who is AFRAID
IN % on record on any measure is poor sort OIL
q creature to be intrusted with the law-maKihs
power.
Track elevation has merely been postponed, ana
those citizens of Jersey City who have striven SO
In I'd for the abolition Of grade crossings IN their
own town have done much to foment and rein
virorate the sentiment elsewhere. Newark 49, IL
ANYTHING more deeply concerned IN track eieNa-
ton than any other municipality and there are
half a dozen other cities which o1er up yearly
sacrifices at those death traps. Inc eVii ca""o'
he remedied in a day year but TINS year
LEGISLATURE can make substantial beginning
by creating an Investigating Commission.
One Of tho most important incidents of the
week was the reception Of the lawyers reports
on constitutional amendment. Eight Oh inc
,eea, lights favor an independent Court OF APP
Meals. Frank Bergen stood alone in recon-
mending with a few changes. the plan proposed
nv Gilbert Collins and William II. Corbin. Iha'
nlan proyides for a merger Of law and equity
and proyides for the court to administer the
entire body Of the law Of the State The court
Is 70 be divided into three divisons-law' equity
and appellate-and Mr.. Bergen would nave the
iudges rotate in the Appellate Division. Lay
men have hardly dared obtrade their amateur
op;nions upon such a profound SUBJECT pu' 50
far as they have ever limited at an opinion II
has favored the position Of Mr.. Bergen
An Assembly district amendment is reason
ably certain Of adoption. 1t is proposed that
"each Assembly district shall contain as nearly
az practicable an equal number of inhabitants
and shall consist of convenient and contiguous
,err;torv In compact FORM" Such explicit IAN
puaee would prevent the arranging OF districts
like the old Horseshoe. in Hudson. and others
as bad In Essex. Redistribution could not oc-
cur oftener than once In ten years, ana the
Court of Appeals would have full power 10
review all laws for this purpose.
The trolley neople have a powerful lobby and
an unlimited purse to influence the legislation
that they seek. They are trying every scheme
known TO get through some kind Of a measure
robbing local governing boards of their power
over county roads and vestng all authority IN
the Boards of Freeholders. Their avowed pur-
m GO IL TO be In a position to evade ana deiy
popular feeling In the various localities. IN
some cases the people don't want trolley Oh
certain thoroughfares In others they desire 10
make regulations. and in some others the de-
mand Is for compensation. either monetary or
otherwise in return for the franchise III the
trolley companies succeed In their designs on
the lawmakers. they can laugh at the unl'eo
sentiment of a whole town or township, ana
work" the Board of Freeholders. To pass a
law permitting such outrageous invaeion Oh
the principle Of home rule would be nothing
short of a political crime. The trolley agents
are hopeful, however that in the excitement
and hurIv-burly of this the last week of the ses-
sion. they can smuggle through bill giving
them what they want. They are alert ener-
nj
utmost watchfulness to defeat their scheme.
New-Jersey's delegates to the Republican Ma
t,onal Convention will probably go unpledged
There Is no positive sentiment in favor OF either
Mckinley Reed. or Allison, though each OF the
three named has warm admirers in the state. IL
the State or district conventions say anything at
all about the Presidential ticket 1t Will be In the
direction of urging the delegates to do what they
can toward securing for Carrot A. Hobart the
second place.
Assemblyman Robertson quotes Attorney-Gen-
eral Stockton as saying that there is law enough
In New-Jersey to annihilate coal combine or
trust of any kind inimical to the public welfare.
III is true that the law exists to-day with which
A,torney-General Stockton and Chancellor Nc
Gill smashed the famous Coal Combine of four
vears ago. but 1t may be that legislation Is needed
"a authorize the Governor and Attorney-General
70 act promptly and effe ctively whenever any
combination Of the kind IS organized to increase
prices and stihe competition.
Another interesting incident OF the week was
the action Of the House In snubbing ana over
ruling the Committee on Railroads ana canals.
or. rather. Chairman Lower. Mr. Lower seemed
to be under the impression that the pils referred
to his committee were the personal property OF
10 vifh 10
narent,v did not understand that the purpose OF
sending a bill TO any committee Is to have that
committee look into it and report to the House
Vain efforts were made to impress that view upon
Mr.. Lowers mind and the House was many
forced to take him in hand In spite OF the settleo