The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-21
LEADERS CRY, HALT!
Republican Faction Fights
for Legislative Soft
Snaps Must Cease.
OLD OFFICERS 70 SERVE AGAIN
The Scramble Was Producing Too
Much Acrimony-Talk About
New Legislation.
speeic1to the jersey Citu Nesrs.

TRENTO, Dec. q. 1S96-Owing to The
animated fractional contests over lucra-
tive berths in the House of Assembly,
the Republican leaders, becoming alarm
ed as to the consequences, have issued
an edict for the reelection Of all the
officers OF last year. This, they believe,
will tend more toward the restoration Of
harmony in the ranks than if the con-
tests Were permitted to sc ahead without
Interruption There are candidates fer
every place within the gift OF the law
makers. The fight over the se~rgeant-at-
arms is as acrimoniens as has ever been
witnessed over any political office. 10
encompass the defeat OF Briedenbaeh for
another term in that oniee Major Leatz
of Newark has brought every influence
to bear. In battle array he has been
forced to meet a sturdy foenaan, DR..
Herold, who is the principal supporter Of
B~riedenbaeh. The situation was becoIa-
ing so ~regnant with danger TO patty IT.
trrests IN the futurs THAI the leaders
concluded to take a naRd in Ine matter
by ordering mat al discussions snouid
cease, and B~rledenbachs together with al
the other officers, should be retained on
the payroll OF the house of Assembly.
Gnder TINS arrangement James PARKER,
of PasSaic, is assured OF a third term as
chief clerk. No one questions his CEN
potency, but a good many object 10 his
greed Tor Office. He has already served
reo terms as clerk, and he is now City
Comptroller of Paterson The leaders,
however. look upon MIR. Parker as d man
tAey cannot do NiSnout as the head OF
the clerical force Ill Lae House, because
OF the sflne record he has made and the
happy Faculty he possesses in keeping
everything straight ii tne INC OF his otn-
cal datles. He and J. i1arperr Potts are
the only Republican Officials who naee
cone service in the Assembly whose ex-
oepticaal ability has won the admiration
of the headers. ar their 1rrfT Nhftaa I his
may be true, yet tnere is a rurnbtng CT
dissatisfaction heard am0rg the faithful
a system bordering upon a life tenure
in connection with the clerksnip. The
friends OF Mr.. Duncan OF Essex; Mr..
Cole, of Camden and Mr.. Nutzhorn, OF
Hudson, who are candidates for Park
er place, feel indignant at the interfeF-
ence of the leaders. They contend that
the candidates should be left TO fight
out the contest among themselves, and
that any Of those mentioned is fully as
competent TO discharge the duties CT the
position as Mr.. Parker. But party dis
cipline must be maintained, and it is
seldom that the will of the leaders is set
aside.
scribed was first announced last Tues
day, at the State House, and it was rat
fled by an informal caucus which was
held there and then by all the Assembly,
men who were present. Perhaps it is
an easy way put of the q .fficulty which
beset a distribution of the offices, but
al the same time there are heart-burn-
ings over it which are deeper thar the
leaders realize.
In the Senate things are more har-
montous- The only Office which gives
PIE of weeks ago it looked as if '.Dick''
Starr, of Salem had plain sailing for
that position. Since then opposition in
mis- county has shown itself. A veteran
newspaper editor, Benjamin Patterson,
OF that county is a candidate, it is
stated for reading clerk, and if he does
noS get that he will insist upon some
~~s5{sr52g~essev This interferes with STAIRS
csndicacy and places the Senator from
Salem IL a dilemma as to whom he shall
support. William S. Sharp of this civ
has been a candidate all along for ser.
geant-at-arms, and he is making a most
energelie canvass. The great trouble
With him is that he lacks the support of
many OF the leading Republicans Of Mer-
ger county. They desire thai he should
pc provided for in another way, and are
Mn N,lin ~ 70 DO al IN their power to hep
when he seeks. 1t is rather uncertain
that Mr.. Sharp can be successful with
en{ the positive support, of Senator
county DO not care to complicate IN any
way the reelection of State Comptroller
manc9ek. There g no opposition to him
now, but it is hard telling what trouble
might arise If the unit made a demand
for other Offices.
AZ 10 forthcoming legislation there are
many schemes already afoet. One is that
a Dill VIII be introduced for the abolition
Of the present Boards of Freeholders
t~hroughon the State. and as a substitute
d board OF commissioners Of three men,
pers IS proposed for each county. 1t is
alleged that in many counties the pres
eht boards are given to extravaganza of
the public funds. A board Of three COM
m~issSoners, it is argued. would give a
better county government and could be
neln 70 closer accountability for their
acts IMAM the present Freeholcers, who
in many cases form unwieidly bodies. The
recent deal in the Hudson County Board
o. ~freenolders has stimulated the carry
however, II the politicians viii favor II
when il is taken into account that fully
iour-ffIihs OF the boards in the State are
under Republican control. This IS a sub
5ect Wnicn VIII cause eommotion in legis-
The Hudson County Republican polsti-
clans now pretend TO want the enactment
Of a jury commission law. because fhe
Sheriff of that county is a Democrat.
lney want 10 clip Robert Davis wings
az they can and the most effective way
20 pesin the work is by stripping a
Snerlil OF all powers to empanel iuries.s
Ihe Sheriff of a ounty wields consider
aole power IN naming the grand and
petit JurIes. From q political stand
point the authority thus vested in hs
office IS regarded as tremendous. and
especially IN Hudson and Essex counties.
These advocates OF n Jury commission law
are meeting with trouble at the beginning
Of their efforts. Essex county has q Pc
publican Sheriff and his friends are op-
POSED to any scheme which would strip
him Of his authority IN any way. When
Major LentZ was asked IL he would favor
q jury commission law he replied most
emphatically in the negative. He said
Essex county now has a good Republican
Sheriff and he must not be inferfered
with in any way even for the sake Of
benefting the Republican Organization
IN Hudson. No, none Of the so-caiied
reform for Essex county SO long as
Major Lentz, as the head of the county
organization. is able to prevent 1t. And
doubtless the Major voices the sentiment
OF his Followers at mis- own home. There
are only six Democratic Sheriffs in the
State. In view of this fact then II does
not seem reasonable that the Is Repu5-
llcan officials. would be willing to have
eIaoluments which form the salient fea-
lures of heir Office.
The subject Of equal taxation will take