Gloucester County Democrat., 1897-04-08
OPPOSING THE "oLp MAN" !"

y
year term for the Governor. He said the
favorable action of the Legislature was not
final, the matter haying also to go before
the people. He referred to the popularity
of the biennial session policy now in Oper-
alton in almost all the States. Besides the
economy it would effect, an important
benefit which the amendment would bring
about would be curtailment of our volum-
ninous statutes, which had become the des-
pair of the public and bar alike. There
was strong sentiment fayoring the amend
ment. II the opposing sentiment was as
formidable as represented the matter should
be tested at the polls. Whatever the result
there, he would be satisfied.
VOORHEES, EXPLOSION.
Senator Voorhees, took the floor and for
over half an hour let loose on the Repub-
lican bosses. The demand for biennial
sessions had come from the corporate in
terests, from the bosses and political leaders
He recognized no bosses They should
not tell him Thus far shalt thou 60, and
no further. Annual sessions were sanctioned
by long usage. Biennial sessions meant
the fastening upon the State of rule by the
bosses and corporate interests. They are
the ones that fear frequent opportunities of
legislation. People who read and theorize,
who haYe no particular knowledge of
affairs, who have no real faith in popular
institutions, these also are heard from per-
haps in favor OF biennial sessions. He
(Voorhees) believed the people could be
trusted every time. He cared nothing for
those who sueer and criticise when refer
ence is made the ability of the people to
govern themselves The very salvation of
our government is the frequent discussion
and consideration of public questions. As
TO the volume of legislation, he predicted
that if we met only every second year we
should pass twice as many laws. The
fault for excessive law making was not in
annual meetings, but lay with the scrutiny.
As to the States which have biennial ses-
sions, are their legislatures any purerer !?
Are their acts any wiser Is there smaller
volume of laws enacted by them Is it not
fact that many of their acts are dictated
at the beck and nod of bosses And now
these bosses would say to us: You are not
to be so frequently elected, for fear, for
sooth. we cannot control you as easily"
" Do not make it possible" said Mr.. Voor-
hees. earnestly, Tor Matt Quay in the
State of New Jersey to say when popular
sentiment was against his candidate, that
the matter had already been fixed two
years previous"
Senator W. M. johnson called attention
to the fact that the most serious objection
of Senator Voorhees, was the discovery that
the botses wanted it. A year ago Mr..
Voorhees, was in favor of it. Mr.. johnson
had not been solicited by the so-called
boss. He only knew the gentleman slightly.
Senator Voorhees, replied that he had
voted for the amendment last year. Since
then, however, he had seen a great light.
He referred to the presence on the floor Of
certain figures floating around, carving the
whispered invitation that "the old man
wants it," That kind of argument settled
him in the conviction that the way to vote
was against this amendment. He paid
tribute to Senator Johnson's honesty and
disinterestedness in the whole matter, but
the influence alluded to was unmistakably
present. The Senator from Bergen county
had felt that influence quite recently even
if his acquaintance was SO slight.
OPPOSED BY Mr.. DAILY.
Senator Daily followed in the same line
as Senator Voorhees,. He asked the Sem
atOrs who had requested them to push the
amendment Had any of their constitu-
ents asked them It did not so appear
from the proceedings or platforms of the
two great political parties, through which
such requests, if they originated with the
hand, it was well Known that the labor
organizations OF the State were against the
amendments. Neither did the agricultural
sections want it. He held that the
whole the mass of the State laws, though
excessive, was in the interest of the people.
He then paid his respects to boss rule and
the tendency towards centralizing power,
and pointed to the unpopularity OF the BIZ
ennial sessions proposition by the people of
Massachusetts. Wherever biennial sessions
have existed the Legislature was controlled
by elements that were against the best in
terests OF the people.
What feeling has come over the Ex-
ecutive and his retainers ?" asked Mr..
Daily. Do they want to get away from
the people? Are they afraid of the peo,
pie 2"
MR.. KUHLS REMARKS.
Senator Kuhl followed with a vigorous
speech in opposition. There was talk of
economy, he said, but what sort of retrench-
ment was it to pay members of the legisla-
ture $500 year, when they are to serve
only every second year. And the Governor
who receives the fine salary of $4,000 a
year owing to his arduous duties, is he to
be given what is practically a vacation
every other year and yet keep on drawing
his salary The common people wont see
the wisdom of that. Eternal vigilance is
the price of liberty, and frequent oppor-
tunities to legislate are along this line of
thought.
Senator Skirm said there was no great
demand among the masses for the change.
He favored frequent opportunities for the
people to be heard in the legislative hall.
Pennsylvania was an example of the