The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-06
TO SHEAR SALARIES
Hearing on W1ldes' Bill to
Reduce the Pay Of All
State Officials.
WILL BEULE BE CONFIRMED
Fatal Defect Found in Senator
Parry's Freeholder Bill
Griggs and the Ap-
pointmenls.
Specia. to the Jcrsc,i Citu Ns,rs.

brought up a little army of farmers from
Burlington county to urge the favorable
report and passage of the bill
Inc bill provides that on the first of
August next, the salary of every public
officer in the State who is entitled to re-
ceive a salary in excess of $500, shall be
reduced by the sum of $50 ON every $1oo in
excess of the $500. Exceptions are made
only In the case of the Governor, Justices
of the Supreme Court and Chancellor, who
may be In office on August next, but
their successors are ITO have the cut ap-
Piled to their respective salaries. Among
those affected would be Vice-C -Chancellors
Attorney General. State Comptroller, State
Treasurer, Secretary of State, Assistant
Secretary of State, Clerk of the Supreme
Court, Clerk in Chancery, State Supern-
tendent of Public Instruction, Keeper of
the State Prison, Supervisor of the State
Prison. Commissioner of Banking and In
surance and Medical Director of the State
Hospital.
Senator Parry is confident of securing
the passage of his bill providing for the
substitution of Board of Freeholders of
five members in place of the present
Boards in counties of from S5, 900 to 5000
population. The bill applies to Bergen
Burlington, Cumberland, Hunterdon. Mid
dlesex, Monmouth, Morris and Warren.
Mr.. Parry says Of the counties affected,
Bergen and Burlington are the only ones
not In favor of it. Senator johnson of Ber-
gen, during the week, said that while ne
mad not committed himself in favor of the
bilE he was not prepared to condemn it,
as he had not sufficiently considered it.
The bill provides for the election of the
i've Freeholders on county ticket at the
rail- election not more than three of those
elected to be of the same political party
The weak point about Senator Parrys bill
aside from the question of changing the
method of local representation in Boards
OF F'reeholders, is that it provides for each
party nominating only three candidates.
By this means all the candidates on one
ticket and two Of the three candidates on
the other would be sure of election. The
Independent voter would thereby be placed
at the mercy of the snanipulators of the
primaries. No matter how unfit the six
men nominated by the two leading par
ties might be, five of them would be Ger
tain of election.
All of the proposed constitutional
amendments are in the hands of the Sen
ate Judiciary Committee, of which Mr.
voorhees, is chairman. The committee is
expected to take them up at an early
date. There will be two reports Mr.
voorhees, will advocate the repassing of
last years amendments without change,
and Senator Johnson of Bergen will urge
the adoption of his substitute amendment
with reference to the judiciary. This
substitute provides for an absolutely dis
tinct Court of Errors and Appeals, while
the amendment passed last year provides
for Supreme Court of three divisions
law, equity and appellate 1t is hard to
tell what will be the outcome. Senator
johnson is convinced that his amendment
should pass, although 1t will throw all
the other amendments back for another
year. Senator voorhees, is a strong sup
porter of last years Judiciary amend
ment, and besides is opposed to throw
ing the amendments over year. He
says very truly that there is no guaran-
tee that they would not be amended
again next year, and that this might go
on indefinitely, as the lawyers them
changes. There is considerable agitation
throughout the State against the pro-
posed biennial sessions amendment, and
If it goes to the people with the other
amendments 1t is not likely to be adopt
ed. Both Senator Sewell and Governor
Griggs have expressed themselves as fav-
orables to the amendment and this will
have much weight with the members of
given SO much consideration by the peo-
pie.
New Jersey Legislature are making q.
Eecord for dilatorineSS. Four weeks OF
the session have already passed and but
two measures have been enacted into law.
Neither of these are of much Importance.
Very little work has been done by the
committees, and it is doubtful If the COM
ing week will see much accomplished.
This is certainly not in keeping with the
reports spread broadcast by the .Repub-
licans during the past few months that
the session was to be the shortest on rec
ord At the present rate Of grinding out
laws. however, Governor Griggs admo-
milton to keep the number OF laws down
will be needed. If any consideration. Is
fore the Legislature the session Is likely
to be extended well into April 1t is not
likely that much will be accomplished
during Inauguration week
The appointments which the Governor
has to make continue to be the subject
of general discussion. 1t is thought that
the name of Justice Bennett Van Syckel
for e r. disappointment. Notwithstanding the
many adverse criticisms that have fallen
to Governor Griggs' lot because of his
roon room For oDM Mr. Beftle ' Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad there seems to be no longer
doubt but that BEETLE will be named.
Senator Sewell has s,a anlou11eed n ms lnten-
pense Of Mr.. Stokes, and that disposes CT.
the matter Mr.. Seweil apparently mas
had an understanding with the Governor
to the effect that South Jersey could only
have two places, and he has decided to
make Mr.. Bette Commissioner of Bank
ing and Insurance and Samuel H. GRAY
Attorney General. Both gentlemen come
from Camden.
There is a question as to Bettle,s en-
firmatian, although it will be difficult to
get enough of the Senators to stand out
against Senator Sewell and the Governor.
Those who are opposed to Bettle's nominal
ton are counting noses, but they are not
any too hopeful. They are using a strong
argument, however, in recalling that the
Republican Senate two years ago refused
to confirm Governor Werts' nomination
of Richard B. Reading for Riparian Cons
missioner. Reading had quite as much
claim to recognition at the hands of the
Republican Senate from party stand
point as Bettle, and there was no reason
urged against Reading which cannot be
urged with equal effect against Bettle
Another very interesting bit of news in
connection with Camden is the stiff fight
being made over the county judgeship.
General Sewell and Senator Johnson are
both urging the appointment of ex-
Speaker e. A. Armstrong, but the people
of the county are up in arms against such
an appointment. Armstrong is corpora
ton lawyer. How he Is esteemed at home
can be seen from the fact that more than
1000 persons have signed the remon-
STRANGE against his nomination, which
has gone to the Governor; that large
bodies Of citizens have taken the trouble