The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-09

M'EWAN OBJECTS.
Excited Meeting of the Hud-
son County Republican
Committee Last
Night.
OPPOSES BIENNIAL SESSIONS
Says That Republicans Are Afraid
Of the Ballot Box-E. ".
Woolley's Reply.
OPPOSES BIENNIAL SESSIONS

About 800, out of the $50 members of
the Hudson County Republican Commit
tee attended the regular meeting at the
Avenue House last night. The meeting
for about two hours was rather hum
drum and about half-past ten d motion
to adjourn was made. This motion, to
the establishment of many. was opposed
by Congressman McEwan 1t was lost
upon his call for the ayes and nays, and
then the Congressman said
Before this meeting adjourns 1 want
to place myself on record as opposing
much of the jobbery and ch.canery of
the Republican gang who seem to run
this city. l want to place myself fair
and square before the people, and not
give them the slightest chance to con
meet me with any of their underhand
schemes and concoctions. 1 want to
distinctly state that am opposed to
the consolidation of the spring and fail
elections, ~bi-annual sessions, and the
County Committee bill in its present
shape.
Il am against the consolidation of the
election for the simple reason tina it is
not intended as ar honest reform; but is
only a scheme to keep the present NUM-.
cipal officials in Office until this infamous
water contract can be put through.
They are afraid to face the people
now and the verdict of the ballot box.
Postponing the agony VIII do them no
good. They might as wei face the music
now for a few months grace will not do
them the slightest good. 1t will not
help them in the slightest. You can't
fool the people. The scheme of con-
solidating the electiFs is such a shallow
one that only the blindest can fail to
see wha is at the bottom of it all.
And I am opposed as emphatically to
this idea of holding sessions of the Leg
aslature only once every two years. If
that idea is carried through in this
State, the plain ordinary citizen will be
worse off than he ever was. Give the
people a chance. The railroads now
have all the laws that they want while
the people have none that they need and
desire. Give them a chance to get a.
few law passed that will rebound to
their benefit. Put these sessions two
years apart and obnoxious legislation
viii have no chance of being wiped off the
statute books for twenty-four months.
And if the people have to suffer that
long from any unjust or unwise legis-
lat-on, do you think they will blame one
another for this discontinue? No in
deed! They will blame the Republic
can party and they will cast their ballots
accordingly.
Il oppose the County Committee bill in
its present shape. / do not oppose the
idea OF the measure in its essential de
tails, but l believe that it should be
radically remodelled. The terms of the
hiI as it is at present do not give the
voter a chance TO practically record his
opinion or radically change h complex:
conion Of the committee except once in
1--WE wears He Dro nffnaHr hn1az <+hn
value of his ballot for that time, and rob
a man of his right of franchise and you
rob him of his inherent blrthright and
most valuable possession.
~ have not stated my reasons in de-
laI Tor my stand on these subjects, for
d me ( simple reason that the time at our
flrst intend to speak at such length. as
1 have. but / could mot neglect the oc-
mssapprehensions. In CONCLUSION I move,
or rather offer, as a resolution, that the
LeglslatIye Committee of the Hudson
county Republican Committee be instruct
bills I have mentioned
This resolution was greeted with a
plause and hand clappin The Congress-
man had hardly sat down before ex-City
Clerk e; w. Woolley bounced up and IN
q very pumptious and excitable manner
The honorable gentleman who repre-
Senfs US in the National Legislature has
10y ~ say, dI0 lldS SOu6 10 the trouble
10 tell you what he thinks and what he
opposes. To judge from his remarks one
woni;o suppose the measures under dis
two sides to everything.
am distinctly in favor of :aboiishing
the spring elections and holding bran
1uai sessions of. the Legislature. BY
doing so the taxpayers of this county
alone Will be saved from $14, 900 to $4,000
q year. -Retrenchment all along the line
IS the Watchword, and l ann and always
have been an advocate of economy ode
TIsave~ laughter), and this bill is a step In
the right direction.
For similar reasons I favor the bill
making the sessions of the Legislature. BIZ
annual. 1t will save the people one
Mr.. Woolley spoke IN a similar strain
for perhaps a half an hour, going over the
same ground several times and doibing
on his tracks repeatedly. He sat down
amid a very evident silence. and then
counsellor Frederick Frambach saidA
- think we had better let this matter
ne over until next meeting. 1T is too
Welghty to pass upon at once. Give us
q chance to consider all we have heard
ana an opportunity to get the full commits
te together" s,
AS he finished speaking he turned
towards the Congressman in a half en-
curing way.
That's agreeable to me-" said Mr.. Me
carried.
The lex melting will be held on the
evening of February %, and It Isl said
that the rule against admitting reporters
WIFI be s~tringently enforced.
ErfE 49, ga