The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-17
VOORHEES, STIRRED UP.
Renewed Talk Of a Visit of His
Investigating Committee
to Hudson.

The Noonan-Simpson scandal, according
to the Newark Advertiser" may lead to
visit of the voorhees, Investigating CON-
mittee to Hudson county. A reporter
visited Senator Voorhees, yesterday and
talked with him aboutit.
IF we are warranted in going to Jer-
sey City, said the Senator, nothing will
be allowed to prevent us. Hudson county
has long been under a cloud of doubt as
to the honesty of it's administration of its
affairs, Its atmosphere ought to be
cleared.
The conversation proceeded as follows:-
"Our committee had in view visit to
Hudson county two years ago. said the
Senator I'VE were aware of the ex-
istence of evidence of corruption in at
least one of the county offices-I will not
say which one-but that evidence dis
appeared before we could act"
What was the character of the evil
dence?"
'sWell, it had to do with bail bonds.
after the disappearance of this evil
dence we concluded that visit would
be fruitless. The witnesses we might cite
could refuse to answer our questions and
we had no power to compel them TO
answer.
Moreover. the New York courts, after
the Lexow investigation. took the posi-
tion that the Lexow Committee had trans
cended its powers in competing testimony;
Our courts. it is true, made no Judlclal
utteranee as to our investigation, but they
are more jealous of the rights even OF
confessed crooks than the New YORK
courts are.
I'm consideration of this character of
our courts, and in further consideration
of the fact that our powers We're limited,
and that we would be fettered to, per-
baf INN degree aQduCln2
evidence were we to go INTO crtles, we
concluded not to push our investigation SO
far mr. po,va Of +be
Jersey City Journal" would be to do pre-
cisely what he is doing now; that is, to
refuse to divulge what evidence ne has IN IN
hand as to the criminal practices Whlch
his paper has disclosed.
'tBut if he persists in his refusal he
may be put into jail
torials in jail, and, besides, if his charges
are found to be true, he will have
achieved the greater triumph because he
'But he will still be wholly in the hands
of the Grand Jury, even though ne goes
to Jail. You know what the Grand Jury
is. 1t can keep him under lock and Key
vulge:"
practices in Hudson county for several
MONTHS said the Senator. We have no
direct or definite evidence. The evidence
we had in view, as / said, disappeared
But now you have something that
will afford solid footing for an investiga-
tion-you have specific evidence
That is true. I am aware. too, that
the methods pursued in Hudson county
have long made the county reproach to
the State.
Il will consult with the other mem
bers of the committee. Maybe they will
desire to go into Hudson county at
once. WILL also, communicate with those
who are now conducting the investiga-
tion in Jersey City. What they may think
best will largely shape our course. If
the intervention of the committee would
be apt to thwart their plans manifestly
it would not be right to interfere.
THE committee must also be very
careful in it's action, for it, as a result
of its investigation, articles of impeach-
ment would be preferred, the members of
the committee would have to sit, as mem
bers of the Senate, in the court of i'm
peachment."