The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-04-01
GONE, THANK GOD,
The Second Worst Legisla-
ture on Record Closes
Its Infamous Career.
TAFFY AND PAP GALORE.
Stockton Tax Commission Hum
bugs Paid For Their Ser
vices to the Railroads.
SUNSET ELECTION BILL KILLED
Funny Allusions to Unseen and
Powerful Influences Motor
mans Bill Gets Through.
SUNSET ELECTION BILL KILLED
SpecinE to tho Jerseu Cftu Neux

SDeciGt 10 the JefSeb CffD NetN
TRENTON, March 81, 1S97-The one
hundred and twenty-irst Legislature has
| gone gone with it's records of pledges to
the people unbroken, the rights of the
people ignored and trampled into the
mire.- and its subserviency to the bosses
and corporations. 1t died hard, and al
though the hour for adjournment was
fixed for two o'clock, il was 9:20 when
President Williams declared the Legisla-
ture adjourned without day. There were
many causes for this delay. In the first
place the Senate kept pegging away UNI
til it had passed many bills, and that oc-
cupation was unnecessarily prolonged by
the oratorfcal fights of many of the
Senators. Bills were passed with lightning
rapidity, n both Houses succeeded in
placing nan new measures upon the
statute book; that is, of course, if the
Governor signs them.
Another cause of delay was the action
of the Senate in cutting out of the in
cidental bill the two items paying 500
each to the Postmaster and Assistant
Postmaster of the House, and reducing the
compensation of the Equal Taxation
Commissioners from 1000 to S /, 1900. When
the bill was taken up, Senator Skirm
moved to strike out altogether the item
allowing $1,000 for salary and expenses of
the five Commissioners. He said it had
not been contemplated that these Com
missioners should receive no salary.
Similar Commissioners had served the
State free, being well satisfied with the
honor.
Senator w. M. Johnson seconded some
of Senator Skirm's views, but thought
that the Commissioners, since they
seemed to deserve If, should receive
some compensation.
Senator Skirm made extended remarks
in favor of allowing the original item to
stand. He thought the gentlemen had
rendered distinguished service to the
State. Senator Skirm replied that it
was an expensive service, taking annual
~ from the State Treasury $685. 900 of
railroad taxes. Two of the most dis
tinguished Commissioners had already
drawn salaries from the State for last
year, the Attorney General, $1,000, and
Mr.. Black. $4,000. They seemed to be
already taken care of.
Senator Reed, who introduced the reso-
luton last year in the Assembly calling
for the Commission, stated that it was
distinctly understood that no expense
would be involved.
Senator Voorhees, supported a modif-
cation of Senator Skirm's amendment so
as to give the Commissioners $500 each,
and the item was SO amended.
On Senator Skirm's motion an item was
added allowing II. f. Richards $3.50 for
clerical services to the Borough Commits
sion. The bill, as amended, was ordered
to third reading.
The disagreement over the Incidental
bid was caused by the rejection by the
Senate of the item inserted for the com
p~ensation of the members of the special
Commission of Taxation, which was APP
pointed by the Governor last year, and
which submitted a report to this years
Legislature. AS the item originally APP
peared in the bill 1t provided fer a com
pensatson of $3.50 for each of the five
members of the commission. The House
reduced the amount to f,000, and when
the bill came up for action in the Senate
a further reduction to $500 was made. 1t
was said that the Senators would not be
persuaded that Cen. Rusling's services
were worth anything like the amount
placed upon them. It would not do to
make any invidious distinctions. and as
$500 was the lowest possible amount
WHICH cOulu DC 0UGTeQ TO the other gem
tiemen, that amount was finally agreed
upon
1t took more time to fix this matter up
pass the bill over again. Finally this
was accomplished, and the House for
nally adjourned without day. Then the
Assembly. marched in double file across
the corridor, to the Senate Chamber and
lined up in front of the Presidents desk,
the Senate receiving them standing.
Speaker Macpherson announced to the
resident hat the House Of Assembly
nad ad1O11Tn06 - and II NV ITf11iar1- ~
clared that he adjourned the One Hum
dred and Twenty-frst Legislature of New
Jersey without day.
The Assembly bowed to the President.
and started back to their chamber, sing
ing a popular negro melody, the refrain
OF which informed the public .'There'll
followed. the usual handshaking and
leave taking, and in a short time both
ameer were deserted, and nothing was
left Of the One Hundred and Twenty-frst
Legislature. but the ghost of its III
deeds to haunt the stiffness of the two
big rooms.
We're the same as those which attend
the end of every Legislature. There was
the usual singing and practical joking,
members attempted to revive the old
practice of throwing pamphlets at each
other, but that was quickly discouraged
by the Speakers energetic action.
When the House a cleared its cal
endar the usual resolutions Of thanks TO
everybody was passed, and Speaker Mac
pherson was presented with a Handsome
set of solid silver, consisting of one hun
dred and th~irty-nine pieces in a massive
oak chest.
Mr.. Gledhill of Paterson made the pre-
sentation speech referring to the Speak
er's high ability as a presiding oficer and
the regard in which he was held by
every member of the House. The Speak,
Ell was visibly overcome as he feeiingiv
replied to Mr.. Gledhill and wished them
All long life, happiness and prosperity. In
the Senate Senato DAILY offered a reso-
Speaker and praising his ability as q
presiding officer. Mr.: Williams replied
fttingiy,. and in speaking OF the help he