The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-31
GOING, GOING,
The Reckless Republican
Legislature 'Hurrying
to an Ignominlous
Close.
WILDEs' BUNC0MBE SUPPRESSED
No Proceedings to Be Taken
Against Henry c. kelsey
Churches and Saloons.
WILDEs' BUNC0MBE SUPPRESSED
Special to the jersey CITY Ns,rs.

TRENTON, March 81, 1S97.-The House
wasted over two hours this morning as
sisting Farmer Wildes in acquiring cam
paign material for his contest for State
Senator from Burlington. The special
committee, to which his resolution. di-
recting the Attorney General to consider
the matter of proceeding against Henry
G. Kelsey. to recover money which, it is
alleged he owes the State, presented a
report which recites that Secretary Kel-
sey retained certain fees upon advice of
counsel of ability that he was entitled to
them. No official action was taken, as
the result OF the select committees re-
port, except one passage of certain laws
changing the former practice and MAX
ing such new provisions as were deemed
advisable. The report concludes: Your
committee are of opinion that after this
lapse of Time at the close of the official
term of the Secretary of State, no good
purpose would be ssrved by attempting
to cast censure upon this official, or by
an effort to exact from him penalties for
alleged violation of official duties in the
respect referred to. The whole subject
matter of the resolutions referred to this
committee was clearly within the juris-
diction and still remains within the ju-
risdiction of the Select Senate Commit
tee, which is still in existence and cloth
ed with all the powers conferred upon it,
ard action by this body would not only
be unnecessary but an intrenchment up
on the prerogratives of the Senate and its
committee
Mr.. Wildes objected to the report The
Select Committees work he said, was to
investigate, not prosecute, and we have
promised the people to right this wrong,
The said Secretary Kelsey escaped i'm
peachment through influence that is act
ing IN the House now. He clearly vio-
lated the law, and when he was using the
States money i'm hits personal business the
State was compelled to borrow money.
The money he owed the State he swore
off, Mr.. Wildes said, in order to reduce
his taxes in Mercer county, Mr.. Wdldes
read at length from the report of the
senate investigating Committee, and
insisted that justice demanded that Mr.
Mr.. Derousse accused Mr. Wildes of in
consistency, and said he should demand
the investigation of the accounts of all
the officials and not single out one officer.
Mr.. Kelsey did use the States monies,
but he made it good and the State did
not not, lose cent i He he had the,law and Gus
statute on the subject of fees. This
law has been corrected and no trouble
viii VIII ensue in the future He chided Mr..
Wildes for revealing the secrets of the
Republican caucus, and insisted that the
Senate Investigating Committee had
power to prosecute mr.. Kelsey in case
it was deemed advisable so to do.
Mr. Wildes spoke against the report at
his usual length The Speaker undertook
to strictly enforce the five-mfnute rule,
again and again. He read so copious ~ 'ie,le exe
tracts from the minutes of the Senate
Investigating Committee and acts gov
raf 4Ix<~
State =
When he finally sat down. Mr.. Derousse
answered him briefly and showed from
the minutes of the House that Mr. Wildes
in 1885 voted for one of the laws of which
he complained. The report was adopted
by large majority. When the fight was
over Mr.. Wildes loudly clamored for the
ayes and nays But he was too late.
The Senate passed the Appropriation
bill as finally amended. 1t amounts to
81, 122,934. The supplemental appropria-
ton bill, or as it is more favorably known,
the denclency bill, was also passed. This
There are few signs of final adjournment
in sight, although it is generally under
stood that it will take place some time
today. or as one of the leaders said:-
here until tomorrow
The Senate has not yet adopted the
resolution for adjournment sine die but
the manner in which both President Will
ings things through, it looks very much
like the last day.
Senator DAILY opposed the bill prohibit
ing the licensing of any saloon not now
existing which shall be within 200 feet
of any church, school or charitable insti-
tuition. He said it was an invasion of
the rights of municipalities, which should
be permitted to exercise their own dis
erection. Local boards were the best
judges of local public sentiment Senator
Stokes defended the bill as one already
in successful operation in other States
and as just and proper police regulation
It was not hardship on anybody, as it
Gid, not affect existing saloons, Senator
DAILY. to the contrary notwithstanding
The bill passed with only Senator Daly's
vote against it.
Mr. DAILY offered a resolution for the
House bill fixing the term of Bayonnes
assessors at three years. The substi-
tute limits the term to two years. and
the annual expense to s1,500 Senator
Skirm and Others objected that the sub
stitute was vague, and it was finally
agreed that Senator Daly's ideas should
should be Incorporated into the original
bill as amendments.