The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-31

GAMBLERS IN THE WAY
Race Track Influence Block
ing Action on Consti-
tutional Amend
ments.
BIENNIAL SESSIONS DON'T GO
Assembly Kills the Voorhees, Judi
ciary Plan-RaiIroad Lobby
Takes an Active Part.

ment to the Constitution providing for hi
ennial sessions was killed in the Senate
Yesterday afternoon after a most sensa-
tional debate, in which Mr.. VOORHEES,
scored Governor Griggs and Genera Sew
ell most numerically.
The amendment came up as a special
order at $3.50 o'clock. Senator DAILY moved
to postpone the consideration of the
amendment until next Monday evening.
which was lost, and a further attempt to
postpone met with a like fate. Senator
johnson of Bergen then spoke in favor
of the amendment. 1t provided for meet
ings of the Legislature every two years,
he explained. 1t provided a two-year
term for the Assemblymen, a four-year
term for the Senators and a four-year
term for the Governor. He declared the
scheme was popular in all the other
States which had adopted it. He aid it
would be a great benefit and would bring
about a curtailrnent of our voluminous
statutes, which had become the despair
of the public and bar alike. There was
a strong sentiment ~favoring the incum-
bent.
II the opposing sentiment was as pow
erful as was represented the matter
should be tested at the polls, whatever
the result was he would be satisfied.
The demand for biennial sessions, Sem
ator Voorhees, said, a come from cor
porate interests, from the bosses and
certain political leaders. 1t had not come
from the rank and file. He recognized
no bosses" They should not tell him.
far thou shalt go but no further .
Annual sessions We're sanctioned by long
usage. Biennial sessions meant the foist-
ing on the State the rule of the bosses
and corporate interests. They are the
ones that fear frequent opportunities of
legislation. People who read and theor-
ize, who have no practical knowledge of
affairs, who have no real faith in popu-
lar institutions, these also are heard from
perhaps in favor of biennial sessions.
He believed, Mr.. Voorhees, said. that
the people could be trusted every time.
He care nothing for those who sneer and
ability of the people to govern them
selves. The very salvation of our gov
nme was the frequent discussion and
consideration of public questions. AS to
tie Volume OF legislation. Mr.. Voorhees,
predicted that if the Legislature met only
once in every two years. the State would
ave thrice as many laws. TIE fault for
excessive ~law-making was not in annual
meetings but lay with the member who
did not exercise greater scrutiny; as to
the States which had biennial sessions,
are their Legislatures any purer2 Are
their acts any wiser? Is there any small
er volume of laws enacted by them? rs
it not a fact" he asked. that many of
their acts are dictated by bosses?" The
amendment was also opposed by Senator
DAILY, who asked his colleagues who had
asked to push the amendment? Had any
of their constituents asked them? 1t did
not SO appear from the proceedings or
platforms of the two great political par
ties, through which such requests, If they
%e eogel 81 T she other fhe R Pe9p9le' i %0 waa waiI
known that the labor organizations of the
State were against the amendment.
Neither did the agricultural sections want
it. He held that on the whole the mass
of the State laws. though excessive, was
IN the interest of the people. He then
paid his respects to boss rule and the
tendency toward centralizing power, and
pointed to the un~popularity of this sort
of thing as exemplifed in the defeat of
a biennial proposition of the people of
The amendment was also opposed by
Senator Kuhl, who said there was talk
of economy, but what kin of economy,
he asked. was it to pay members Of the
Legislature $500 a year when they are to
serve only every other year? And the
Governor, who received the fine salar Of
$4,000. owing to his arduous duties; is he
to be given what is practically a yaca-
ton every. other year and yet keep on
drawing his, salary2 The common people
won't see the wisdom of that. Eternal
vigilance was the price of liberty. and
frequent opportunities to legislate are
along this line of thought.
Farmer Parry said that farmers of
Burlington county must be different from
the farmers OF Hudson, for whom Sena-
tor Daily spoke. Burlington was prac-
ticaliy unanimous for biennial sessions.
finally on this amendment. 1t had to 20
before the people, for whom some Sem
ators were almost t~earfully solicitous,
could vote it down. Biennial sessions
will not interfere with eternal vigilance
for special sessions can be had at my
time. It gave less chance for vicious
Senator Kuhl asked if the Burlington
farmers kne their Senator was to con-
tlnue to receive his salary during legis-
Iative recess.
Senator Parry-"They would be glad to
pay me to stay at home il the other
Senator's would stay at home, too.
senator DAILY. replying to some remarks
OF Senator Parry, said that it was doc
trines such as the Burlington Senator
ton and other counties. Ag~riculturists.
as a rule, were honest men, and it had
been his pleasure to champion their in
when his (Parry's) party had thrown
them overheard.
Senator Skirm did not believe there
for the amendment. He favored frequen
opportunities for the people to be heard
in the legislative halls. Pennsylvania
was an example of the vicious effect of
iennial sessions. legislation in that State
being practically at the wave of one
mans hand. sort of thing was not
wanted here.
President Williams Senator Herbert
in the chair called attention TO a defect
in the pending amendment touching the
absence Of a date for the election Of Sem
ators.
Senator w. M. johnson said that could
be covered by statute. Besides, there was
d reference later in the amendment
which might be construed as meeting the
point.
Senator Voorhees, replied to an allusion
that he had voted for the amendment
| last year. Since then, however, he had
seen a great light. He referred to the
| presence on the floor today of certain
| figures floating around, carrying the whis-
pered invitation that 1.-THE old mar wants
it." hat kline Of argument settled him
in the conviction that the way to vote
was against this amendment. He paid a
| tribute to Senate Johnson's honesty and
I disinterestedness in the whole matter, but
| the Influence allude to was unmdstakabiy
present. He said further that some Of
the States having biennial sessions were
crying to get back to annual sessions.
Senator Ketcham said that not a single