The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-20
TWO WEEKS RECORD
What tho Legislature Has
Done Thus Far This
Session.
SENATORS PLEAD FOR STOKES
Rumors Of Deals and Dickers-Mr.
Nildes Turns Up Again
With His Economical
Measure.

urer and Comptroller elected, two bills
passed by the Senate. twenty-five bills
introduced in the Senate and forty-tWo
In the House is the record for the first
| working week of the session. All things
considered it is a good record, and If the
Legislature continues during the session
as well as 1t started off it will go down
in history as one Of the best and most
business-like sessions the State ever
! knew. But there is no prospect of any
such millennium-like result. Already the
low, faint mulmur which foretelI the COM
ing storm are heard in the distance and
specks of dark clouds are appearing In
the skies. The person unacquainted
with the political weather of Trenton does
not notice these muttcrings, but the
weatherwise old mariners who have
guided the Republican and Democratic
ships through many a Legislative storm,
know what those signs mean and already
the leaders are taking precautions. The
most potent means of a~verting disaster
Is a short session, and this they are try
ing to bring about. That accounts for
the Unusual activity of the Senate which
passed two bills yesterday morning.
The second one was No. 2 introduced by
Mr.. johnson of Bergen, and it provides
that where notice of intention of pro-
posed new laws is required under the
Constitution, such notice shall be pub
lished at least once a week before the
introduction of the bill (and after Janu-
airy u In at least n paper in every
county likely to be affected.
MI. Kuhl took the floor in opposition,
because it proposed to make legislation
easier than 1t now is, which was, in his
Judgment, a dangerous proceeding, in
view of the present volume of our laws
lie thought, too, that the bill was weak
IN its requirement of publication in every
county likely to be affected. Who was
going to decide where the effects of such
a law would reach?
Mr.. johnson, d~ntroducer of the bill. in
reply. said that as the measure applied
only to local and private acts there could
% no question as to the county they
WOUND AFFECT. Furthermore, the general
argument in favor of the proposed law
was that It would very much simplify the
present situation, making one rule for ali
local and private bills. The original law
was tnat four weeks notice should be
| gwen OF the presentation of such bills,
pua ahls mas been variously amended in
recent years SO as to make the length of
notice different for different classes of le-
gislation. The measure now under con-
sideration made the rule uniform. Be-
sides it provided for the notice after Janr-
airy ], as 1t often occurs that some need
date. ~
Mr.. Kuhl alone voted against the meas
ure.
After the luncheon given to the Legis-
iafure by Messrs. Hancock and Swain yes
terday afternoon, ten Senator's, Messrs.
goornees Williams. Engel, Parry, Skirm,
Stranger, Francs, Hoffman, johnson and
Gould, called upon the Governor in behalf
OF Senator Skirm's candidacy for the office
OIL Secretary of State. Mr.. VOORHEES, was
spokesman for the delegation and ex-
pressed the regret the senators felt over
the reported intention of the Governor
not to nominate Mr.. Stokes for the office.
Re dweit at some length upon the SER
vices Mr.. Stokes had rendered the party
and the many sacrifices he had made for
the Republican cause. He spoke of Mr..
Stokes ability and his fitness for the posi-
ton. Declaring that it would be a just re-
cognition Of the young Senator's work for
the party to give him the office. Mr..
Sklrm spoke in the same strain.
The Governor agreed with all that had
been said concerning Mr.. Stokes ability
and his services to the party. He was
somewhat surprised at the visit. he said
as he did not know that Mr.. Stokes was a
candidate for the Office, he said. except the
illusions to 1t he had seen in the news
papers He dismissed the Senators with
out giving them any intimation as to
what he would do in the matter.
AlSI6 - luucH speculation as TO who Is
to have the office 1t is said that it is to
go to Mr.. Johnson, of Bergen. The chief
argument in favor of his nomination is
that his father held the office before him.
lam 8. BEETLE of Camden, General Sewell's
chief OF staff, is to get rhe place. This
appears too baldfeaded for ever
Governor Griggs. Again, it IS predicted
that editor Wurtz of Passaic. who is now
Commissioner OF Banks and Insurance. is
to have the place. 1t Is plain ito see that
no one except the Governor. and many
think that even he. at this time. don't
thing. however. can be stated with Ger
taifrty. The successor of Mr.. Henry c..
Kelsey must be a MAI who can help the
Governor materially in his light for the
United States Senate.
There are rumors around that the Gov
ernor has made an alliance with John
Kean-that Mr.. Kean, who really don't
care to be Senator but still desires to be
Governor. will do all he can to favor the
Governors cause, while the Governor will
exercise all his influence to secure dele
Kean forces consolidate they ought to
come pretty near getting everything they
want. A number of bills came In yester-
day. In the Senate Mr.. Ketcham intro
dllced a measure extending the lien on
personal property for taxation from one to
two years One by Mr.. Voorhees, pro-
vides that where the charters of corpora
tons have lapsed through inattention of
the officers, for non-payment of taxes the
Governor may revive any such corporation
upon the paymept of their indebtedness
to the State despite his previous procla-
nation multiplying their existence.
Mr.. Goldenhorn wants a married woman
given the right to acknowledge deeds and
like instruments In the same manner and
form as a male. Mr.. Atherton introduced
a measure which requires fire Insurance
companies to appoint three appraisers
who will serve as such within ten days
after q written request from the person