The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-19

SWAIN And HANCOCK
The States Treasurer and
Comptroller Elected to
Succeed Them
selves.
ANOTHER EQUAL TAXATION BILL
Fight Over the appointment of
E. Amber Armstrong
as Judge.
ANOTHER EQUAL TAXATION BILL
Special to the Jerscp cstv Ne,cs.

TRENTON, Jan. 10, 1S97.-The Senate got
to work promptly at ten o'clock this morn
ing. Mr.. Voorhees, offered a resolution
providing for a joint meeting at twelve
O'Clock for the purpose of eiecting a State
Treasurer and Comptroller 1t was adopt
ed. Bill No. was then taken up. 1t en-
powers the Supreme Court Justices to sit
alone in murder trials in Hudson and Es-
sex Counties.
Senator Ketcham. the father of the
measure, explained that under the present
system the regular business of the courts
was often seriously impeded while all the
judges sat TO try murderers under the pro-
posed act the regular course of business
could proceed under the law Judge while
the Supreme Court justice is trying the
murder case.
Mr.. Kuhl objected because the bill did
not provide who shall decide in what muir
der cases the Supreme Court justice should
alone preside. He thought it might do in
the large counties but it was not prac-
ticable for the smaller ones. The bill was
advocated by Mr.. DAILY, who showed the
benefit it would he to Hudson and Essex
Counties. The bin passed. Mr.. Kuhl alone
voting against it.
Mr. Ketcham introduced a bill en-
powering the Circuit Court Judge to ap-
point a special commissioner for the as
sessment of any local improvement in
the cities of the first class where one
of the three regular commissioners hap
pens to be interested in the land in ques-
ton.
Mr.. RICHTER came to the front this
morning with a long preamble and resolu-
ton resolving that the members of the
General Assembly petition the President
to recognize Cuba. The resolutions went
10 the Committee on Federal Relations.
The amendment to the House rules, pro-
viding for an additional standing COM
mittee on appropriations, was adopted,
and Derousse, Hutchinson, Roll Fair
child and Litterst were named as such
Committee.
Mr.. Klink introduced another equal tax
alton bill upon the lines recommended by
Commissioner Black in his report and as
drawn by the special city counsel of
Jersey City. 1t provides that all second
class railroad and canal property shall
in addition to the one and one-half per
cent now taxed upon it be also taxed
an additional one-half of one per cent,
the entire product to be for local pur-
poses and use in the taxing district in
which the property is located.
Just before recess Mr.. Wildes introduced
biH reducing the salary of every State
official excepting the Governor, Supreme
Court justices and the Chancellor who re-
ceiveS over 81, 800, one-half, providing that
no salary is reduced to figure below that
sum.
Mr. Rude introduced bill appropriating
20 per cent. of the balance of the money
in the State Treasury each year to the
building of stone roads in the several
counties of the State.
There is merry war in Camden over e.
Arubler Armstrong. That worthy gentle
man is a candidate for County Judge of
that county. He is counsel for the Cam
den City Traction Company, trusted
lieutenant of General Sewell and man
upon suspicion and reproach as a cor
poration man. A large delegation of
Camden's citizens waited on the Cover
nor this morning and petitioned him not
to appoint Mr.. Armstrong, as his close
connections with the corporations of the
county and State would not make him
safe Judge To offset this there was
present another delegation from Camden
composed mainly of men in some way.
allied to the corporations. They were
just as enthusiastic and certain that Mr..
Armstrong would make a most upright
Judge.
The Hudson men are still smarting over
the shabby treatment they received at the
hands of the Speaker in the matter of
Committees. Messrs. Klink and Demar-
est smarted especially, and it was said
that they would resign from the commit
is no prospect of this. however, as neither
of the gentlemen is a spo led child.
At noon Sergeant-at-Arms Breidenbach
ceived the Upper House standing. The
joint meeting quickly organized and pro-
ceeded to the election of a State Comp
troller and Treasurer. The Treasurer
was elected first. Mrs. Keteham nomi-
mated George 3. Swain to succeed HIM
self. Senator DAILY nominated James
Smith of Hudson. who is City Treasurer
of Hoboken. Swain was elected by
yots of % to Z.
For Comptroller Mr. Skirm named Will
lam S. Hancock of Mercer and Mr. DAILY
nominated Abel B. Herring of Hunter
dor. Mr.. Hancock was elected by the
same vote. After the adjournment
Mesrs Hancock and Swain received the
Legislature at the Trenton House.