The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-20
MACHINE POLITICS.
Governor Griggs Does Just
What He Bitterly De-
nounced in His Cam
paign Speeches.
CHANGED BY SENATORIAL IHBIyI0H
Tbs Wheelmen Will Continue the
Fight for Their Bicycle
Baggage Bill.
Special to the Jersey cur Neus.

Special to the Jersey GUY NcaCs.
TRENTON, March 20, 1S97.-Politics,
plain machine politics, and not legisla-
ton for the people of New Jersey, is the
present order in the one hundred and
twenty-frst Legislature. For three
months the solons came to Trenton each
week and made records for their appar-
ent aversion to work. OF course, 1t was
not expected that the big majority, which
was directly under the control of the
bosses, would give to the people of this
State avs to remedy existing evils. But
there was a glimmer of hope among the
masses that Governor Griggs would be a
check on any outrageous attempts that
might be made by the shrewd and al
w-ays-on-handf wire zpullers. Mr.. Griggs.
however, has set at rest all hopes in that
direction by signing the Infamous Jersey
City Election bill. BY this action he has
written himself down a machine politi-
clan of the first water. The Governor
evidently WINGED a bit over the fact that
he had to attach his signature to the
Ubiquitous scheme He did not sign the
bill at the Capitol, but took it to his
home in Paterson and there made it a
law.
It is less than two years ago that Mr..
Griggs came before the people and depre-
eating the degradation of the manage
ment Of State affairs, in earnest tones
spoke of his own honest determination.
If elected, to put in operation the noblest
and best principles of government. But
an ambition to be United States Senator
has wrought a wonderful change in Mr..
Griggs. conception of things. He has
made a bold play for the influence OF
General Sewell, and for his own advance
ment has sold himself and his boasted in
dependence. Then, too, it is likely to
avail him naught, for John Kean, the
Union county statesman, is accredited
with having his forces so thoroughly or
ganized in the State that he will be the
successor to Senator James Smith, Jr.
Mr.. Kean has spent two years in liking
up his fences, and is known to have a
long lead on the Chief Executive. Gem
eral SeweIl is pledged to Mr.. Kean, n
with conditions favorable it is not likely
the Camden boss will go back on his
pledge. The action of Governor Griggs
in becoming a party to the scheme to
keep the Republicans in office in Jersey
CITY for light months is a blow from
which he is not likely to soon recover.
Last winter the Republican Legislature
in order to protect it's friends, the corpor-
ations. enacted that commissions should
be created to investigate the subject of
equal taxation and to look into the pollu-
ton of the Passafc valley. These two
commissions. Of course. were composed
of men who were friendly to corporations.
Both put the State to a vast expense in
order that their findings might be pre-
-~~4@7 ~ 49, T - TaAr
were printed in large numbers: n re-
port of the PaSsaic valley pollution IN
cluded an elaborate and expensive map,
while the equal taxation commission COM
piled page after page of statistical 1for-
NATION about railroads. Then the Gov
nlnoG Be- cpeafed, a and Senator s rattn0s Mii a1ann
Nj. Johnson introduced a bill in accord
ance with the views of the Executive.
probability that legislation will be enact
ed for relief in either direction.
Senator Sewell wanted the legislators
to go home for good this week, but they
thought 1t would be necessary to stay
over until the coming week. Now they
have about decided that they should have
a few days more. and just when they will
adjourn sine die Is unknown. 1t will
probably be within two weeks. That they
will be unable to fnish up next week is
almost a certainty.
In the first place, the appropriation bills
are still in a very embryonic state. The
committee on appropriations will meet at
ten A. M. on Monday in the Senate Cham
Der and give a public hearing ON the bills.
Then considerable time WA be con-
more time will be necessary in passing
them.
The house Judiciary committee Will give
a hearing ON the two sets of judiciary
amendments to the constitution, On Tues
day evening. Here is more trouble.
ments passed the Senate by a very close
shave while it is known the house favors
the Johnson amendments. Therefore, It
n . xarrr f-z-~4k@l1@ 4L-A r-- Z--a11
pass both houses. And it Will make very
little difference. So far little or no inter
est has been taken in the matter, aside
while their opinions are as diverse as
they are numerous.
Another measure that is having Its own
share of troubles is the Lloyd marriage
license bill. Tt Is now i'm the hands of
the Senate Committee and will be given
another public airing on Tuesday morn
ing. 1t was pretty well ventilated DUR
Ing the past week, when a delegation of
Camden ministers appeared before the
commtttee In opposition to it This OPP
shower of adverse criticism. AS q result
of this censure they have issued a state
menlt to justify their ~acttons, which
their first objections is that it viii sub
ject every couple desirous of being mar
RED to IAN inqrfsItion before a clerk
Inc statement further urges against the
bill thai the present law of New Jersey
provides that every minister who per-
forums the ceremony shall first Institute
am inqufsdtion as to the age, etc., of the
hon objected to In the bill.
II the clergymen and other authorities
would STRICTLY enforce the existing law 1t
might. stand. But dn Camden and, in
TACT, in every town along the border Of
Pennsylvania, the law is 10 strictly fol-
WED. and 1T has become, by the neglect
Especially is this true since the Pennsyl-
Fania marriage license law has been In
operation, and owing ito fits 7axIty In New
Jersey MANY couples have crossed the
Delaware and have been enabled to en-
}er reckle6sfy into a hasby marriage. The
Fery fact THAT 80 many States have deem
ID Ut advisable TO adopt license laws, and