The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-15
GREEDY BSSBX'S WOE.
Her Assemblymen and Lead
ers Can't Agree Upon a
Division of the Spells.
sEWELL MAKES MORE TROUBLE
His Candidate for Secretary of the
Senate, Raises a Storm in
Camden = The Slate
10 Date.
SEWELL MAKES MORE TROUBLE
Ispecial TO eThe Jersey ely Ne5ws."l

Especial to ssThe Jersey City News."l
TRENTON, Dec. 10, 1S97.-Although, as
stated in 1.-The Jersey City News" yes
terday, there was a large crowd of poll
ticians about the State House, yesterday,
the proceedings were tame. Something
like interest was elected into the pro-
ceedings by u conference, caucus, or
whatever you may choose to call it, in
Custodian Bonnelrs office. The meeting
was devoid of results. 1t was called by
Chairman Ebie at the suggestion of As
selnblyman Fairchild, who assured his
colleagues that unless they got together
today and made a formal demand
for Clerk, Bill Clerk and S-ergeant-at-
Arms, they would lose the Clerk Three
of the member were absent. Powers
Steddig and uenthe and the others
might as well have been, for all that was
accomplished.
Prior to the call for the ucu Chas.
N. Codding. of Union, the slated candi-
date for Clerk, and Thomas III. Jones,
the Essex aspirant for the same posi-
ton, were busy buttonholing the twenty
five Republican A~ssemblymen present,
and ~endeavoring to secure the required
pledge of support. Mr.. Codding appeared
confident of success, and left the State
House at 1880, satisfied that he would
be a winner. Mr.. Jones was equally con-
fdent apparently, and told his friends
that Senator Sewell was just as favor
able to his selection as to that of Cod
ding. He had seen the General. he said,
and been assured that he could secure
the place with a united Essex deleSa-
ton pack of him.
When the statement was repeated at
the Essex aucus it caused Mr.. Porter
and others TO smile, and they were ven
more amused when MI. Fdlrcnliq Saiu
that if Essex failed to agree today 1t
would lose the Clerk.
Assemblyman Dawson was of the opin7,
ion that before Essex made a demand
for any other offices Mr.. Porter should
withdraw from the Speakership contest,
and he asked Mr.. Porter If he was stlll
a candidate.
4 deem it unnecessary to answer thai
question: replied Mr.. Porter, .-inasmuch
as a majority of the delegation have al
ready pledged me their support.
Mr.. Fairchild reiterated his statement
that unless Essex made its demand to
day the Clerkship might be lost TO
the county.
Porter. when it was officially
two weeks ago by some OF the members
who think the county cannot secure a
Speaker, that it could have the clerk,
Bill Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms.
After further desultory conversation, an
effort to force a vote on the demand lor
the three officers named failed, because
Mr.. Porter and Mr.. Baumann refused to
recede from the demand previously made
for Speaker. That settles the matter, ana
the caucus adjourned TO meet again IN
Newark Friday night.
The general impression OF the result OF
the caucus was that Essex had again
demonstrated its and would pc
forced to take whatever might be offered
il. 1t is possible that it may not ger even
the Assistant Clerkship, because former
Assemblyman Hopkins, who was slated
for thai place after being dropped from
Engrossing Clerk, says he will take that
or nothing. According to the slate, he
was to give way for Jones OF Essex, ana
take the position of Journal Clerk. NOW
Essex may be rendered journal Clerk I'M
less J. Martin Roll, who was sponsor Tor
Journal Clerk Hulskamper last year, is
able to prevent his man from being turn
ed down. In that event, Essex would get
nothing but Sergeant-at-Arlns and Bill
Clerk, and not even those positions, per-
haps, if one of the smaller counties made
a demand for them.
Former Assemblyman James A. Chris
tie, of Essex, who happened to be
present, remarked after the Essex eau
GUS
ITS the old story of hicken coming
home to roost. Major Lentz attacked me
for opposing an Essex candidate Tor
Speaker, when l knew Essex could not
secure the place. Now the Major attacks
every one who dares support an Essex
candidate for Speaker, who could secure
the place. and it would not surprise me if
the county got little or nothing IN the
way OF Offices"
Major Lentz was not present, but SUI
preme Court Clerk William Riker and
State Treasurer Swain were on hand, and
they advised the Essex men to insist on
getting the office of Clerk, which was
promised the members who expressed a
willingness to desert Porter for Speaker.
No one present, from Governor Griggs
down to ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS appeared
IN ha We Gupn a rannta idea of awning
in the shape of prospective legislation
All hands heard the proposed constitu-
tional convention spoken of, and all
agreed hat such a happening was not
within the possibilities.
There is no real necessity for a Lieu
tenan Governor" remarked Governor
that such an official would not be called
on to act more than once or twice in a
century. If sue an Office were created,
there is no assurance that both the Cover
nor and Lieutenant Governor might not
vacate their Offices through death or
otherwise during their terms, and then
the creation of the new office, would arise
just as 1t has now, for the President of
the Senate or Speaker of the Hous would
be called on to act.
The Governors chief objection was to
the creation of a new Office when the drift
of popular opinion is antagonistic to such
q course.
The Governor had no additional light to
shed on when he expected to return other
than his belief that it would be soon after
the organization of the Legislature. The
Senators and Assennblymen, with other
prominent politicians, are arranging a
farewell reception to the Governor. cal
culated to eclipse that attending his in
auguration.
The plan of organization, SO far as the
Senate is concerned, remains unchanged.
except with reference to the Office of sec
rotary, and George A.. Frey, a Camden
newspaper man, was a candidate, and the
! only one last week, for the position. He
support OF Senator Seweu, and it was ex-
peeted that he would win. Now, however,
X appears that many of the South
Jersey papers are opposed to him. and
they announce their Intention of uniting
in d protest against his selection. which
will be presented to enato Sewell. VIII
liam Cole, another resident Of Camden
for the place low. and it is said there
viii be theirs before the Senate organizes.
When the members took their way
horeward last evening the slate looked
Ike this
For speaker-David o. Watkins of
Gloucester.
For Clerk Of the House-Charles N. Cod
ding of Union.
Fer assistant Clerk-Thomas H. Jones
of ESSEX.
For h:ngressirg ~Clerk-Charles H. Fol-
well o. Burlington.
For Journal ClerA-charles H. Hopkins
of Morris.
For Sergeant-at-Arms-David B. Harri-
son, John r. Flavell or Daniel II. Hunt
For Assistant Observation-Disclosures
from Mercer and one from Somerset.
For Sill Clcrk-Clifford o. Baker Of Es-
.-ar+ pf1 r1ar1~ xxrf1,;a- 4