The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-02-09
RBPODIA4BD.
In Spite of Mr.. Gledhill, Ebie's
Republican Colleagues Fly
From Hin as From
Contagion.
Especial to ..rhe Jersey city News."l


TRENTON, Feb g. 1S9S.-There was a
most dramatic scene in the Assembly
Chamber when four Republican members
arose in their seats and solemnly de-
nounced the action of one of their col
leagues which, to say the least is some
what peculiar and will need a vast
amount of explanation on the parts of
the repudiated Assemblyman to convince
the public that he embodies all those
virtues which the members of that party
claim to possess and possess alone
AS soon as the roll had been called Mr..
Allen arose to question of privilege and
holding a newspaper in his hand, said
.'Mr. Speaker, 1 wish to call attention
to an article which appeared in yester-
days Newark Evening News" I con-
slider it a smirch on the character and
reputation of every member of this
House, and especially a smirch on the
character and reputation of every mem
Der of the committee which was appoint
ed to investigate the State building and
loan associations"
He then started to read the headlines of
the article when he was interrupted by
Mr. Gledhill who asked, where the gen
tleman from Hudson's question of
privilege comes in"
Mr.. Allen replied that it was the duty
of the House. for the sake of its own
reputation as well. as that of every MEM
Der Of the committee to ascertain whether
the article was true or not and in order
that each member of the House might
know just what the article contained he
wanted to read it.
Mr. Gledhill again interrupted to say
that there was nothing before the House,
and he did not think the gentleman from
Hudson was in order.
The reputation and character of every
member of this Assembly is before the
House." exclaimed Mr. Allen waving the
newspaper toward Mr.. Gledhill, "and it is
the duty of the House to look into the
matter
Mr. Fairchild thought it was not fair
to Mr.. Ebie the gentleman who was con-
cerned in the article, to do anything in
the matter while he was absent, and he
asked that the matter go over until Mr..
Ebie was in his seat.
II make no attack upon Mr.. Ebie," said
Mr. Allen. sit may be that he did not
write the letter in this article and I
only think that the House should take
some steps to ascertain whether he did
or did not
Mr. Allen then, withohut further inter
ruptnon, read the article printed above,
headlines and ALL
AS Mr. Allen went on his voice trembled
with indignation, and once or twice his
language almost failed. When he had
finished with much warmth, he declared:
4, hi, 1.at-
ter" Mr.. Allen went on, "he was entire
ly unauthorized to do so. l wish to
state positively that I had absolutely no
knowledge of the alleged circular until
it was brought to my attention this
morning This House should determine
whether these allegations are correct. If
they are not thihs article is correct. If
it is not, the publication is a
most scanda1ous one. But if it is true, 1
hereby tender my resignation as a mem
Der of the committee
The Speaker asked Mr.. Allen to allow
the matter of his resignation to lie over
until the proper time for it's considera-
tion arrived, and he said he would,
Mr.. Mckee, of Passaic, another member
Of the committee, next took the floor.
s.As a member of that committee he
said, ST wish to repudiate any connection
with the circular. / had nothing what
ever to do with it, and I believe if that
letter was sent out by Mr.. Ebie this
House should take some action thereon. l
knew nothing about the letter until en-
tered this chamber this morning. 1 was
very much surprised that such thing
should appear in print as coming from
the Chairman of this committee. I re-
pudiate it, as l do not wish to be pointed
out as one who was even remotely con-
nected with such thing"
AS another member of the committee
I endorse every word my colleagues have
said" exclaimed Mr.. Cole. of Cape May,
jumping to his feet 81 wish to repeat
everything Mr.. Mckee has said and en-
dorse the demands of the gentleman
from Hudson l was thunder struck when
read that article this morning. 1 was
simply paralyzed and 1t wasn't Trenton
paralysis either Qaugher) That any gen.
tleman could send out such
letter as that is more than I
can understand 1t is absolutely
dnconceiyable. However, the chairman
is not in his seat this morning. He may
have done this thing innocently, but to
say the least the lebter is open to other
constructions.
The first thing I heard of this mat
ter" said Mr.. Bell of Bergen. another