The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-04
AN EXTRA SESSION,
Legislature May Be Con-
vened to Pass War
Measures.
GOVERNOR EXPECTS A CONFLICT
Should Hossilities Begin State
Will at Once Provide for
Coast Defence.
GOVERNOR EXPECTS A CONFLICT

lufe may De convened IN extra sesstot
within a weak of ten days. War being
almost certain to occur. Governor Noor-
hees must act promptly in calling the
Legislature here 10 adopt measures for
the placing of the National Guard on a
proper fighting basis, to provide for the
enrolment of volunteers and to protect
the sea coast from invasion. All the
mones that is available in the State
Treasury will be appropriated for those
purposes, and if deemed necessary, bonds
of the State win be issued for a sufficient
amount to. make up for any deficiency
in the estimate of expenses. As the war
feeling in New Jersey is very strong,
whatever action the Legislature may
take Is sure TO meet with public APP
proyal.
The last time the Legislature was
called in extra session for a similar pur-
pose was on April 80. 1861, when Governor
Olden issued a proclamation TO raise
troops for the war. This session lasted
ten days, and thirteen laws and two joint
resolutions were passed. The feeling
among the people in those days with re-
gard to appropriations of money for war
purposes was not by any means unanl-
nous. Sympathy with the South pre-
vailed to some extent. and it caused trou-
BILE and vexation TO loyal citizens. But
this time there is no such division OF SEN
timent- Now the followers of az politi-
cal parties are united in the common
cause. and all are willing to do everything
in their power to strengthen the national
defense and to resist the invasion of the
enemy. The meeting of the Legislature
then will be hailed with enthusiasm, and
patriotism will be at a high ebb.
Should the event occur it is hoped that
the politicians will keep their hands off
and permit the Legislature to transact
the business which the emergency de-
mands. This is scarcely possible, how
ever. because the politicians are always
on the alert and never miss an oppor-
tunity to get in a lick for the advance
ment by their own selfish ends. 1t would
be too bad to nave war mixed with poll
tics.
A report is in circulation hat even
shosild war not be declared. the Governor
usfv call an extra session for the purpose
of investing the Gledhil investigating
with additional power for the
prosecution of its work. Allan L. Nc
Dermott tripped up the committee the
other day, when he made the point that
it was without legal authority to prose-
cute It's HiSSStA6dtHO1 dAS
pressed his belief that the committee
never had any power at all to do what 1t
had done. Il more especially since the
Legislature adjourned sine die it was en-
tirely devoid of authority. Mr.. McDer-
motifs protest was so strong that the
counsel of the committee thought it adj
visable to call a halt. and an adjournment
was ordered for two weeks.
aroarf;o,a GovorDor VoorheaS and Az
torney General Grey are to be consulted
as to the objections raised by Mr.. Nc
Dermott. In fact. the Governor has al
ready expressed his belief that they are
well-founded. This is a great disap-
pointment to interested politicians and TO
prospective candidates for Governor,
who had made great calculations on the
capital they would make from the reve-
1ations of official rascality in Hudson
county. 1t is all right to unearth ras-
cality il it has not been already exposed.
Tn Hudson county it is well known that
gambling has been carried on bare
facedIy and without fear of the law.
The insertion of an official probe does
not make it look worse. But the Repub-
lican politicians would have it that the
scandals must be kept before the public
Until election day, so as to prejudice the
people against the Democratic ticket I'M
ueaehment proceedings are no more in
Contamination. becauseSthe Senate is now
without a two-thirds majority, which IS
necessary for conviction. 1t is stated that
Republican politicians are just as deep
in the mire in Hudson county as those
of the Democratic persuasion. and that
they feel relieved over the cessation of
work by the investigating committee
Politics are so transparent in the matter
that a doubt is felt of the Governor
calling an extra session for the purpose
named. And it looks improbable that II
a war session is called the politi-
clans would be permitted to stir up an
angry feeling with reference to the
power of the committee, when so much
of a necessity would be apparent for har-
mony in all political circles.
The appointment of former Senator
William. Stainsby. CT Newark. as Chief
of the Bureau of Labor and Statistics is
considered a good stroke of policy from
a political standpoint for Governor Voor-
hees. Mr.. Stainsbv is a most aggressive
leader, and very seldom has he suffered
defeat in any political contest which he
has undertaken. The fight of his career
was made in 1881, when he defeated the
late Frederick Fl. Teese for Senator in
Essex County by less than fifty ma
iority. Before that time he held pub
lie office in Newark, and since then his
star has ever been in the ascendant To
him and his son-in-Iaw, Judge Franklin
Fort. more than TO any other combina-
ffon. perhaps, John w. Griggs owes his
nomination for Governor. Judge Fort
was president of the State Convention on
that occasion and Mr.. Stainsby was
chairman of the Essex county delegation.
John Kean had gone into the convention
with a majority of. the delegates in his
favor. Soon after it was called to order
the Griggs forces, under Stainsby and
Fort. got to work and succeeded in chang
ing enough votes to bring about the nom
nation of their favorite. Shrewd tactics
and skflful manpiulations on the part of
William Stainsby secured the victory.
Major carl Lentz, who championed the
Kean cause, had barely a bakers dozen
IF the Essex delegates to stand by him.
That conquest more than any other in
uhich he had taken part showed the
splendid fighting qualities OF the old war
boyse of Essex, and no wonder Is express
xnaaod that Governor voorhees, should