The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-12
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Especial to The Jersey City News."l


TRENTON, JAM II, 1898 : Hudson
is to be "Lexowed.1 That was made
apparent as soon as those who had
caught a glimpse of the Governors mes
sage began to whisper about the refer
ence to your county. AS stated in 1.-The
Jersey City News" yesterday, the Gov
ernor had a consultation with Messrs.
Watkins and Gledhill, and admonished
them to go right into the Hudson busi-
ness while the iron is hot. Mr.. Gledhill
sulked considerably and finally kicked
right over the traces. But pressure was
brought to bear on tam, and when the
caucus met yesterday afternoon Mr.. Gled-
hill offered the resolution to appoint an
investigating committee, and it was car
ried unanimously.
Just before the adjournment of the
House Mr.. Gledhill offered this resolu-
tion:-
Whereas, The Governor in his mes
sage has called the attention of the
General Assembly to the fact that pub
lie charges have been recently made by
responsible journals against officers of
the law in the County of Hudson in
volving, If true, gross corruption and
the peryersion OF the machinery OF
public justice; and that, in spite of the
guilt laid before the Grand Juries of
said county and under the most posi-
tive direction from the courts to m
dict the Offenders are shielded by
Grand Juries and are not presented
for trial; that such Grand Juries are
not exceptional but are habitually SO
made up by the Sheriff; and,
Whereas There is no safety for the
citizen, no security for his personal
property when criminals can break
the laws and the agents of justice
combine to screen them from punish
ment; and the judges of the courts in
Hudson County having done their duty
with great boldness which could only
be justified by unusual necessity. they
having urged the Grand Juries to the
full performance of their sworn duties,
and they having maintained fearlessiy
and with the most warm aproval OF al
law-loving citizens the dignity and
reputation of New Jersey courts OF
Justice; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That a committee OF hve
members of the General Assembly (of
which the Speaker shall be one) pe ap-
pointed by the Speaker to inquire into
fhe truth of the charges relative to the
alleged maladministration OF justice
and the alleged malfeasance IN once
upon the part of officials and officers OF
Justice in the County of Hudson mold
ing commissions from the State, ana
to inquire also, into the truth OF such
other charges as may be preferred,
which in the judgment of said commit
fee NAV be worthy of investigation as
to the conduct of public affairs in the
County of Hudson. The SAID commit,
tee shall have power to subpoena ana
swear witnesses to take testimony,
to send for persons and papers 10 EN-
ploy counsel. clerk and stenographer,
and to do such other things as, IN tne
judgement of said committee may be
necessary to inform the House as to
the truth or falsity OF said representa-
tions or of such other charges as may
he made. The same committee shall
have mower to sit, If necessary, during
the legislative recess. ana 10 make
their report with all convenient speed.
Mr. Allen submitted an amendment In
cluding the counties of Camden, Mercer,
passaic and Atlantic. Coming from
Hudson. he said. he would say in behail
of the Democratic members OF that
county that Hudson welcomed an lnves-
tigation- which would be fair and I'M
martial and which would shield no one
IF the Republicans were honest in theiI
inteotions to honestly investigate they
sbefid not confine themselves to enc
county. but should go to others as well.
"If YOU don't include the Republican
counties of Mercer, Camden, Atlantic and
Passaic in your Investigation he shout
ed .tyou will make buncombe of your
nroceedings and your investigation is not
for the purpose of honestly unearthins
corruption, but for what political capital
you can make out OF it.
I'VE are all in favor of investigating
everything that needs investigation said
Mr.. Gledhill in reply, "and as soon as
anything is found or foul odor arises
in any other county we will go there
Inst now the stink is all in Hudson
county and we are going there"
sIs there not as much stencil in the
Mercer Freeholders or the Camden mur.
Naer frfal?', asked Mr.. Allen.
AnDecidedly no." replied Mr.. Giedhill
5th unusual emphasis on the mo
|oh, OH Ohr exclaimed the Hudson
len in chorus
nhe resolution was adopted and as soor
the result was announced Mr.. Aller
Is on his feet with another amend
Int to make the number of the com
Ittee six. The Speaker refused tt
hognize him and in order that tht
beaker might have some excuse for hi
action Mr.. Gledhill made two points q
order: one that Mr.. Allen could not offel
! mother amendment at that time, and tn