New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-11
AS A JERSEYMAN SEES 1T.


other questions about prospective legislation
The session does not begin until January w.
but already most OF the preliminaries nave
been arranged or are in fair way OF being ad-
justed. There was for a while much DOUBT
about the presidency Of the Senate viewed
solely from the point Of personal fitness the
popular choice seemed TO be William NJ John-
son. OF Bergen County. Two others entered the
lsts. however, IN the persons Of Charles a. reeu'
OF Somerset, and George ". Ketcham Charn-
ydons OF Messrs. Reed and Ketcham. respective
". pointed out that these Senators are nnisnin.
their terms In the Senate and there may not ne
another opportunity 10 honor them, whereas
Senator Johnson has just been reelected ana he
is In no hurry There is something In that ana as
Senator Johnson Is not the kind OF man 10 sihs
his own merits praises the point has been re-
terated and emphasized until ii is bearing frui''
II the Bergen Senator had cared TO make fight
for the place he would probably get H. AS be-
tween Senators Reed and Ketcham. the FORMER
has a decided advantage. Senator ketchafn hau
a temporary boom because Of the advocacy OF
his candidacy by Franklin Murphy. chairman OF
the Rerubl.can State Committee and the public
statement by General Sewe that II he were a
rnenber OF the State Senate his vote would be
cast for MI Ketcham. These influences appear
70 have been overcome by Senator Reeds per-
sonal non,Ilarity with his fellow-members IN the
Senate and the outlook now is that he will be
elected president No one will seriously question
the Somerset Senator's fitness for the Office lie
Is cool. shrewd and level-headed.
No, az any time since the general election has
there been any doubt OF the reelection OF DaVio
O. Watkins as Speaker Of the House OF Assem-
bly, His course as Speaker last session "oi'
him the regard not alone Of his party associates
but likewise Of all the other Assemblymen ana
ob.ervant spectators In the brief period that
he has been Acting Governor Mr. Watkins mas
continued 70 Increase the good opinion OF his
fellows.
There has been little or no friction IN the seiec-
ton OF Senate or House officers. The apportioh-
rnent 70 each county Will remain about as IL was
last session, and the representatives from tne
various counties pretty well agreed as u
the appointees So far as the House - con-
cerned, the whole matter OF appointments eA
cep. as to the committee assignments VIII PROV
ably be settled at a caucus OF the Repuolcah
Assembymen called for next THURSDAY forenoon
Never before on the eve OF legislative SEES
sion was there 80 little talk about prooaole leg
,slation Few bills have been prepared so far oy
the lawmakers and in their interchange OF oph-
ions and ideas It has developed that there Is NOT
apparently much demand for new statutes
There will be- undoubtedly. some amendments
10 the Election laws but the extent or scope OF
these cannot be predicted yet. There Is VIDE
diversity OF sentiment on the subject. ana sew
ersl conferences between the Senator'S Assem-
blvrnen and Republican leaders VIII prooaoN ne
necessary before definite action Is taken bl'is
- creo,e "Grester Newark" Greater Jersey
City" and possibly. Greater Paterson may 'e
thrown in as feelers intended to elicit discussion
and popular opinion but II Is not though' '"a'
env OF them will be pushed at the ensuing
session.
There Ia urgent need OF legislation TO stop the
nol,ution OF the Passaic River ana proNiue
comprehensive scheme OF drainage for the "'o'e
OF that region from Paterson 10 Newark oo'
the legislators and others interested nave
Trained from agitating the subject penang pun
lication Of the report OF the CoHhissio" az
pointed last spring by Governor voorhees, i''
commission has gone into the whole matter
f,,,,v and conscientiously and II 10 expected 10
provide ample material for the enlightenment
a, those anxious to solve one Of the most I'M
nortant problems now confronting the most
populous section OF the State
Mo,e attempts TO settle the vexatous sraoe
crossing question may be looked for. Newark
neople are especially impatient at the oe'as J."
abolsh,ng crossings over the two leading thor-
oughfares IN the city. Just what the Lee'S'a'
ure can do TO help them is not quite clear ana
the municipal authorities are not uohe A"'
thing to make Il clearer
Nineteen OF the members OF the next Les's ,rsIys
are lawyers. Seven are IN me oens.s sa9 members
&C. LAWYER But there will be lawyers enough ~
the Third Fbuse to make ,o up sd me saTtce more
ST ess Tinf aTs on pending bNewaTk Ad
vertiser
The iohbv work done by lawyers is scahuai
that does not decrease. although II Is NIX" -
,ba, II should The lax moral perceptions '"a'
make IT possible for men standing wen up III
,ba,r profession TO spend weeks or months ~
inc all kinds OF lobbying In Trenton necessarily
influence younger lawyers ana '"e
orph. 70 be vigorously discouraged
o,. y, tho rneubers-elect. Benjamin F Jones,
-, cortb orange. Is a lawyer and member OF
- ,, ern, Of Bacon. Jones Co. Ne"-io m
Camden Republicans want the Legislature
.Aotr school Board elective and there
&c some talk in Paterson In the same o''eo,'J"
uhne Newark people are talking ABOUT a'o,'"
ing their elective Board and putting IN ''s pa
an appoin,ive one In Newark the oenoO, I'm
uissioners are elected by WARDS anu !
orally conceded that many OF the me" ."
,a. ,h,. Man were unfit to supervise the ecu
.,.,a, .ysem OF the premier city OF New
,.,..v Either an appointive Board or one
800. =, q general city ticket will probably
sunersede the present one.
There was some hope OF a short session OF p ae
next Legislature until Assempyman hing s o.
me- NJ, sn1,,ne his pure Beer bill on an unsusPeSit
sng nuSl,c Now there's telling when me S,a,s
iaiure may adjourn. Every brewer IN, u, h,s beer
VIII nv nnrsst made and In order TO vote intslr
~ - - large nmmber o. lteIsIa-o.s