The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-01-10
QUIET AS A FUNERAL.
Little Interest Apparent in
Trenton Last Night Over
the Legislature.

Especial to THE Jersey City News"1
TRENTON, Jan. 10, 1S99.-The oldest in
habitant tonight said he never saw such
quiet and commonplace night before the
opening of Legislature in Trenton.
There were less than two hundred stran-
gers in town, and these were mostly
members of the House of Assembly and
office-seekers. Three Senators only were
about and as many Democratic Assem-
blymen. General Sewell was not present,
but his room, 100, was open, and John
Kean presided over it. John confidently
expects to be named for United States
Senator at the joint caucus, to be held
today, and in anticipation of the happy
event he has ordered refreshments for
$50 guests, to be servedsat the Trenton
House after the caucus is over. He evil
IDENTIFY thinks he. has ''cinch.''
Mr.. Kean was assisted in entertaining
the few of the faithful whoy called by
Barker Gummere, Postmaster Yard of
Trenton, William BEETLE, the Honorable
"Dick" Reading and several stars of
lesser magnitude. Most every one in town
called and paid their respects and then
went up to the State House, where the
adjourned meeting of the Republican AS
sembly caucus was in session. Wood Nc
Kee presided, and Mr.. Bell of Bergen
was secretary. Mr.. Stuhr, of Passaic,
opened the ball by moving that reporters
and every one else not members of As
sembly be requested to withdraw. He
had nothing against newspaper men, he
said but it was something new to admit
reporters to caucus and he did not be-
lieve in forming precedent.
Mr. Bradley, of Camden, moved as a
substitute that the reporters be allowed
to remain. This was continuation of a
meeting. .at which the reporters had been
admitted None of them had abused that
privilege and there was no reason why
they should not be admitted to this meet
ing. Mr. Bradley's motion prevailed and
the newspaper men remained. The
Steering Committee reported against the
claim of Cape May. In the shuttle Cape
May got only a page. The member
thought his county was entitled to some
thing better and put in a claim for
doorkeeper. The matter was referred to
the Steering Committee, and Mr.. Squire
made his report. He said the committee
was sorry for Cape May, but it did not
see where it could interfere. The num-
ber of doorkeepers allowed by law had
been allotted and nothing could be done
for Cape May. The report of the commit
tee was accepted and the rules of last
session were adopted to govern this.
A motion to-adjourn was made, but
before it was put Murray. of Union. made
an earnest plea for Cape May County.
He said that they had had hard fight
in that county and it was only by the
hardest kind Of work that the county had
been carried, and he thought something
better than page should be done for the
county Mr.. Murray's eloquence was
squelched by young member who insist
ed upon the question to adjourn, and the
caucus closed without affording any re-
lief to poor, suffering Cape May.
The Cumberland muddle was arranged
satisfactorily to all outside of the eau
GUS Cumberland's two members, it will
be remembered. could not agree upon
suitable person for bill clerk, which was
that county's share of the spoils. and
Essex grabbed the prize The county felt
very much put out at this proceeding and
kicked most vigorously. In fact so vigor-
Gus was their kicking that they were
offered two pages, who We're to be ulti-
mately postmaster and assistant post
master This was satisfactory to the
Cumberland men, and they became as
docile as kittens.
President Reed, of the Senate, will
name Charles Bateman, of Somerset, as
his private secretary. Bateman is SOM
ervilie newspaper man and has had con-
siderable experience in the Legislature.
He was private secretary for Lewis J.
Thompson when he was President of the
Senate, and is acquainted with the duties