The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-01-30
READY FOR WORK
Legislature Expects to Have
a Busy Week at
u Trenton.
LEADERS WANT SHORT SESSION
They Are Afraid to Trust
the Lawmakers Long
Together.

to serious business, because all obstacles
of a p~erfunctory character have been re-
moved from their pathway and there is
no excuse for any further hardness. The
three weeks of the session just closed
were taken up with the organization, the
Governors inauguration and the election
OF a United States Senator. OF course,
no business could be transacted until those
matters were settled.
The Republican leaders feel happy over
the situation. So far everything has gone
well. Sweet harmony prevails in every
circle. There has not been any Wrangling
over the distribution of the legislative
plums and John Kean was elected Senator
without any trouble or friction. Such
unanimity of sentiment has rarely been
witnessed in either party in New Jersey.
The leaders, of course, desire that such
a happy state of affairs shall continue
SO that the Republican lease of bower
shall be extended and future victories at
the polls guaranteed.
Nothing can upset this gratifying sit
uation but mistakes which may be made
by the Legislature. Should the law
makers evince an undue friendship to-
ward corporations and trusts and expert
ment in partisan legislation, then Re-
publican supremacy would be e%ndanger-
ed. The leaders are fearful that such a
contingency may arise, and consequently
they will band their energies toward hav-
ing the session of as brief duration as
possible.
1t is all very well to make a programme
but it is another thing to carry it out. In
this Legislature there is an aggressive
minority under the guidance of skillful
and experienced eaders. Senator Nc
Dermott is keeping a close eye on the :if-
fairs in the Senate, and Leon Albeit IS
ever watchful in the House. They will
take advantage of every available oppor-
tunity to place the Republican majority
on record on all subjects of vital interest.
These leaders, being jealous Democrats,
will see to it that all possible capital Shall
be made for their party.
Mr.. McDermott's proposition to have tae
investigation mad into the recent election
in Hudson county will probably receive
attention this week. Some of the Repub-
licans call it blufIing on Mr.. McDamott's
part. 1t is reported, however, that his re-
quest may be granted. Although no for
NAL charges of fraud have been made
with reference to the majority given for
the Democratic candidate for Governor
in Hudson, yet in Republican circles there
is a strong suspicion that it was not hon
est. The Democratic contention is that
the majority, which was 1889, was a free
and legal expression of the peoples VIII,
thai it was brought about by harmony
and good organization on the Democratic
side, and. further, that it was helped
along by dissensions and factional quar-
rels among the Republicans. Mr.. McDer-
mott says he is anxious for an investlga-
ton, so that every breath of suspicion as
to w%rongdoing may be d~issipated and a
malicious lander on the Democratic or
ganiZatlon in Hudson refuted The ke-
publicans hint that it has not been in the
actual recording of the vote where any
possible fraud has been perpetrated. but
in the padding of the registry lists.
Should the Senate refuse to insert a probe
into the election. then Mr.. McDermott VIII
view suca n~on-action as a vindication for
his party. On the other hand. should an
investigation be ordered, the State would
be put to a heap of expense, and in the
end nothing might be accomplished to jus
tify it.
The bill which Mr.. Albeit introduced
providing that all the money now re-
ceived from taxes levied on railroad
corporations be paid over to the various
municipalities instead of into the State
Treasury, would, if it became a law, de-
prive the State of a revenue of about
$500, coo a year. By a recent law Hud-
son county and other municipalities now
receive about 5000, 600 from that source.
Mr.. Abbett's proposition is not deemed
wise or practicable by those who now
escape taxation at Hudson's expense, it
being claimed that it would necessitate
the imposition of a State tax to help pay
the expenses of the Government. 1t is
| safe to predict that it will not receive
much favor in the present Republican
Legislature.
Something must be done with the State
Reformatory, at Railway, which needs
prompt and careful attention. 1t must
be either finished or aba ndoned alto
gether. Already the buildings have cost
the State over $500, 900 and it is stated
fully a half million more will be required
for their completion. The State Prison
is now oyercrowded and such an insti-
tuition as the one begun at Railway is
needed for the relief of the former. In
this way the surplus in the Treasury
can be expended. The Joint Committee
on Appropriations has the matter in
charge, and under the guidance of Re-
publican craftsmanship the problem may
! be solved before the close of the Legis-
lative session.
There is just enough before the Legis-
hture to keep it busy for two or three
weeks. In the Senate there are twenty
FIVE and in the House ffty-fonr bills.
\ John Kings pure beer bill is attracting
much attention. He believes that 1t is a
panacea for all the ills caused by the
brewing Of impure malt liquors. The
brewers. however. do not feel much
alarmed over it. They say they will vel
| come such legislation provided it is
stripped of all unreasonable features. Mr..
| Kings bill provides for the appointment
| Of five inspectors. This is a feature which
ID already criticized. 1t would, it is
for politicians, who, it is argued, could
/ not be depended upon to honestly enforce
the law. No doubt, the subject will be
| discussed with much interest in all circles,
| and it will add much zest to the legislative
| proceedings.
Governor Voorhees, evidently likes to
| prolong the agony caused him by the i'm
~portunities of office-seekers. He has TN
| nounced that he will not make any app
pointments before the first of March.
None of the vacancies to be filled will
| occur before that time. Not one of his
| predecessors in office has ever shown SO
much patience with office-seekers as he
\ has. He seems to take d keen pleasure
| in listening to their pleadings, and no
| matter how long they talk or what they
say he never gets out of hurnor. In fact,