The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-08-09

VOORHEES, PICNIC
The Governor is Deluged
With Letters Regarding
the Reform School.
MAY CALL ON LEGISLATURE
Mrs. Williamson and Mrs.
Weatherby Demand Fur
ther Investigation.
NAY CALL ON LEGISLATURE
Especial Is THE Jersey city News.'l


State House yesterday afternoon await
ing an audience with the Governor.
The latter had not put in an appearance
up to two O'Clock, and it was then an
nounced that he would not be here until
late in the afternoon or evening.
Mrs Wetherby buttonholed Mr. Stokes
in the corridor and had a long talk with
him about affairs at the school Mr..
Stokes declined to be interviewed, and
left the State House when he learned
that the Governor was not coming here
until late.
Mrs. Weatherby was very 10th to talk
for publication at this time. She heartily
concurred in the views of Mrs. Depue,
as reported yesterday.
II do not feel" continued Mrs. Weth-
erby, that it would be either wise or
just for me to say anything just at pres
ent I think we should wait until all
the evidence in the case is taken and
fully considered before giving an opinion,
/ am even now unwilling to believe that
the terrible charges made against Mrs.
Eyler are true and hope that she may be
able TO clear herself of them. She is a
woman ana a woman who has to make
her living. and I would not for the world
say anything that might prevent her
gaining another position when she leaves
the school.
Mrs. Wetherby, by her remarks, i'm
piled that to her mind Mrs. Eyler had
as yet presented no satisfactory defence
to the charges made against her, and
spoke as though her leaving the school
was an assured fact.
81 do not see," she said, Gin view of
present conditions, how Mrs. Eyler can
possibly remain at the institution" Mrs
Wetherby would not discuss the alleged
cruelties at the school, but in reply to a
question said. after some hesitation:--
All care to say is that under the for
mer~management the school was ably
run and there was little trouble there. It
was like home. 1t is not so now; every
thing is changed. I do not know every
thing that takes place at the school, not
being in a position to hear all that goes
on, but there have been many things
there that have caused me anxiety and
worry
7 am glad to see that the State Board
of Children's Guardians has taken the
matter up, and that Mrs. Williamson has
interested herself. She is a woman in
whose ability and judgment 1 have every
confidence, and I am sure that she will do
just what is right
Mrs. Wetherby also expressed confidence
in the Governors arriving at a proper
conclusion after the case had been fully
presented to him. She thought the Gov
ernor should not be judged harshly until
ne has positively refused TO act in the
matter.
Mr.. Stokes says that with a majority
OF the Board of Trustees he is willing to
resign, but will not do so until the in
vestigation closes, as they will not retire
under fire. They argue that to do so
would be an acknowledgment of the
statement that the trustees, as much as
anybody, are responsible for the condition
of affairs in the school.
John H. Backes, counsel for two of the
trustees. and who is to furnish anidavits
OF former teachers and employees against
the administration Of Mrs. Byler, said to-
day:-"I am accommodating considerable
evidence, and l hope the Governor will
consent to a continuation of the hearing.
viii produce witnesses whose testimony
Will show that every allegation that has
been made has some foundation
1t was decided today that the same dis
sensions exist in the Board of Women
Managers as is reported in connection
with the Board of Trustees The women
are divided for and against Mrs. Eyler
Letters are pouring in many of them
from prominent women demanding the
removal of Mrs. Eyler as the easiest So
luton of the difficulty, and a warm per-
sonal friend of the Governor has said
that the latter would be glad to receive
Mrs. Eylers resignation.
The managing trustee, E. R. Cook, de-
clares that he will not resign. There is
no reason why should resign, because /
did my duty he says; 'but I could give
very good reasons why the other trus-
tees should resign His associates say
that Mr.. Cook has assumed too much
power and kept the actual state of af-
fairs from the other members of the
Board.
An effort is to be made by Mrs VIII
hanson and the prosecuting trustees, the.
Rev. DIR. Maddox and p. J. Fftzgibbons,
to have the Governor consent to an Off
eial investigation by the Joint Committee
of the Legislature. The Governor, it is
said, was of the opinion that the commit
tee had no power because the Legislature
had adjourned sine die, but the authori-
ties have been consulted, and it is be-
ueNSo tudL lnt committee IS du active
one until the Legislature organizes and
appoints new committee.
The principal precedent is based on the
fact that when Governor Voorhees, was
Acting Governor by virtue of his Office
as President Of the Senate he resigned
as Senator, and Speaker David o. Wat
kins was made acting Governor, al
though the Legislature had been adjourn
ed for six months.
The joint committee consists of Sena-
tors Pifney, Evans and Packer. and As
semblymen Murray Marshall. Welsh,
sturr and Martens 1t represents all
parts of the State, and It is believed.
could hear the case without any pre-
judice.
A Catholic priest told Of a visit to the
school. paid by Father Cunnnghamy for
merly Of the Sacred Heart Church, which
tends to confirm the stories that Mrs
Eyler has Disseminated against clergy
men visiting the school
One Of the girls at the school was dy-
ing and, being a Catholic, Father Cum
ningham was sent for to administer ex-
trene JUNCTION. He was met at the door