The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-01-10
LEGISLATURE MEETS.
The Work Of Organization
Disposed Of With
: Expedition.
REED MAKES AN INNOVATION
Announced Senate Commit
tees at Once Adjourn
ment Until Mondav.

Especial to 1.-THE Jersey City News."1
TRENTON, Jan. 10, 1S99.-The one hum
dred and thirty-third session of the New
Jersey Legislature was called to order
this afternoon at three o'clock. Both
chambers were aglow with the color of
the many floral pieces which adorned the
desks of the members. 1t did not take
long to get the, Senate under way, and
when all had been sworn in Mr. Reed, of
Somerset, was elected President. Upon
taking the chair Mr. Reed said:-
Senators, and especially those of the
majority. thank you most sincerely for
the distinguished honor which you nave
conferred upon me and upon Somerset
county in selecting her representative to
preside over your deliberations, and / ap-
preciate the honor all the more highly
your number are so many better qualified
ard more deserving than myself.
TO preside over the Senate OF New Jer-
sey, at any time is. an honor which cones
to but few. To be President at a time
when the Senate contains such men as
now compose it is to be double fortunate
IT is with difiidence that | assume the
duties of the chair, for, ainowing my own
limitations, L realize my weakness and
know that must make mistakes. But
rely upon your indulgence and your help,
and will endeavor to intelligentiy and i'm
partially perform the work for which you
nave SO generously chosen me.
In order that the work of the Senate
shall progress with satisfaction to our
selves and the public, it is necessary that
the various committees shall promptly
them. In my humble judgment it is much
wiser to promptly report adversely bad
or questionable bill than. to keep it III
sion, through the opportunities of rs
friends, many a bill is reported and passed
which would never have reached third
reading if the committee had acted upon
It according to their judgment cartier in
the session.
Then, too, it occurs to me to suggest
along until about the close of the session
.and then be deposited upon the Governors
desk after the final adjournment, is at
terly wrong in principle.
The Constitution intended to make the
Legislature responsible for legislation.
Not the Executive. 1t is not fair to shift
me that the laws which are left until af-
ter the session for Executive approval or
disapproval should be the exception rather
than the rule.
In this connection it may not be amfss
to mention that l have noticed during my
legislative career that the public press,
which is the very foundation rock upon
which rests the edifice of our republican
form of government--and I yield. to no
one in appreciation of its worth and COM
mendation of its value to our citizens-is
ing the three months it is in session, be-
cause it does so little, and, strange to
say, to criticise it during the remainder
of the year because it did so much
So to the long suffering member of the
Legislature it is another case of Hob
sons choice l refer, of course, to the
original Hobson-the latter day saint
has other troubles
This criticism grows largely, I think,
out of the fact that during the first few
weeks of the session comparatively few
h iy,f1- md ffr,ao o1a
In which the public may be apprised of
their object and given an opportunity to
be heard, in order that intelligent action
may be taken. Consequently it necessari-
ly follows that but little can be accom-
plished in the way of completed legisla-
ton until the session is about half over.
Few bills originate with members of the
Legislature, and those few are usually in
troduced very early in the session, so
that criticism of the members on that
score is not deserved. If our brethren of
the press could prevail upon those who
intend applying to the Legislature for the
enactment of laws to present their bills
early in the session, it would not. only
largely remove the cause for criticism,
but would add to the already heavy obli-
cation we already owe them.
1t has been my good fortune to have
served upon the floor with all but one OF
those Senators who compose the mi
nority. and it gives me pleasure to say
that found them ever kindly and cour-
teous, and disposed to be fair and frank
~ snirit .rha facii;taies the nrorapt and sat
e ap a., &c stion ~ tba businaSs an
trusted to us by the people of the state,
makes our assoeld,aos ,;, ~ asl ,,a -,
ory to be cherished throngn me. 4+ L ;Tln VIII
pc my enqeasoI ~ Pc ~ n1 ers 49,,
spirit. While we cannot all agree upon
all subjects, yet Whenever we must sas us
ent with personal friendship and sena-
tor1al courtesy
Whatever our political creed. each one
State at heart. Let us then proceed to
the performance OF our duties with ihe
shall not suffer while we live to pro-
tect it.
The speech was heartily applauded by
~ posn - ,'u. t,a atbar officers followed Ts;s
being finished the usual committees were
appointedto notify the Governor and TIE
- ,7 ,,d
Rouse that Tue oeidte M hsad " u salaAeu s @ aiiu
was prepared for business. President
Esad then f,sta blished A PRECEDENT by an
sTudiciarv-W. M. Johnson. Pitnev. Mar
lin
x lewiston Of Iaws-Pitney. Cross. Nc
ressTnaft l,I1oA
Dslnqel DAnnqponriations-W. M. Johnson. Stokes.
I7,,tchinssos N Rraun'
E;na =, eeMH " Johnson. Evans. Braun.
fsnrnnrstions :. stokes Hutchinson.
pscEar sgI[pofa'iols s'oAes - e''i''so'''
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