The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-14

VOORHEES,
Governor is Meeting With
Good Fortune in Max
ing Appointments.
HAPPY SOLUTION IN ESSEX.
Proposed Naming of Lentz
Threatened Serious Trouble
Legislature in No
Hurry.

TRENTON. Feb. IA, 1S99.-Governor
Voorhees, is meeting with rare good luck
at the beginning of his administrator
over the distribution of the pubic pat
ronage. The announcement that ne VIII
nominate Chandler w. Riker to the Of
fee of Prosecutor of the Pleas OF Essex
county meets with general approval.
Major Carl Lentz had beea an active
candidate for the place. As his ,eanoi-
dacy progressed it was found that ne
had almost as many enemies as frienos-
While the former did everything possible
to impress the Governor that the APP
pointment of the Major would prlhs
about severe criticism, the latter became
more jealous in his behalf. The MAJOR
was the choice of the practical pom
ticians. He had done a great deal TOT
his party during the last five or SIX
years. while Serving as chairman OF the
Essex County Republican Committee. ana,
consequently. his friends believed that he
had merited the recognition he sought.
Several members of the bar favored him,
too. And. then, again, other lawyers OF
high standing insisted that the office
should be filled by a man whose legal abil-
ity was without question and public repu-
tation without blemish. They alleged that
Major Leptz did not meet these require
ments. The Lawyers Clu of Newark
was called upon to investigate charges
made against him, and that fact in itself
was considered a blight on the Majors
prospects. He thereupon withdrew his
candidacy, and by common consent, Mr..
Riker was selected for the office. Thus
the Governor was relieved from a very
Ha7 1o onnnfnfa6
the Major much fault would have been
found. And still, on the other hand. the
politicians would have lavished praise on
him for the act. Mr.. Riker is in every
way qualified for the place. He is an
eminent lawyer, and a man of high repu-
tation. OF course, he is not as active in
politics as the Major, but still his loyalty
to party has never been doubted.
1t is not anticipated that this disappoint-
ment will in the least dampen the ardor of
Major Lentz. He will continue to be the
same aggressive and uncompromising
politician his record has shown him to be,
and the Essex County Republican organi-
cation will remain under the discipline OF
his master hand. Until another oppor-
tunity arises to push the Major to a posi-
ton commensurate with his services as 4
political leader he must content himself
with being a member of the State Board
of Taxation at a salary of $500 a year.
The sixth week of the Legislative ses-
sion will open on this morning. The
Washington Park Licensing bill is about
the only topic which excites attention. II
had just enough of votes to pass it
through the Senate. There Is a feeling
that it may meet with snags in the House.
MT -; kL.k III Of fhA %
Democrats will vote for the bill. Then
There was a report last week that the
Essex delegation is opposed to such .legis-
lation because it would increase the liquor
sorts in that section of the State. Still
its promoters feel confident of its success
in the House They say that Republican
gen counties. 1t would seem that the bin
IS reasonable enough, SO long as the
liquor licenses are granted to such places:
Washington Park is said to be a most
popular resort. especially in summer time,
and it is orderly and well conducted. The
not considered such a bad thing at all.
and consequently the enactment Of such I
law would not be offensive to the general
r~esenting both political parties, working
fol. the bill, while, as a matter OF course,
the temperance element of the State is
up In arms against it.
Mr.. Squire, of Union County, intro
duced last week a dependent children's
bill, which is already meeting with
much contention last year and ulti-
mately met with defeat. This proposed
legislation is a hobby of Mrs. William
member of various charitable %associa-
tons. The Squire bill, no doubt, was
drafted under her dictation. Some of its
clauses must be modified, It is said, or
it will not become a law. In fact, the
statement is made that the bill would
interfere very seriously with the good
Union Industrial Home, of this city, and
other such institutions During the
week more light will probably be thrown
on the subject, when it is expected a
line of battle will be drawn by its
friends and opponents.
h Rahwa Reformatory seems to be
a white elephant on the hands of the
Republican administration The legis-
lative appropriation committee paid a
visit to that place last Thursday to
i Sse w ga to ha future nsen ae ton a aSou It s sRea 90
has already been expended on the work,
and 1t Is estimated that a. million doll
lars will be required to complete 1t.
Nothing has been don on the building
for two or three years. There Is much
discussion going on over the surplus
in the State Treasury and its future ac-
posed to get rid of 1t. About the
easiest way to solve the difficulty, It
seems, would be TO use the money on the
Reformatory Then it could be ex-
pended pretty fast.
A Jury commission bill is on the House
calendar for a second reading. It pro-
yides for two commissioners of Jurors in
zach county. one from each party. who
shall draw all grand and petit jurors, re-
ceive a compensation of IS q day and
mileage and serve for three years. Sew
eral years ago a bill like this met with
much favor in the Republican party and,
In fact. a law to that effect was passed.
Subsequently it was repealed by the
Democrats. OF course, the Sberifs do NOT
want any such law. because it would de-
crease their fees. There are now twelve
Republican and nine Democratic Sherags
in the State, and should they pool their IS
sues on his or any other measure their
influence cotld scarcely be resisted. This
jnry commission bill has for It's author,
Mr.. Fell. of Bergen county. where a Demo-
cratic Sheriff was unexpectedly elected
last November. 1t looks as If the As
remblyman wants to clip the wings of the
Democratic ~oIficial. The bin is not likely
to become a law at this session OF the
Legislature.
1t Is given out on semi-of1cial authority
that this Legislature does not mean to
transact any important business. All
strike and crank bills are to be promptly
Killed and all partisan legislation dis
couraged. The session will drag along
IN this way for ten or eleven weeks and
then there will be a final adjournment