Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-04-04
Evil Grows Apace.

From the Newark SUNDAY Call, lnu.
Further cause for rebuke to the Re-
publican party in this State was given by
the Senate last week, when a majority
composed of that organization adopted a
constitutional amendment for biennial
sessions of the Legislature. Three Re
publicans opposed the measure-Senators
Reed, Cross and Haines-and all the
Democrats voted against it. 1t is known
that the corporation influences, and espe-
cially Senator Sewell, are urging the adop-
ton of this amendment, so it may pass the
Assembly, where these powers are partic-
ularly potent. This would make the defeat
of the scheme next session extremely i'm
portant
To have sessions of the Legislature once
in two years, to have the Governor serve
four years, Senators as long and Assembly
men two years; to prolong other official
terms to correspond, and to reduce the
part of the people in the government of
the commonwealth, has been the object Of
many who have private ends to gain from
the State government. The biennial ses-
sions amendment has been before the New
Jersey Legislature with regularity for
twenty years. Several times it has been
near adoption, but upon each occasion
popular feeling against it has been so strong
that defeat has overwhelmed it. Upon the
last attempt, four years ago, when General
Sewell made it personal matter, the labor
organizations of the State made the amend
ment an issue, and they denounced it with
vigor which had powerful influence. The
man who killed the amendment finally was
Foster NJ Voorhees,, then State Senator,
now Governor, whose scathing attack upon
the scheme and upon boss and corporation
influence in legislation astonished the lobby
and delighted every independent thinker.
Honors since showered upon him have
shown the approval of the people.
This State elects only a Governor and
Legislature. All the other State officers
are filled by appointment, besides many Of
the local Offices. The share of the people
in the government here is smaller than In
almost any State in the Union. In other
States where biennial sessions are held, the
people choose most State officers, and even
the judiciary in many cases. They have
opportunity to show their sentiment and to
keep control and subdue the schemes of the
selfish. In New Jersey the people are
heard from only with difficulty, and their
opportunity for checking infringements
upon their rights is limited to degree not
elsewhere found. At the present session OF
the Legislature-undert the same influences
the peoples part in government has been
further limited by combining the local
elections with the general elections. The
biennial amendment is in accord with the
same policy, and the origin of the two
measures is the same.
The annual session of the Legislature is
the public court of appeal. There is not a
frequent causes for appeal to the Legisla-
ture the courts decisions are with a
view to legislative remedy, and every citi-
zen has that recourse in case of need.
Custom has established this facility, and
the small area of the State and its remark
able diversity of population, have made the
IL
cial to every worthy cause. To further
limit the powers of the problem may be
desired by the corporations which are
alarming the country by their fragrant dis
regard of public rights, but theirs are the
only interests that would be served. The
people would be injured for the benefit Of
the trusts, and for the convenience of cor
rupt politicians.