The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-04-27
STILL IN DOUBT.
Governor Doesn't Know
Whether He Will Call
a Special Session.
GONFERs WITH SENATORS
Mckee Tells Him He Has
Votes Enough to Kill
Essex's Bills.

Especial to 1.-THE Jersey City News."]
ELIZABETH, April 27, 1s01.-The special
session is as much an unknown quantity.
today as it was last week this time, not
withstanding the fact that somehow or
other the impression got abroad that from
what the Governor said he would settle
the matter one way or another today.
He had said that he would hold confer
ence with the Senators at his office. He
did that all right, at least he conferred
with those who took the trouble to come
here this morning. These were Senators
Pitney of Morris, Mckee of Passaic, Cross
of Union, and McCarter of Essex. Sena-
tor Hudspeth sent a telephone message
and Senator Reed of Somerset a letter.
Governor Voorhees's office is on the top
floor of the First National Bank building,
and, under ordinary circumstances, an
elevator carries up his callers
This morning when the array of Republi-
can heavyweights got on board the ele-
vator was unable to carry the load and
refused to work. So the conference was
held in Senator Cross's office on the
floor below. OF course, it was held be-
hind closed doors. The Governor opened
of Senator Hudspeth's message and read
Senator Reeds letter. Mr.. Hudspeth's
message. after expressing his regret that
it would be impossible for him to be
present was a repetition of the position
Hudson has always assumed in this mat
ter. He said that the people of his county
were deeply interested in the question of
the publication of the Passaic River and
were willing to do all in their power to
aid in bringing that about but they
could not consent that it should be done
at the expense of Hudson. If assurances
could be given that the Hudson county
shores of the Newark Bay at the ter
minal of the proposed publication sewer
would be protected Hudson would have
no objections to the passage of the bills
desired by the Essex contingent.
Mr.. Reed wrote that there was a senti-
ment in his county in favor of purifying
the river, but he wanted assurances that
If anextra session should be called the
bills providing for the publication would
be passed. He thought it would be a
fatal error to convene the Legislature to
pass certain bills and then have those
measures defeated.
Mr.. Pitney took very much the same
position. He was IN favor of the extra
session if it was certain that the bills
would pass ard that no other measures
would be considered. One of the Senators
suggested that if the session was called
Hudson would insist upon taking up the
measure for the abandonment of the Nor
ris Canal.
''Then am strongly opposed to the. ex-
ira session." said Mr.. Pitney.
Senator Cross was rather non committal
upon the subject and would not commit
himself further than to say that If there
was no doubt about the necessity for the
extra session and it was sure that the
antl-pollution bills would be passed and
only these measures considered, he would
favor the extra sessions.
During this discussion Senator Mckee
of Passaic remained quiet and listened
When he was finally requested to express
his views he said, of course ne was utter
ly opposed to any extra session 10 CO l.
slider the measures which the delegation
from his county in the Assembly pre-
vented becoming laws. His county was a
unit on the question, and her representa-
tiveS in the Legislature would do all they
could to defeat the bills if the extra ses-
sion should be called. They would not
consent to a Suspension of any rule or to
any motion to expedite the passage of the
bills. They would resort to every dila-
tory tactic known in parliamentary usage
and would fight the bills at every possible
step. Moreover, he declared, Assembly
men Lewis and Statles of his county had
made a personal canvass among the
members of the Assembly, and had in
their possession check list on which
they had pledged enough members to vote
against the measures to defeat them.
The Governor said he would not decide
the matter for few days yet, as he
wished next to consult with some of the
leaders of the Assembly, and ascertain
what their position is on the question
He hoped to see the Assemblymen before
Wednesday.
1t is stated on good authority that the
Governor has been in communication with
General Sewell on this question and that
the General has emphatically expressed
his opposition to an extra session.