The Jersey City news., 1902-04-17
REEDS VICTORY
Governor Murphy Signs
North Plainisld An
nexation Measures.
GIVES HIS REASONS
If People Accept the Act
Somerset County Will
Be Democratic.
Especial 70 .sThe Jersey city News.''l

Especial to 'sThe Jersey City Newss'i
TRENTON, April II, 1902. Governor
Murphy dispe.led all doubts as to his ac-
ton on the PlainfleId annexation scheme
yesterday by signing the three biiis m
troduced by Assemblyman Holman WITH
that end in view.
This of course. terminates the bitter
warfare which has been waged between
the two factions Of Somerset county dur
ing the past two years. SO far as the
Governor is concerned. and If the people
Of North Piainfield adopt the referendum
clause in the bills it may also put stop
TO tho political feud which the Somerset
Republicans have harbored for years
The first of the three bills PROVIDES LOT
the transfer of the borough from Somer7
set to Union county, the second for us
annexation to the city OF Piainheao, ana
the third provides for the manner "
which the consolidation Is to be effected
The Governor, in signing the Dliis'
made the following statements, GIVING hls
reasons for approving them;-
saThe bills were passed by the Legisia-
ture with full knowledge Of the situation.
"In the various hearings and interviews
on both sides Of the question no tact
has appeared and no reason has peen
given that was not known to the Legs
lature when they passed the bills.
.4The population of North Plainfield -
suburban. The men go to New YORK
dailv and are imbued with city notions
and desires. The population Of Somerviiie
Is rural. The men stay at home and are
governed by the farmers points OF view.
This difference in population has caused
sharp iealousies and differences between
the two towns. This viii only disappear
nv a transfer Of North Plalnfield into
Union county
.sFro,n the best information have been
able to obtain North Plainiield has re-
ceived from the county about as much IN
i,onrovements as it has paid in taxes.
Its position in this respect has been ne'i-
tral. I do not believe the taxes OF the
county will be increased II North Pam
field is taken into Union
.I believe, all things considered, ana
there is much to consider. when the pres
ent feeling dies away. the people Of SOM
erset County will rejoice that I have
signed these bills Whether this is so or
not. no reason has appeared which seems
to me to justify my withholding my ap-
proval.
OF course, the political effectof the sign
ing of the bills IS an interesting consid'
Grafton, and particularly, perhaps, in Mer.
Ger County. from which it is anticipated
the Republican candidate for Congress
will be selected next fall. If the bills be.
come effective by the adoption OF tbs
voters North Plainfleld will become
part Of the fifth instead of the Fourth
Congress District 1t will mean. there
| fore, the removal from the district o.
which Mercer is a part Of small bu
| strongly Republican territory. and may
have even a greater influence than thi!
| in the vote for Congressman next fall
While the people OF North PlainielS
are strongly in favor of the annexation
scheme, this sentiment is by no mean;
| shared by the residents of Somerse
county at large. who see in the chang
only reduction In the population ans
/ ratables of the county. Outside o
North Piainfield the bills have been bit
! terly fought throughout the county ans
particularly in Somerville, the rival 0
/ North PIainield, feeling has beef
! aroused to a high pitch. There is ever,
prospect that this same feeling wiz b
manifested at the polls next fall. AM
| with other existing conditions, probabl,
to sufficient extent to secure the defea
of whoever may be the Republican cand!
date for Congressman.
/ The district at best is close, and, Will
| new, soma idea of how It stands may b
obtained from the vote for Governor las
fall. The total population is 1880 an
| last fall Mr.. Murphy received D,422 vote
and Mr. Seymour 1876. The total vol
cast in the district was 34,713 and til
Republican plurality was 1856
These figures show that the Republican
] have but narrow margin at best q
4 which to base their hopes for victor
next fall, and this viii be further re
duced by the transfer from the distric
Of the borough of North PlaiRfsld, whicl
10 counted upon to give a Republican ma
jority of anywhere from $50 to 500.
The Democrats figure that they will al
most certainly have a majority of tn
Somerset votes for Congressman next fall
| while Hunterdon county is good for
i Democratic majority Of from l.200 t
l,5oc THIS being true. the Republican
must pin all their faith in Mercer coun
/ ty. where the conditions are not such a
i to justify the expectation that the Re
publican majority will offset that In tn
i counties of Somerset and Huuterdpn.