New-York tribune., 1903-04-20
LIVE JERSEY TOPICS.

The report that Thomas n. McCarter Will re-
sign the office of Attorney General is probably
correct 1t is understood that he is to be
president of the new trolley trust, and he
could not, of course hold both places MI
McCarter has tremendous supply OF nervous
energy and If he takes up the trolley manage
n1ent in earnest it will be surprising II ne
doesn't make radical reforms. The whole ser
vice is in very poor shape-roadbed, cars, run
ming schedules and the attitude of the COM
pany's servants toward the public. If the peo-
ple are treated half right the company will get
more of their money.
Who viii succeed Mr.. McCarter as Attorney
General? 1t is a soft berth and one much
priced among lawyers. Besides the honor ac-
crl1ing TO the holder there is salary of $1,000
and the new official will have four years TO
serve of the five year term attached to the
office. Chief Justice Gummere and Prosecutor
Riker both of Essex are mentioned among
those from whom the selection may be made.
The Chief Justice has a salary OF S10.Ooo, and
his term doesn't expire until 1908 but he is said
to be willing to make the change because as
Attorney General he could practise law. where
as he cannot do that now. That Mr.. Rker
would cheerfuly take the place goes without
saying; in fact, few lawyers in New-Jersey
would decline it.
Prosecutor Rikers promotion might clear the
way for Major Lentz's appointment as Prosecu-
tor That Office has been the majors objective
point for many years. When Foster NJ. Voor-
hees running for Governor five years ago
he promised to appoint Major Lentz but after
election he found what he considered to be good
reasons for not keeping this promise. and Rker
was chosen instead. The powers that be in
Essex held the major up an ideal candidate
for Sheriff last fall. II he was the right kind
of man for that Office, in their estimation
they may not any reason now against his
appointment as Prosecutor. They had the cour-
age of their convictions then. and if the major
should insist succeeding Mr. Riker in case
of a vancancy. he might succeed in landing the
job.
II the way to the prosecu torship is not to be
opened up to him, Major Lentz may indOrse the
appointment of his friend Chief Justice Gummere
as Attorney General. provided that Justice Fort
he not assigned to the Essex circuit The
justice and the major don't belong to the same
mutual admiration society and the possibility Of
the former coming to Essex would not arouse
joyful anticipations in the heart of the latter.
Chief Justice Gummere's retirement would leave
room for the promotion of of the present
associate justices to the head of the court with
81. .0o0 increase in salary, and for the appoint
ment of justice. If it left to the law
yers of the State to determine. they would prob
ably vote the chief justiceshp TO Jonathan Dix
on who has been the Supreme Court bench
for twenty-eight years and is recognized all
over the country as jurist of rare ability. But
he isn't anything of a politician.
The Governor may. however, if he sees fit go
outside the court for chief justice. In that
case he might appoint of the vice-chanceI-
Of i1Id0
a lawyer holding judicial Office.
Roller. the swindIer and forger. is at large
again The Court of Pardons has revoked his
parole and it is of the numerous suspicious
circumstances in this case that the revocation
didn't take place until Roller was beyond the
reach of the New-Jersey authorities. If the de-
sire had been to uphold the dignity of Jersey
justice. and enforce the law. the parole should
have been revoked Immediately after Rollers
arrest in New-York But nothing of the kind
was done The New-Jersey officials sat still and
did nothing while Roller being committed
to an institution from which his relatives found
no trouble in releasing him. The moment that
he was at large the Court OF PardOns hurried to
revoke the parole, that Roller is now practi-
cally a fugitive from justice, with the greater
part of a seven years sentence for forgery yet
to
Has somebody an interest IN making MN a
fugitive and keeping him that he won't
venture around this part of the country:
Ugly questions. nasty insnuations and grave
allegations are whispered around the State
House. and the echoes are travelling all over the
commonwealth. The legislature, which meets
tomorrow, might well take hold of this scandal
and go to the bottom of it.
WOULD PREFER NEGRO ALDERMEN.