The Jersey City news., 1904-03-19

ferred to the Judiciary Committee, Mr..
Albeit took it in charge When after a
long wait he was pleased to call the COM
mittee together to consider the matter,
he placidly informed the minority that
the majority had concluded to recommend
to the House that the amendment be sub
mitted to the people of this State for
their approval or disapproval by pop
ular vote
Here is our report. which We have
signed he said, and you will please
sign it and will present it at once
'.The minority. however, was not ready
to sign the report. The Republican mem
bers suggested to the majority that as
the method of ratification by the states,
whether by the vote of the people or by
the vote of the Legislatures, was at theh
option of the Congress, and as that body
had in this case chosen to submit the ap-
proval to the Legislatures, and not to
a popular vote, it would be not only un-
wise, but unlawful, to attempt to have
the question submitted to the voters. The
suggestion met with no favor from the
majority. They had made up their minds
The minority informed the majority that
they would not only decline to sign the
report, but would present minority re-
port expressing their views. This seemed
to amuse Albeit, who only smiled at
what he considered the foolish presump-
tion of the Republicans. He informed
them that he would present his report to
the House at once.
"a minority report, setting forth the
objection to the majority report and the
reasons for the course recommended by
the minority and recommending that the
House proceed to consider an act upon
the question of ratifying and approving
the amendment, was made. The two re-
ports were read and motion was made
TO adopt that of the majority. This was
followed by motion that the minority
report be adopted as substitute for the
report of the majority. When this latter
motion had been stated by the speaker,
NT,. A rx-1,n IN lod
been disposed to treat the action of the
minority as joke, awoke to a real and
very genuine surprise, the greatest prob
ably. he had then met since he took the
rens and undertook to drive his party
team. Nor was the astonishment his
alone, when Mr.. Corey, the Fort Lafay-
cite graduate. known as one of the most
relentless party men in the Assembly,
arose and said -:
Substantially Mr.. Speaker, am in
favor of the pending motion and shall
vote for its adoption. The position of
the minority is correct, This House is
the proper body to dispose of this busi
ness, and it ought not to be sent to the
people, as is provided for in the majority
report. | am surprised that that COM
mittee, with an able lawyer as its chair
man, should recommend such action
Corey was followed BY two or three
Others in the same strain. Mr. Albeit
vainly sought to marshal his followers
with some of his sonorous phrases, about
the right of the people to be heard
through the ballot box. The minority
only replied that the reasons why their
report should be accepted were fully
stated in the DOCUMENT itself, and that
they had nothing to add to what Mr..
Corey had so clearly stated
when the vote was taken Mr.. ABB
belts majority report was turned down,
and that Of the minority adopted, greatly
to the disgust and wrath of the Demo-
cratic leader The House then fixed
day when it would take up and consider
the fourteenth amendment. When the
time came, the body refused by tie vote
TO artify Or approve the proposed amend
ment
Another incident in the history Of that
House. and in which the Senate also
took a hand, was a futile effort to elect .
United States Senator. The senate had
a Democratic majority Of three or four
and consequently. since the House was a