The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1904-11-21

ination in Atlantic this fall, it is consid-
cred certain that Mr.. Lee would not
countenance the candidacy Of Edge for
the Office. even if Edge should desire the
place for another term. He has had the
secretaryship now four years. at 81, 500
per year, and, in the opinion Of many,
that is about all he is entitled to.
Although it is understood that there
will be a new secretary of the Senate
this year, only one serious candidate for
the place as yet has put in an appear
anee, and that is Charles II. Folwell, the
editor and proprietor of the New Jersey
Mirror" of Mt. Holly, who prides him.
self on the fact that in the struggle for
an office he won despite the opposition of
Major Carl Lentz, the indomitable leader
of Essex County.
A few years ago, when the LegisIa-
ture abolished the old engrossing of bills
department and substituted for it the
supervisor of bills, it originally provided
that one officer should suffice for both
houses. Mr.. FoIwell was a candidate
for the dual position, and Major Lentz
wanted the place for Jesse r. Salmon,
of Essex. The fight was a bitter one and
the major won out in the caucus, which
gave the place to Salmon.
Even at this point, when most men
would have given up the fight, Folwell
did not despair, but kept at it. He went
to the late Samuel H. Grey, who was
then attorney general, and obtained from
him an opinion to the effect that as the
constitution provided that each House of
the Legislature should choose its own
officers, there would have to be super
visor in both the Senate and the Assem-
bly,.
| In view of this opinion, two super
visors We're provided for. and while Sal
mon got the Senate berth, Folwell OBJ
tanned the one in the House. Previous
to that time Mr.. Folwell had been en-
crossing clerk of the Assembly, and was
commended by the House for the eff
Gent manner in which he had conducted
the department.
Last year he was candidate for the
secretaryship of the Senate. but when
he learned that Mr.. Edge desired it again
he withdrew from the contest This year
he has the support of John J. Homer,
the Senator from his county, and his
chances of landing the prize are eonsid-
cred good.
There are indications that the powers
that be are going to have greater prob
lem than ever on their hands when they
come to distribute the patronage in such
a way as to satisfy in any degree at all
the claims of the various counties that
have elected Republican members. There
are in both chambers only few offices
which pay anything like desirable sal
ary, while the patriots who consider that
their invaluable services to their country
in the form of work for the Republican
party on election day is entitled TO sub
stantial recognition is legion.
Each Senator and member Of the
House believes that his county, above all
others, is entitled to the best paying plac-
es, and that doorkeepers and pages pos
itions are good enough for the other fell
low. So it requires much political fnesse
to distribute the offices in way which
will create the least friction and do the
least damage.
Last session the task was herculean
one, notwithstanding the fact that there
were sixteen doorkeepers and nine gallery
keepers in the House enough. as one
would-be wit expressed it, to guard each
window, register and ventilator in the
chamber. Even then some men who had
worked hard for the party had to be CON
tented with the committee clerkship at
$500, and some pretty large and we'll
developed youths signed receipts for the
5000 paid to the pages, and even if they
did not occupy one Of the chairs in front
Of the speakers desk once during the ses-
sion. This year, with more members
than before, the Republican leaders win
have their hands full in trying to make
the offices go around and give each one
something without increasing the places
and the cost of the session.
/ MRS. BARDEMDIk A SUICIDE