New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-26
GRTGHGS SETS NEW NOTE.
Reform IN BOTH HOUSES.
Demand to Stop Rapid Fire Reading
of important Measures.

Trenton. Dec Is (SpeciaD.-Ex-G Governor
,robn ". criggs struck another note of political
nrogress in his speech at the New-Engiand DIN
nsr. in honor Of Forefathers Day in Orange the
other night In the course of his speech MI
f,r,ggs touched upon State legislation, as ne
said:
Rarely is a bill read each of the three con-
stitutional times except by title II passes IA
aCcordance with a decision made previously
eomap-bere else / do not say the influence is
an improper one. but that influence was Ielt IN
the side rooms or on the back stairs oeIore ths
fate OF the measure was decided This metnoo
is a repression of individuality. sinking rights
into mere expression of some one else's views
or wishes
For years the habit OF rushing bills through
the three readings and putting them on hna4
passage without a quarter Of the members
knowing what they contain has been crying
evil To begin. 1t is distinct and unqualified
violation Of the constitution The men VINO
drafted the constitution had in mind the pre-
ventfon of trickery worse in the progress OF
measures on the calendar. It was intended
that there should be ample time for the COM
nrehension and discussion OF proposed leg1sla-
,ion Instead Of that it IS the custom to evade
the law from beginning to end. At the first
reading only the title is read and then the bill
is referred TO q committee (Which. by the way,
is often not the committee to which IL shouId
go) When 1t comes up for second reading, and
amendments are IN order, the clerk dashes
through it. rafting off line or two OF each
section and then skipping to the next, the
Speaker in the mean while, in almost IS rapid
3 fashion. shouting first section open to
amendment, second section. open to amend
rnent" etc. Unless a member interested is on
the constant alert he cannot tell where he wants
to offer an amendment When the last sec
ton is danced through the Speaker declares
this bill having been twice read is ordered 10
be printed and have q third reading
Actually the bill has had no reading at ALL
when the measure reaches third reading ana
is to be voted on, the most important stage or
tts record, the habit has become almost universal
for The Speaker. looking at the tntroducer, to
say: THE gentleman from such a county moves
that the rules be suspended and that the title
be taken for its third reading
This is said. and the motion declared carried
almost literally in a breath, and then the intro
Queer makes whatever statement he pieases 1or
the bill. AS Mr. Griggs says, the decision as TO
the merit OF the measure was made in one OF
the committee rooms back stair Nhether
the Ex-Governor had in mind q famous short
pair Of back stairs alongside of famous room
in one Of the old Trenton hotels does not mat
ter He struck the nail on the head as to one
of the current methods of conducting legisla-
ton.
TIME HONoRED CUSTOM MAY CEASE.
To treat bills for limited franchises. equal tax
atiOn ana Olner PUBIC InSdSuISS III lIAO O4NAAA14S
way will simply add TO the intense Indignation
now prevailing. If Samuel K Robbins is the
Speaker and wants to have some Of the present
DISTRICT eradicated. he has his chance Of COM
plving with the constitution. in part at least, by
seeing that every measure is read slowly ana
distinctly at least once in its course. There
seem to be enough charges floating around the
country about Jersey political and legislative
methods without having stress laid upon one
of the worst breaches Of parliamentary and con-
stitutional law. and if there is not a change
in the manner of passing or defeating DIS there
will be stress in plenty
Mr. crigss did not stop with this feature of
legislation He paid his respects to the leader
and the boss in a manner that Everett Colby,
who wsx in the audience must have thoroughly
enjoyed
when ? leader" said the Ex-Governor, be
comes selfish and a leader who desires not TO
lead his followers in the way he honestly thinks
they should go, but who leads them where some
one else wants them TO 60 then he becomes, not
leader. but A boss. The boss is one who is
selfish and loyal only to himself or to something
else
That is q description familiar to every reader,
and fits men whose names do not require men
ton. Mr. Griggs said the who perverted
the interests Of policyholders in his insurance
company was no more unworthy than the po-
htical leader who. having the confidence of his
fellow citizens. betrayed il.
Near the end of his speech the X-CToVernor, In
ringing words, asked for:
Publicity: no baekstair legislation no pas
sage Of bills because some has KID
them beforehand: discussion Of measures on the
floor of the House; real reasons to the public
given why measures favored or proposed
and a return of the days when legislative bodies
were debating societies and the public favored
much with for voting with elo-
quence."
, One thing was definitely determined by this
address-John W. Griggs is not member of the
State House machine.
MAY BE AN INVESTIGATION.
It is reported that investigation is to be
sought in the House Of the charges pro and con
regarding the attitude of MT. Robbins and the
Passaic delegation the Passaic sewerage bill
In other words, the question, which is Of
eeracity, to whether promises were made to
get votes for Speaker, is to be ventilated, if
persons have their way. 1t does seem though
such course was unnecessary and would be a
S-aste of time. Mr.. Robbins emphaticay denies
that he pledged himself Mr.. Marelli. leader of
the Passaic delegation, said in the presence OF
half dozen credible witnesses. that Robbins
certainly gave him to understand he would sup
port the PaSsaic contention.
Half dozen Investigations would scarcely de-
velop anything new. It is apparently a case of
you did and II didn't II is suggested by
Colby adherer that easier solution of the
problem would be this: If Robbins made the
promise. the FIVE Passaic men did right in voting
for the Burlington candidate and should stick to
him. If Robbins did not make any agreement
then the Passaic men should not have supported
him in the caucus and should vote with the
COlbyites al the organization