The Jersey City news., 1906-04-05
In Spite ofGovsrnor Stokes's
Support the Project Of
Drawing New Assembly
Lines Falls Through
MARTINS QUEER ADVOCACY
COLBY LEADER WHO, FAVORED
THE BILL MAKES THE SPEECH
WHICH PRACTICALLY KILLS IT
RURAL MEMBERS ON THE
RAMPAGE
Special 70 ..rhss Jersey city News,

(Speciai 10 tIhe1 jersey Nfty NEWS
TRENTON, April 5, 1906.-Notwith-
standing that Governor Stokes in his
Hast annual message advised the Legis-
lature to adopt a lew re establishing As
sembly District lines in counties, with
view of having the Court of Errors and
Appeals render a decision as to its con-
stitutionality, the Governors suggestion
wcs brushed aside by the majority in the
, House yesterday, when the Assembly re-
d;stricting bill was. taken up for final
passage The administration men from
the rural counties broke away from the
leadership of Randolph Perkins. the ma
jority leader. and refused to be led to
the slaughter toy for the bill, even
if the Governors did recommend it.
The Assembly re-ddstrictingA bill was
beaten by vote of 20 to .26. Assem-
blyInan Martin, the Colby leader, who,
almost up to the last moment. apparent
! ly favored the measure, was practically
responsible for its defeat. He made a
stirring speech, in which he said that
while the bill was a slap in the face of
i the progressive Republicans of Essex
| County. he should support the measure
because he believed it was step toward
| the ultimate election of state Senators
| by districts. This statement aroused the
South Jersey'A members. who saw the
i ghost of Senatorial election by Represen-
tatiyes looming up, so they turned in and
voted in the opposition.
Mr.. Miller, of Cumberland. said he was
opposed to the bill because it was for the
benefit of the Republican faction in Es-
sex and Hudson and for James Smith,
Jr.. the Democratic leader.
Messrs. Drake, Vanderyeer, Marelli,
Hicks and Elvins also spoke against the
bill. After the vote had been taken and
the bill lost, motion to reconsider was
tabled. Later on an attempt was made
to kill the bill for good.
Mr.. Miller moved to reccasider the
vote, and Cruthers moved to lay the mo-
tion ON the table Then some time af-
terward Marelli moved to take the mo-
| ton TO reconsider from the table. Lead
er Perkins was on his feet and tried to
| dissuade Marelli from pressing his point.
While this talk was in progress Perkins
suddenly changed his tactics and moved
to take recess.
There was an uproar and the members
gathered in groups ON the floor until the
] Speaker raped vigorously for order. The
roll was called ON the motion to take a
recess, and it was carried by vote Of
i 20 to II. The negative votes on the bill
We're cast by Berg, Cottel, Coyle, Drake
Elvins, Firth. Gibbs. Hook. Henry
Hoagland. Holcombe. Hunt, Frick. Kay
ser, Mabie, Mareli. Miller, Morris. Per
kins, Prince, Reed. Robbins, Roeber
Scribe. Van Derveer and Wright.
Perkins changed his vote TO the neg
atiye in order to reconsider.
The leadefs are disturbed and appar
entity indignant over the result. They
seem to think Martin was responsible
and talk of having caucus called no
only to arrange for the reconsideration Of
the bill, but also to get even with thu
Essex leader by rss DING the origina
lines in Essex prepared by Major Lent
and his county committee.
Leader Perkins stated after the sess- OF
that the stand taken by Mr.. Martin il
opposing the bill was so inexplieable tina
he scarcely believed his ears when HI
heard him. He said that when the bill
was discussed by the judiciary Commit
i tee, Martin was one of its principal ad
vocates. and fine Assembly lines for Es
sex County, which he recommended. wa'
inserted in the bill as compliment /,
the Colbyites,
Mr.. Perkins said that Governor Stokes
would probably take hand in the fgh
before next Monday evening, when an
other effort would be made to pass III,
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