, 1906-01-03
JERSEY LEGISLATURE
One Hundred and Thirtieth Ses-
sion to Open Bouquetless.
COLBY CYNOSURE OF THE STATE
Too Few Democrats at Trenton to
Form a Fighting Majority, Leaving
the Issue Between the Administra-
tion and the Essex County Leader,
Some interesting Statistics.

tion and the Essex County Leader.
Some interesting Statistics.
Especial Correspondence
Trenton, Jan. 3.-"Please omit flow
ers" is the request which has gone
forth from the New Jersey state sell
ators to their constituents and friends,
but this does not mean that the open
ing day or any day of the one hundred
and thirtieth session of the Legislature,
which opens next Tuesday, will be at
all funereal i'll aspect. On the con-
trary, it is expected that the coming
session will be the l~iveliest that New
Jersey has seen IN many years. 1t will
not be a question this year of Demo-
Gratis and Republicans-the Democrats
are too few in numbers to make much
of Il showing-but the whole issue will
be administration versus Colby" The
Colbyites, as those Republican mem
bers are called who favor equal tax
alton and limited franchise without
compromise, will form the minority,
while the administration forces, which
are more conservative on these mat
ters, ~favoring them to a certain de-
gree, will constitute the majority. The
Democrats may cast their fortunes
with the Colby men, but even this will
not give a majority. The terms Sol
Byte and "anti-C olbyite' will be
heard with great frequency this SEES
sion.
Several of the counties are commit
ted without reservation to Colby's prin-
ciples. and it will be interesting to see
whether the representatives from these
counties, who are now lined up with
the administration forces, will be able
to remain in line should the Colby
principles be assailed in the legisla-
ture. However, such a situation is
scarcely anticipated, for the admins
tration, it is believed, will be shrewd
enough not to step too heavily on Mr..
Colby's toes, thereby probably turning
a wavering sentiment in his favor.
State Treasurer Frank o. Briggs, chair
man of the state Republican commit
tee. has declared in no uncertain terms
that the Republican party-meaning the
administration forces-doeS not oppose
equal taxation and limited franchises.
Just to what extent this declaration
will be made good remains to be seen.
House Committees.
Assemblyman Samuel x. Robbins OF
Burlington. who will be the next speak
er of the house, is at present engaged
in making up his committees, which he
will announce after the session opens
next Tuesday afternoon. Much inter
est centers on the question of the treat
ment that will be accorded to the Col
by men by Mr.. Robbins. The views as
to how they should be treated differ
considerably. Some suggest that Mr.,
Robbins in making up his committee
should take into consideration the
counties these men represent rather
than the men themselves, while Others
think thai they should be regarde,
strictly in the light of boilers am!
should be treated accordingly. Mr.
Robbins up to the present writing ha+
declined to give any mixing as to what
he is likely TO do.
On account of the taxation and fran
chise questions as we'll as the Morris
canal abandonment bill, which will ap-
pear again in reconstructed form early
in the session. and a mass of other i'm
portant legislation which Is anticipat-
ed. this session is likely to be %prolonged
beyond the usual time for sine die al.
iournment. 1t is commended, however
that the session need not extend more
than a couple of weeks into April if the
legislators start in to do business III
once and not daily along until the clos
ing weeks of the session, as has been
the custom. The session will be warm
from the start, it is expected, and the
Colby men will keep things moving ii
they can.
As to Capital Punishment.
1t is certain that soon after the open
ing of the session some sort of legis-
lation will be attempted regarding tie
death penalty in New Jersey. The al
legged brutal failure to promptly hang
Murderer Tapeley in Hudson county a
few days ago and the desire to prevent
the infection of capital punishment up
on Anna Valentino and Antoinette Toll
la, two women murderers now confined
in the Hackensack Jail awaiting the
rope to end their existence, have appar-
emily aroused considerable feeling all
over the state. Two propositions have
been made regarding the death penalty,
and both will probably be put before
the legislature. One is the idea of Sen
ator Wakelee of Bergen county to sub
stitute electricity for the rope as a more
humane method of death; the Other