Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1909-04-16
By DoS
Strong Feature
Of Fight.
CLOSING HOURS

Trenton, April 16:-The great sensa,
tion Of the legislature of 1909 came at
11:30 O'Clock last night, in the house,
in a red hot fight ON the question OF
reconsideration and passage Of the sen.
ate bill providing for the election Of
county and city Committeeman at open
primaries.
The final result was a great victory
for Governor Fort, in a determined
struggle with the regular bosses, thu
bill passing by vote of 33 to a.
For little while there were wild
scenes, leading to a forceful clearing
off the floor of lobbyists, actively work.
ing against the measure; fierce charges
of bossism against Governor Fort, and
counter-c charges of boss rule from the
friends Of the bill. The bill finally
passed by voate of 33 to "a.
Assemblyman Ginnelley, Of Mercer,
who several times this week has bold
ly usurped the republican leadership
Of the house, took the lead in firing
the hottest kind OF shot at Governor
Fort, referring to him as a boss, who,
by dictation, was ruling many members
of the house, in order to force legisla.
tion.
After the question of reconsidering
this bill had been beaten earlier in the
evening, Assemblyman Colgate, of Els.
sex, with the aid of Martin, got through
a motion to reconsider the bill, the vote
being 80 to 90.
There was much parliamentary par-
rying, and during the confusion Theo-
dore Strong, the Middlesex county re-
publican leader, and others, were on the
floor of the house boldly lobbying
against the bill. Later General G. Ed.
ward Murray the Mercer county ledte =,
came into the lobby, and displayed ln.sssszs.
interest in the proceedings. JIer sts.s.-
for some time close bebipd~the desk Of
Ginnelley, prompting him in his tactics
to defeat the measure.
Suddenly, Mr.. Martin demanded that
the lobby be cleared, hitting at Strong,
who was prompting the MiddIesex men
how to vote. Speaker Prince partially
enforced the rules, and many in the lob
bies were sent to the galleries. Strong
remained, however.
The Ikotion to reconsider having been
carried, the bill was taken up for pas.
sage, and then the wild scenes were res
newed. Colgate spoke for it, and said
Governor Fort wanted it passed as q
reform bill
Mr.. Colgate declared the measure was
a good one, and should be passed.
Then Ginnelley made another break
against the bill. He claimed that coer-
oion was being used to force legislation
through. ''It is plain, (" he shouted,
that there is big boss not very far
away who wants to control this house.
He continued to fire hard rsps at the
governor, and charged him with -bs.Ssing
the wholel legislature. General Murray
still stood near the Mercer member di.
Tecting the attack.
Colonel Colgate resented the charge
Of bossism, and still stuck to the claim
that the bin was a meritorious one.
Brooks, Of Essex, made a strenuous
speech, saying he was controlled by no
one, but he was opposed to the tactics
Of the governor. Matthews, of Hunter
don, also raped the governor, claiming
the executive was interfering in the
functions of the legislature.
martin, new idea leader, struck back
at Ginnelley and Matthews eff there
is any big stick here" he said, g it is
not being welded in favor of good