Gloucester County Democrat., 1909-04-01
AN EXECUTIVE MANSION.
TFrom Jersey city Journal

mansion recalls the requests OF SIM
liar character made by Governor
Murphy few years ago and by Gov
ernor Albeit during his first term af-
ter the front of the State House burn
ed down in 1885. Governor Murphy
wanted house in which to entertain
during the winter. He hired State
street house during his term, but be-
lieved the State should own a resi-
dence and tried to buy the property
adjoining the State House grounds for
that purpose but failed
1t was the fire that caused Governor
Albeit to want a separate building for
the Governor. At that time the State
rented the old Dickinson house across
the street from the State House and
several of the departments were hous-
ed there until the State House was
rebuilt in 1889. When the States
lease neared it's end, the old building
was thought to offer proper site for
an executive mansion, but the Legis-
lature did not manifest any enthu
siacm and the matter was dropped. At
that time there were quite a number
of men in public life who could re-
member the States half century of
experience in owning an executive
mansion and their "reminiscences may
have had something to do with the
disappearance of the proposition.
The State bought a brick mansion
on Market street, now State street, for
Richard Howell, who was Governor
from 1898 to 1901. At that time the
Governor was elected in joint meeting
for one year. Howell got 25 votes
while the remaining % votes were
divided between Frelinghuysen and
Rutherford. Howell was reelected
each year until 1901, when Joseph
Bloomfield was elected. The execu-
tive mansion was known officially as
the government house. 1t was large
square brick building standing in a
garden and had small brick Office adj
joining, and the place was kept up
by Governor Bloomfield. He was re-
elected Governor until 1872 when he
was commissioned as brigadier-gen-
eral in the army intended for the in
vasion of Canada.
William S. Pennington was the next
Governor, serving from 1912 to 1915
He lived with his family in the govern
ment house and was the last Governor
who did SO.
For long time after 1916 the Gov
ernors rented the house to men who
kept boarders and, retaining a suite
of rooms, boarded with the tenants
Latterly it was not occupied by the
Governor, but he leased it and took
the rent as part of his perquisites.
The last Governor who had rooms in
it was Daniel Haines,. who was Cover
nor from 1843 to 1874. He was a
temperance man and caused quite a
sensation by refusing to serve wine or
liquor at his inauguration entertain
ment. He was interested in what at
that time was known as the Washing
ton movement and was the first Gov
ernor who had refused to have wine
at the inaugural banquet.
The Governors salary in the early
part of the last century was only
81 900 with a few fees, which came
mainly through his ex-officio position
as Chancellor. The rent of the gov
ernment house was thought to be a
considerable addition to his compensa-
tion. The Legislature complained
every time a bill for repairs or furni-
ture was presented and the governors
would not maintain either residence
or repairs. Finally, in 1845 the Leg
islature decided to sell the property.
Then the profits arising from the
building were computed at $500. This
sum was added to the Governors sal
ary at the session of 1S45.
When the new Constitution became
operative in 1S45, the Office of Gov
ernor and Chancellor were separated
and Governor Haines refused a nom
ination under the Constitution and
Charles Stratton was elected Cover
nor, the first Constitutional Governor
elected by the people. The Democrats
did not relish Whig Governor and
they induced Governor Haines to run
again. He was elected and served
from 1S4S to 1851. He became very
well known in Jersey City a score of
years later as chairman of the commits
sion to adjust assessments.
During Governor Stratton's term
the property known as the government
house was sold and an addition was
built in its front and it was opened as
hotel under the name of the State
Street House. 1t is still used as ho-.
tel, and is known as the Hotel Ster-
ling. Chancery Lane occupies the
site of the little brick Office and part
of the original site is occupied by a
trust company's banking vault.
The Governors salary has been in
creased several times since the days
when $500 was added to compensate
him for the loss of income caused by
selling the Governors residence. In
1862 it was increased to $4,000 and in
1872 it was raised to $4,000. In 1890
it was increased to $4,000, the pres
ent figure
If the State decides to build Gov
ernor's mansion it will not be in a
class by itself for Florida, Tennessee,
Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Ken
lucky, Louisiana, Texas, North Dako-
ta, Washington, California, West Vir-
ginia, Illinois, South Carolina, North
Carolina, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Miss
ouri, Georgia. New York, and Mary
land each own executive mansions
Each of them make annual appropria-
tions for furnishing service and re-
pairs. The allowances vary, but sub
stantially each provides the necessary