Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1913-05-10
DEADLOCK ON
JURY REFORM
Legislators Spends the Day
WranqIing Between Them
selves and Do Nothing.
TRY AGAIN NEXT WEEK
Measure Favored by Wilson
Men Gets Set Back Re-
pubIicans Firm.
TRY AGAIN NEXT WEEK

Trenton, N. j., May 1O.-President
Wilson's insistence chat jury reform
bill be enacted in New Jersey brought
about condition of apparently hope
less chaos In the legislature. After
hours OF wrangiing and bitter debate
the week. each deadlocked upon the
question.
Governor Fielder, upon whose rec
ommendation the president abandoned
his trip to Passnic county, received
word from the White House that he
would be held accountable for the nc
tions of the Passaic assemblymen In
accordance with his past assurance
that they would be for jury reform.
The governor spent an hour with
three OF the recalcitrant Passaic mem
bers without avail. They admitted
having promised to be for jury reform.
but said they had learned since that
majority Of their constituents op-
posed the president bill and hence
they could not vote for H.
James r. NuEent. the lieutenant Of
former United states Senator James
Smith. Jr.. spent the day at the state
house aiding In the tight against the
BILL He was so we'll satistied with
the situation that he said he might
carry out his original plan of sailing
for Europe today. Tho advocates OF
Jury reform were chagrined nj the out
come OF the day. and the frequent
messages which we're sent to the
White House. while hopeful. were not
encouraging.
In the senate. In which there are now
ten Democrats and nine Republicans.
the division WAS purely upon party
lines. The Republicans agreed In eau
Gu. to support on.y the Read bill. They
charged that the presidents comprom-
ise bill was not a true reform. They
got admissions from the Democratic
leaders that the Read bill was prefer
able to the compromise. the Demo
Gratis pleading for the passage Of the
compromise ON the ground that the
Read blu. even if passed by the se's-
rte. would never be adopted by The
lOnse.
Governor Fielder pleaded in vain
with the Republicans not to act like a
~ Of grown up schoolboys. Senator
Nicholas replied that II President VIII
son had come to New Jersev and In
vited the Republicans TO aid him In
stead Of combining his efforts to a divid-
al Democracy he might have accom-
plished something.
Governor Fielder. sitting as q sena-
tor. offered In behalf of the Democrats
to support the Read bill II the Repub-
licans would agree In turn to vote for
the presidents bill. The appeal fell
Upon deaf ears.
Senator Austen Colgate poked fun at
the Democrats by moving to amend the
presidents bill by empowering the
president instead Of the chancellor TO
name the Jury commissioners. When
the senators found that any kind Of
question adjournment was taken until
next Tuesday.
,"he proceedings in the house were
marked by scenes Of constant confu-
sion and recrimination. Assembly men
Martin and McDermott waged sue
cessful fight against the advancement
Of the presidents bill In that branch by
seeking to substitute one of their own
measures when the bill was up on sec
ond reading.
Finally Mr.. Martin moved to with
draw his substitute, but the house
voted down the resolution. He then
moved to postpone further action upon
the substitute. and this motion was
carried. 2S TO 90. 1t apparently was
not realized by some Of the members
until after the vote had been announc-
ed that the effect OF this action was to
table both the substitute and the origi-
nal measure under consideration
The house adjourned until Monday.