New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-20
SETBACK FOR WILSON
Jersey House TaCkS Referen-
dunn Clause to Jury Bill.
VOTE STANDS 27 TO rs
Presidents Efforts to Have
Measure Passed in It's
Original Form Fail.


Wilson has suffered a severe setback at
the hands Of the New Jersey Legislature.
Despite his urgent kilograms during the
last few days pleading with the l,egis-
lature To pass a purified jury reform bill.
the House adopted to-day the Davis
measure with the emasculating Martin
referendum amendment.
The President Will now find II necessary
TO take more drastic action. Jury reform
seems 10 he GaspuG for breath. and UNI
less strong methods are brought into play
within the next few DAYS Il is likely that
the session OF the Legislature will com"
10 an end with no Jury reform bill passed,
with the Democratic campaign pledges
unkept and with the words ~ President
Wilson UNDECIDED. The situation is Try
ing one. The President H. facing his first
severe defeat I'm New Jersey
The Senate passed the Davis bill yes
tcrday without amendment. II provides
Tor the naming of jury commissioners by
the Governor. the law 20 apply To all
counties The bill came nap FOR final
passage I'm the House this afternoon. and
Mr.. Martin. the Hdrot anii-Wilson man
from Hudson. Immediately offered his
emasculatiue amendment designed 10
give the shcrims and those go control 300
the counties another chance 10 prevent
their loss of power
The amendment differs somewhat from
III, first amendment 20 the original /.s-
gen bill This amendment provided for "a
- per cent vote in favor II the propo-
sitlou al IN. regular election. but to-day
amendment makes Il necessary for the
Jury reform Law TO be approved b. ma
iorltv vote. which. however. must reach
10 per cent of the total vote. After a
warm debate. lu which Tho name of frcs.-
dent wilson played a prominent part. On"
amendment Was adopted by Voi" oI 80
,o % Then ih. amended Davis oil was
PASSED by vote of q 10 l2
Martin has been successful President
Wilson. Governor Fielder and Mayor OTTO
Wittpenn. the three most potent political
forces i'm the state. were arraycd against
Martin In to-days battle, bat the ltte
ttudsou man came OIL a victor. Mariin
GAYS the people ought 10 pass on thc !uI!
r.forr scheme and he Is fighting com
nuIsorv law at every step. President WI
- n.xt move IL awaited with interest.
IIe has threatened dire things unless th'
LEGISLATURE passed the purln'd blIl' ana
,,e ycires between Trenton ana Nashlhg
,"n u,,l no doubt be warm for some time
10 come. "A.
.rh. Governor has been able to inhu-
once most OF those interested nut h"'
N,rtin Mayor Wittpcnn came out nat
,oo,od I'm favor of the Davis hiH to-u"s
t. 20
~, r.,,ti.d To President wilson lh'SS"s'
as follows: unite
..ro the Hon. Woodrow wilson WHITE
House. Washington. ID. c.
81 agree with you and will do what
oar for the Davis bill. My demand for an
honest referendum on the jury bill was III
accord with your last declaration on 'he
.,h,oc, am. however. committed To
d., reform and will aid In the passage
., the bill without "A referendum nave
ca,ored tho Z,sgen bill from the begin
ming. believing only that IL shou'u HUI ~
adopted where not wohteu'
NV posItlon ON this measure mas al
NAYS been clear. and. with you, nave
only sought the fullest measure oil nome
nj. Senator Fieldcr's effort 10 direct the
-, cor iury reform has caused coniu-
s,or until your telegram was recelN'u' Io'
ia. reason that he publicly accepted the
,erniclous Martin referendum ana S'''eu
,ha, no eypected to sign such measure.
~. a.. other hand, my position was IN
. r bonost referendum and alb
',,, onnosed TO the Martin referen-
DUN" -,
The beginning of the end OF inc ADMIN
istration constitutional convention DiIi' III
,,oduced in the House by Assemoiymhh
Uenncssy. OF Bergen, came 'his hi'ei-
moon when II was passed by 'he HOUSE,
con, an 10 the Senate. where It's
nronpt slaughter IL conlideh''y e"p'''e'
There WAS little or no roubie ehcouh'ercu
NO the hill I'm the House, the vote TOT US
adon,iop having been ~ to H. The rep
.on,.tves of all the small South Jersey
.o,r,,es were lined solidly against IL.
.,,,,,.r,an Richards led the opposition.
u,rom The Tribune Bureau.l
u,sb,roton. March Sword was re-
oo,rod at the White House to-day that
a.. t,rv reform bill had passed the New
Jersey Assembly with "a mucn i'lI"e'
amendment than originally pfopose"' i"''
aid not meet with tn' aPP'o'"'
president who is as vigorous as ever IN
his demand for the original DILL WITHOUT
any kind of an amendment.
Mayor II. otto Wittpenn took the fresi-
dents telegram yesterday very much TO
heart. and climbed into tne pan'
wacon' in great haste. He told Mr. Will
con all about it this afternoon In mes-
saue which was received at the Nnite
House. ,
The votes of the Wittpenn men in the
Assembly this afternoon showed mat ne
rad delivered the goods" but ne must
holm a little more. for the President VIII
not approve any kind of referendum at
tached to the measure.
In 10 date Governor Fielder seems to
have the upper hand in the opera bouhe
war for tho Presidents support as the
Democratic nominee for Governor. Hav-
ing got Wttpcnn I'm line for the original
hill. n is believed Mr.. Fielder VIII he able
eventually to jam 1t through the House.