USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > History of Trenton, New Jersey : the record of its early settlement and corporate progress. > Part 49
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There were stirring scenes in the State House in 1861. January 29th, a joint resolution, waited for with anxiety by other States, was adopted. It declared that it was a public duty to stand by the Union, yet favored conciliatory measures with the South. Not long afterward $2,500,000 was provided for the widows of New Jersey soldiers. Six dollars a month was voted the family of each soldier who applied for the aid, and $4 a month extra pay was voted for the soldiers themselves. Not long after the Legislature of 1861 adjourned an extra session was called and a State loan of $2,000,000 was made.
In 1862 the Legislature set aside $500,000 for uses of war, and so great was the enthusiasm which followed that when the President, July 7th, asked New Jersey for five regiments, more than 10,000 men volunteered their services, and a draft which had been ordered was not enforced. In 1863 the Legislature spent another $500,000 for carrying on the war. There were no frivolities and little useless legislation in either Senate or Assembly that year. Nearly every day brought news of victory or defeat, and of wounds and death in battle, but the lawmakers methodically continued their labor, and some of the soundest laws on the statute-books were enacted during that session.
In 1864 the State wanted money and people wanted her water-front. It was then that the law for a survey of the coast-line was enacted by the Legislature, and a bill enabling the State to lease and sell riparian rights also was passed. Money began to flow into the treasury and the next year the Home for Soldiers' Children was established in Trenton. That institution did noble work until passing years found the children of the war young men and women. In 1866, the men who had fought and suffered in the army were back again, many maimed and sick, and without an objection the Soldiers' Home near Newark was established by legislative enactment.
With the closing of the war the thoughts of the lawmakers again turned toward education, and in 1866 the State Board of Education was created. A law by which sectarian support of schools was abandoned also was enacted that year. One of the important features of the Legislature of 1868 was the withdrawal of the State's ratification of the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States. By this time the value of citizen soldiery had been impressed on every mind, and in 1869 the National Guard law was passed. It provided that the State should not maintain more than sixty companies of infantry, but a few years later the provisions of the law were modified.
It was in 1869, after forty years of monopoly, that the Camden and Amboy Railroad Company and the Delaware and Raritan Canal Company surrendered their reserved rights, and the right of way across New Jersey was again under State control. In 1870 the Legislature declined to ratify the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution. A year later, after a hard struggle on the part of the friends of education, the Legislature passed a law making all the public schools of the State free from tuition, and that same year the famous lease of the united railroads and canals to the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company for 999 years was made. In 1872 the Legislature voted $120,000 for improving the State House, and decided that the money received from the leasing of riparian rights should be turned over to the School Fund for the further advancement of the public school system.
Other changes in the State Constitution were urged in 1872, and the next year the Legislature appointed a commission to prepare amendments for the consideration of the people. These amend- ments were ratified in 1875. The Legislature of 1873 also passed the General Railroad law, by which exclusive rights no longer could be extended. This legislation was enacted only after a fierce battle, led by capable generals who were loyally supported.
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In 1874 the Legislature decided to aid Philadelphia in making the Centennial Exposition a success, and the purchase of 10,000 shares of the exposition stock, at $10 a share, was ordered. The money was paid and the certificate was delivered. The parchment, now well along toward a quarter of a century old, is yet in the Treasurer's vault. It is one of the few assets upon which the State cannot realize at least its par value. The stock, however, was not bought for specu- lation, but to keep New Jersey in line among the progressive States of the Union. The legislation did not stop with the stock-buying, for during the next two years more money was appropriated. New Jersey's contributions to the Centennial Exposition, not including the gifts of her individual citizens, aggregated $124,000, a sum larger than any other State, except Pennsylvania, contributed to the enterprise.
The law compelling children to attend school was the work of the Legislature of 1874. It has had much to do with bringing the State's reputation in educational matters up to a standard equaled by few other States. The Legislature of 1877 remained in session longer than usual because of the great amount of work the changing of the Constitution necessitated. Salaries of many officials were reduced, and May 30th was declared a legal holiday. Before that time Decora- tion day was selected to suit the convenience of the people in the different sections of the State. The railroad riots in Eastern Pennsylvania in 1877 left a bill of $55,000 for the next Legislature to provide for, as New Jersey, by calling upon her militia, had been an important factor in quelling the at one time very alarming disturbance.
In 1878, the Legislature, realizing that the State was prosperous, reduced taxes and cut the rate of interest from seven to six per cent. Such legislation, besides being popular, was looked upon with wonder by many other States, where taxes, which began to increase at the close of the war, were yet slowly moving upward. In 1878, other important legislation included the passage of the law prohibiting bribery in the election of delegates to political conventions. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics was established that year. In 1879, after listening to many appeals from honest labor, the Legislature abolished shoemaking in the State Prison. The law permitting the election of women as school trustees was enacted in 1882, and, in 1883, the State Charities' Aid Society was created.
Included in the important legislative enactments of 1884 were those prohibiting contract labor in the State Prison ; partially exempting soldiers from taxation ; creating the State Board of Agri- culture ; limiting the debt of any city to $13,000,000, and preventing cities from expending a larger sum annually than ninety per cent. of their tax levy. The Legislature of 1885 passed the bill creating the School for Deaf-Mutes. When first proposed, such an institution was strongly opposed. It now ranks first among the institutions of the State in point of effective service and economical management. The Legislature of 1886 appropriated $225,000 for rebuilding the State House, which had been destroyed by fire. The same year the Assembly impeached Patrick H. Laverty for mismanagement of the State Prison, of which he was Principal Keeper. After a hard fight the Senate adjudged him guilty, and he was removed from office. Laverty was a Democrat and the Legislature was Republican. The proceedings were marked by strictly party votes until the question of guilt or innocence was to be decided, and then one Democratic Senator, George O. Vanderbilt, of Mercer, left his party and voted with the Republicans.
In 1887 Governor Leon Abbett's cherished hope of being elected to the United States Senate was blasted after a contest lasting two months, during which fifteen ballots were taken. Abbett, whose brilliancy as a political leader had made him the idol of the great majority of his party, after long and careful planning, seemed certain of success until shortly before the first ballot. A small but influential wing of the Democratic party opposed him, and the outcome was the election of a third candidate, Senator Rufus Blodgett, of Monmouth. The Republican candidate was General William J. Sewell, of Camden, who four years later was successful. It was the Legislature of 1887 which made Labor day a legal holiday, and leased the tract of land, afterwards purchased by the State, for a camp-ground for the National Guard.
The Legislature of 1888, among other perplexing questions, had that of local option to deal with. The enemies of the liquor traffic had a narrow majority in both branches of the Legislature, which was Republican, and a local option and high license bill was passed, after stubborn resistance on the part of a large majority of the people of the State. Governor Green, a Democrat, vetoed the bill, but it was again forced through the Legislature and became a law. The local option question
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was carried into the next campaign and the result was disastrous to the Republicans. The Demo- crats, who had majorities in both Senate and Assembly, at once repealed the Local Option law. Since then its re-enactment has been urged almost yearly, but with only faint-hearted support.
The Legislature of 1890 was a busy one. There had long been a demand for a change in the manner of holding elections, and it was this Legislature which enacted the Werts Election law. It was named in honor of the Senator who was most prominent in its construction, George T. Werts, who three years later was elected Governor of the State. This Legislature also raised the salary of the Governor from $5,000 to $10,000. The next year the State Board of Taxation was created ; Saturday half-holidays were provided for and the era of good roads was practically begun. The law extending State aid to counties which substantially improve their highways also was one of the laws of 1891.
In 1892 the Inheritance Tax law, by which the State has materially increased its revenue, was passed ; the office of Superintendent of the School Census was created ; fifty-five hours were declared to be a full week for workmen; the already liberal contributions of the State to the Columbian Exposition, in Chicago, were extended by an appropriation of $50,000, and the leases of the New Jersey Central and Reading Railroad Companies were legalized. The measure bringing about the last-named result was known as the Coal Combine bill, and there were exciting times in the State House while it was pending.
The famous bills legalizing horse racing in New Jersey were passed by the Legislature of 1893, in the face of great opposition. Probably so many petitions urging the defeat of one class of bills never before were presented to a body of lawmakers, who had already determined as to the course they intended to pursue. George T. Werts was in the Governor's chair, and when the racing bills came to him he vetoed them. Then another stiff but short fight followed, and the result was the passage of the bills over the Governor's veto. It was this Legislature which enacted the law mak- ing Sunday sales of newspapers, milk and other commodities legal.
The session of 1894 probably was the most sensational in the history of New Jersey. Both Houses met January 9th, and both the Republicans and Democrats claimed a majority in the Senate. The next day Governor Werts recognized the Democratic body and a riot, with serious con- sequences, seemed imminent. The Republicans finally broke open the doors, behind which the Democrats were barricaded, and after taking possession of the Senate, placed Senator Maurice A. Rogers, of Camden, in the President's chair. March 21st the Supreme Court declared that the Republican Senate was legally organized, Leon Abbett, who, after serving two terms as Governor, had been appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court, dissenting from the opinion. March 27th the Legislature repealed the race-track laws, and in the meanwhile fourteen laws repealed by the Democrats were re-enacted.
Other features of the session of 1894 included the passage of the law appropriating from the School Fund a sum sufficient to provide an American flag for every public school in the State. The laws providing for free text-books in the public schools, and that no religious services should be held in the schools except Bible reading and the reciting of the Lord's Prayer, were enacted the same year. A law suppressing gambling and lotteries also was added to the statute-books by the same Legislature. This was the longest session ever held by a New Jersey Legislature, final adjournment not being effected until October 2d. There was a recess, however, from May 26th until that time.
The Legislature of 1895 was another epoch in the State's history the like of which was never seen before. January 28th, the anti-gambling amendment to the Constitution was adopted after a long and persistently-fought battle. March 22d, a recess was taken until June 4th, when both Houses re-assembled, and remained in session until June 13th. This Legislature appointed the investigating committee which unearthed extravagance and alleged dishonesty on the part of various State officials. The result of the investigation was the indictment of sixteen office-holders and contractors, who were charged, among other things, with having obtained large sums from the State for services they had not rendered in connection with the rebuilding of the State House. Long trials, in which sensational developments were made, followed, but no one was severely punished.
January 23d, 1895, the Legislature elected General William J. Sewell to the United States Senate to succeed John R. McPherson. The Senate that year contained sixteen Republicans and five Democrats, and in the Assembly there were fifty-four Republicans and six Democrats.
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General Sewell had already served in the United States Senate from 1881 to 1887, and had served three terms in the State Senate, from 1873 to 1881. But three other men ever enjoyed the latter distinction. Congressman John J. Gardner represented Atlantic county in the New Jersey Senate from 1877 to 1892, five consecutive terms ; Benjamin Buckley, of Passaic county, was a Senator from 1859 to 1868, and George T. Cramner, now Clerk of the United States District Court, was the Senator from Ocean county for the three terms beginning in 1884 and ending in 1893.
In the fall of 1895 John W. Griggs, who was a Senator from Passaic county from 1883 to 1889, was elected Governor by a plurality of 26,900 votes. His opponent was Alexander T. McGill, of Hudson county, Chancellor of the State.
The Legislature of 1896 was a very active body, and it created many good laws. Governor Griggs was inaugurated January 21st with elaborate ceremonies, and his inaugural address was favorably received by both political parties. He promised reform in government and to cast parti- sanship aside when public welfare demanded such a stand.
The Legislature of 1896 gave road building considerable attention and provided liberally for such improvements. A notable feature in this connection was a visit to the Legislature in February of a large number of distinguished Virginians who had journeyed north to inspect the fine stone roads for which New Jersey then was becoming famous.
This Legislature adopted the proposed amendment to the Constitution providing for biennial sessions, which failed to meet the approval of the next Legislature, and therefore was not submitted to the people in 1897. Notable legislation of 1896 included the creation of the Teachers' Retire- ment Fund, from which school teachers may be pensioned after serving a certain period in the State ; the name of Princeton College was changed to Princeton University ; a bill for the preservation of the Palisades of the Hudson was passed ; money sufficient to stock the waters of the State with nearly fifty million trout, shad and other fish was provided for the Fish and Game Commissioners ; and a law was passed compelling owners of mines and factories to pay their employes every two weeks.
In 1897, following the election of Mckinley and Hobart as President and Vice President of the United States, the Legislature consisted almost solely of Republicans. The tariff and money issues and the great popularity of Hobart, a Jerseyman, gave the Presidential ticket the year before a plurality of 87,692, and but three Democrats were Senators and but four were Assemblymen during the session which began January 12th and ended March 31st. The three Democratic Senators were William D. Daly, of Hudson county, who was first elected in 1892 ; Isaac Barber, of Warren county, elected in 1896, and Richard Kuhl, of Hunterdon county, elected in 1894. The four Democratic Assemblymen were David Lawshe and George F. Martens, Jr., of Hunterdon county, and Alfred Leida Flummerfelt and William K. Bowers, of Warren county.
Bills known as Equal Taxation measures, providing for the taxing of railroad property by the municipalities in which the property is located, were liberally discussed during the session of 1897, as they had been in 1896, when John Wahl Queen, the Democratic leader, made the subject of such legis- lation a special feature of that session. Equal taxation advocates lost again, as they had been losing every few years since 1848. Then Joel Parker, afterwards Governor, was the equal taxation champion in the Assembly, but the opponents of the proposition outvoted its friends. Francis B. Chetwood, of Elizabeth, then in Essex county, was the leader with whom Mr. Parker crossed swords. Track elevation was another discussion continued vigorously from 1896 into the session of the next year.
The Legislature of 1897 pruned down official salaries to a great extent, and in that year, when George Wurts, of Paterson, was confirmed as Secretary of State, and William Riker, Jr., of Newark, became Clerk of the Supreme Court, they found the offices on salaries of $6,000 a year. Until that time the incumbents of these offices, and the Clerk of the Court of Chancery received no salaries, but fees, which in each instance ran into fortunes every year.
The Legislature of 1898 was, in many respects, one of unusual merit. Democrats were more in evidence than they were the year before, and party lines on many important measures were not sharply drawn. In both Senate and Assembly each side had able speakers, and parrying for points which could be used advantageously in the fall of 1898, when a United States Senator, to succeed James Smith, Jr., a Democrat, was to be elected, was common.
In the elections of 1897 the Democrats made great gains, and the Legislature was divided as follows : Senate, 14 Republicans and 7 Democrats ; Assembly, 3. Republicans and 23 Democrats- a gain of four Senators and nineteen Assemblymen for the minority over the preceding session.
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Although it was generally understood long before the organization of the Legislature that Gov- ernor Griggs would become a member of President Mckinley's Cabinet, there was practically no opposition to Foster M. Voorhees, of Union county, as President of the Senate. The fight for the Speakership was waged from election day until a short time before the caucus by David O. Watkins, of Gloucester county, and George W. W. Porter, of Essex. It was decided in favor of Watkins, without leaving strained relations between the two candidates, and throughout the session they worked in harmony with each other.
The leader of the Senate was W. M. Johnson, of Bergen, a capable and tireless legislator, who, although strong in his efforts to advance the interests of the Republican party, did not hesitate to step over the line when he believed representatives of that party at fault. Henry W. Gledhill, of Passaic county, was the Republican leader in the Assembly, and, although an unswerving party man, he was popular with the minority. The Democratic leaders were Senator Daly and Assem- blyman Horace L. Allen, of Hudson county, whose arguments on more than one occasion turned the tide of battle when public policy seemed to be at stake.
Almost the first duty of the Senate was to elect a President pro. tem., the resignation of Gover- nor Griggs, who was to become Attorney-General of the United States, having elevated Foster M. Voorhees, as President of the Senate, into the gubernatorial chair. With great unanimity the other Senators selected as their emergency presiding officer, Senator William H. Skirm, of Mercer, who during his two terms in the Senate, had occupied a prominent position among the leaders. That the selection was well advised was demonstrated by the splendid record Senator Skirm made for himself as the presiding officer. He ruled sternly but fairly, and while wielding the gavel lost none of his great popularity even with the Senators in the minority.
The resignation of Governor Griggs was sent to the Senate January 31st, and went into effect the same day. His stepping down from the highest position within the gift of the people of his native State was entirely informal. Although he was to accept a position such as has been the good fortune of few Jerseymen to fill, he left the governorship reluctantly and with deep regrets. After sending his resignation to the Senate he formally said good-bye to the clerks in the executive department, and from that time until the close of the session did not visit Trenton.
The first bills passed by the Legislature of 1898 were those providing for the induction of Acting-Governor Voorhees into office. They prescribed the form of title and the manner of admin- istering the oath. February 1st, in the presence of the Senators and Assemblymen, during a joint meeting in the House of Assembly, Senator Voorhees was formally declared Acting-Governor of New Jersey. The oath was administered by Chief Justice William J. Magie. In accepting the honor, Senator Voorhees delivered a short address, full of sincerity and devoid of glittering promi- ses. An informal reception in the Governor's room followed, and an hour later the Acting-Gov- ernor had taken up the work where the Governor left it.
Throughout the session of the Legislature Acting-Governor Voorhees and the members of both Houses worked in harmony. The rule set down by Governor Griggs that useless laws should not be added to the already overburdened statute-books was preserved by his successor, and no bill received his signature until he was well satisfied that the measure possessed merit. The session had not far advanced when the Acting-Governor announced that it was against his policy to have cities issue bonds for money to pay for public improvements, when the city already had been bonded to an extent greater than ten per cent. of its ratables. This was the only dictatorial position taken by the Acting-Governor, and as it was a step toward insuring an economical expenditure of public money it was received by the lawmakers favorably.
Before resigning from office Governor Griggs sent to the Senate nominations for nearly all of the positions to become vacant during the year. Among the few left for his successor, however, were those in which labor was directly interested. The selection of men to fill these offices, although at first apparently an easy task, proved difficult. One of the places to be filled was that of Chief of the Bureau of Statistics of Labor and Industries, with a salary of $2,500 a year and a term of five years. One of the earliest candidates was Samuel D. Hoffman, of Atlantic county, whose term as a Senator expired when the Legislature adjourned ; the next man to enter the fight was William S. Sharp, historian, of Trenton, who was indorsed by nearly every prominent Repub- lican in the State ; the third was former Senator Isaac T. Nicholls, of Cumberland county ; then Colonel Benjamin A. Lee, one of the Acting-Governor's fellow-townsmen, brought great pressure to
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bear for the appointment. These candidates were followed by others, behind whom were the labor organizations of the State, and the task, at first regarded as easy, required very careful treatment if the personal popularity of the Acting-Governor was to be retained. After delaying his decision until the closing days of the Senate he nominated William Stainsby, of Newark, and at the same time naming as members of the State Board of Arbitration, James O. Smith, of Camden ; James Martin, of Hudson ; John W. Dent, of Somerset ; William M. Doughty, of Cumberland, and Jacob Van Hook, of Bergen.
With these appointments all that directly interested the labor element were disposed of except six factory and workshop deputy inspectors, whose nominations do not require confirmation by the Senate. These positions the Acting-Governor decided not to fill until later in the year.
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