New York Tribune

WORK OF THE NEW-JERSEY LEGISLATURE.

COMPOSITION OF THE TWO HOUSES—MATTERS OF INTEREST TO BE ACTED UPON.

FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.

Trenton, N. J., Dec. 10.—The next New-Jersey Legislature will have peculiar work to do under rather remarkable circumstances. The Senate has a sure and trustworthy Republican majority of five in a body of twenty-one members. The Assembly is "neither fish, flesh nor fowl, nor good red herring." It includes twenty-nine regular Republicans, twenty-nine regular Democrats, one "anti-Monopoly Republican," and one "Independent Democrat." By a recount of the votes in the IIId Mercer County District, William J. Convery (Dem.), is given the certificate instead of William Ossenberg (Rep.), thus depriving the Republicans of the majority they would have had with the aid of the anti-Monopoly member. Mr. Thomas Cator, of Hudson County. The result of this indefinite condition of affairs will probably be a division of the offices and a session devoid of partisan features. The two independent members will probably vote according to their former party affiliations, which would make the House a tie. In the division of the offices one party will be likely to receive the Speakership and the other the several clerkships. There are six who will be named for Speaker by their friends: Messrs. Herr, of Burlington County; Lawrence, of Hudson; Parrott, of Union, Republicans; and Messrs. Van Cleef, of Middlesex; Duan, of Union, and Bell, of Monmouth, Democrats. The present programme is for a meeting of the two parties in separate caucuses, the appointment of conference committees, an agreement by the joint committee as to the division of the offices, and, when the report is adopted, the unanimous election of the officers nominated by the caucuses under the committee agreement. Opinions differ as to the preferences of the Republicans for Speaker and the clerkships, and meantime the efforts of the several candidates in both parties are paralyzed by the general uncertainty. While the independent members hold the balance of power, there is no disposition in either party to sacrifice much to their preferences. The political effects of a really non-partisan Assembly this winter will not be serious. Democrats will be compelled to share the responsibility of legislation, and party criticism will therefore be held aloof on both sides. The single measure of political interest is the redistricting of the State for Members of Congress. As the apportionment remains the same, there will be no harm done if this matter is postponed, and in any case a Republican Senate will see that the majority party does not suffer.

The recount of ballots which will seat Mr. Convery in Mercer County, although the Republican candidate had been declared elected by twenty majority, and the recount of the ballots for Senator in Essex County, where Mr. Stainsby, Republican, retains his certificate, have attracted much attention and caused wide comment throughout the State, not merely because the political interests involved were considerable, but as showing the inaccuracy of election returns as made by the regular officers. In Essex County there were 27,000 votes cast for Senator, and in the recount over 100 errors were detected. Fortunately the changes were not exclusively in favor of either candidate, and so Mr. Stainsby retains his seat after a week of anxiety. Some of the errors showed the greatest ignorance on the part of election officers, and others were simple inaccuracies. In the Mercer County District the changes were larger in proportion to the total vote. Some better way of securing a truthful report of the people's verdict is now demanded, and it is probable that some legislation will be attempted next session to remedy this palpable weakness of the existing system.

The condition of affairs in the Assembly is similar to that in the session of 1877. The United States Senatorship was then at stake, and there was a bitterness which will be absent in the approaching contest. The legislation during the coming winter will not be, so far as the enactment of laws is concerned, of unusual interest. The important subject to be considered is the report of the Constitutional Commission, which will be handed in by President Hobart, of the Senate, early in the session. It will recommend biennial sessions of the Legislature and a change in the judicial system, with some other minor modifications. The members of the committee of the Commission on the judicial system are ex-Congressman John T. Bird and Barker Gummere, of this city. Their report will probably be adopted. It proposes to form a new Court of Appeals of four justices, abolishing the lay element and relieving the Supreme Court justices from sitting in judgment on their own cases; the new justices to sit regularly for as much time as may be necessary to keep up with the business of the court. The Court of Chancery—which is an anomalous and peculiarly Jersey institution—is to be retained, but is to travel circuits and attend to business more promptly. The Supreme Court is to remain the same, but not to have jurisdiction in writs of error. The Prerogative, Circuit, Orphans' Courts are to remain unchanged. The whole subject is of great interest to all Jerseymen who have a pride in "Jersey justice," which makes them extremely conservative regarding their courts.

The State officials to be elected by the Legislature are State Treasurer and State Prison Inspectors. Treasurer Wright is a candidate for re-election and ex-Sheriff S. V. C. Van Rensselaer, of Essex County, is his principal opponent. The present Prison Inspectors will probably be re-elected. The Senate's officials will be the same as last winter, with the possible exception of Sergeant-at-Arms and Engrossing Clerk. The contest for the next United States Senatorship, to succeed Mr. McPherson, will be felt in the undercurrent of action during the winter. The session will open on January 10.