Now came a contest for the control of the Senate with its one Republican majority. The claim was made by the Democrats that the Senate was a continuous body, that the nine Democratic and four Republican "hold over" Senators were the constitutional judges of the qualifications and credentials of the newly-elected members of that body. The story of the manner in which the Republicans obtained control of the Senate is but recent history; of how physical force was opposed by physical force in the broad entrance to the Senate, and how eventually eleven Republican senators, the seven newly-elected and the four" hold overs," forced their way, on that January afternoon in 1894, to their seats. Then it was that, organization having been effected, by both "Senates "Governor George T. Werts decided to recognize only the "Continuous Senate," and a memorable deadlock ensued. Promptly came an appeal to the Supreme Court, which held that the Senate of the State of New Jersey was not a continuous body, that the credentials of the newlyelected members constituted a title to their seats, and that the president of the "Continuous Senate" was not president of that body.

It was under such political conditions that a constitutional commission was selected by Governor George T. Werts in the early summer of 1894. The Legislature had responded to a call for

the Senate chamber at Trenton, and organized by the election of Samuel H. Grey as president; George C. Ludlow, vice-president, and Joseph L. Naar, of Trenton, secretary. The last session of the commission was held on September 25th. Several amendments were suggested by the commission and submitted, through the governor, to the Legislature, none of which were adopted by that body.

The anti-racetrack agitation found its final expression in one of three amendments to the constitution adopted at a special election held on September 28, 1897. Upon that day, by a vote of 70,443 to 69,642-a majority of 801,-the following amendment was adopted:

No lottery shall be authorized by the legislature or otherwise in this State, and no ticket in any lottery shall be bought or sold within this State, nor shall pool-selling, book-making or gambling of any kind be authorized or allowed within this State, nor shall any gambling device, practice or game of chance now prohibited by law be legalized, or the remedy, penalty or punishment now provided therefor be in any way diminished.

To restrain the appointing power of the governor another amendment was adopted the same day by a vote of 73,722 to 66,296. It was as follows:

No person who shall have been nominated to the Senate by the governor for any office of trust or profit under the government of this State, and shall not have been confirmed before the recess of the legislature, shall be eligible for appointment to such office during the continuance of such recess.