The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-01-14
LEGISLATURE
Opening of the One Hundred and
Twentieth Session.
ADJOURNMENT TAKEN FOR A WEEK

To Enable the President of the Senate and
the Speaker of the House to Arrange the
Committees Important Matters Before
the Lawmakers.
TRENTON, Jan. 14.-The 120th session of
the New Jersey Legislature opened this af
ternoon, when the members of both houses
were sworn in. The only business trans
acted was the receiving of the last annual
message of Governor George Y. Werts and
the appointments of committees to prepare
for the Inauguration of Governor-elect ].
w Griggs, on Tuesday of next week. An
adjournment was then taken for week
to give the president of the senate and the
speaker of the house time to make up their
committees. The two houses organized
as follows:
Senate-President, Lewis G. Thompson
of Somerset; secretary, Henry B. Rollin-
son of Union; assistant secret Try, Edward
M. Fielder of Monmouth; journal clerk
William H. Long of Somerset; assistant
journal clerk, Andrew s. Church of Mid
dlesex; sergeant-at-arms, James l.. Smith
of Cumberland; assistant sergeant-at-
arms, Reuben 5. Carter of Mercer; cngross-
ing clerk, Edgar Williams of Essex; as
blStttuG GllEEOoAlll8 bltEhJ tnuIlto e. lt-
terson of Ocean; bill clerk, James E.Stan-
ton of Sussex; calendar clerk, David G.
Vannett of Camden; doorkeepers, Benja-
min d. Davis of Gloucester, Edward s.
Davis of Salem, Robert Hermann of Nor
Ger, William w. Binning Of Bergen and
james Stcel6 of Passaic
House-Speakcr, Louis II. Derousse Of
Camden; clerk, james Parker of Passaic;
assistant clerk, s. f. Lyons Of Norris; en-
crossing clerk, Lysander e. Watson of
Monmouth; assistants, Charles II. Fol
well of Burlington, and Henry c. STRAIT
ton of MiddleseX; journal clerk, Alexander
Hunt of Mercer: assistant A. PiorsOn of
Sussex; sergeant-atarms Andrew j.
Briedenbach of Essex; assistants, Philip
Boyer Of Bergen and Thomas Graham of
Ocean; bill clerk, G. Frank sutherland Of
Hudson; assistant Frank Paullen of
Cumberland
The fact that John w. Griggs will be
the drst Republican governor in thirty
years adds TO the interest attending the
opening of a legislature Republican in
both bodies, but most of the enthusiasm,
as well as the attendance of spectators
will be reserved for Inauguration day,
when the number present will be great. 1t
is estimated that 5000 people will take
part in the Inauguration parade alone,
The fact that the Republicans will have
both the executive us well as the legisla-
tive branches of the government for the
first time in thirty years will not have the
political significance which might at first
thought be supposed In New Jersey a
majority of both houses passes bills over
the governors veto, and as the Republi-
cans have had both houses for the past
two years all, or nearly all, political legis-
lation desired has been accomplished, with
the exception of the capture of a number
appointive Offices the filing of which the
constitution confers upon the governor.
The governor also appoints all the judges
throughout the state, and as the terms OF
the present incumbents expire there will
be many changes, as the judiciary of the
state, particularly in the lower courts, is
/ almost solidly Democratic
/ The legislature will have to deal with a
number of important questions. Among
these is the demand that the railroads pay
greater share of local taxation. They
now pay most of their tax direct to the
state, and it is this, principally, that en-
ables the state to get along without O
tax upon the people. The demand comes
mostly from the large cities, where the
railroads have the bulk of their property
The legislature will probably fight shy
of any attempts in the direction of what
may be construed as temperance legisla
tion. There will be vigorous efforts fol
the passage of bills for cheaper gas, cheaper
ferriage, etc, but with doubtful success.
One of the most important matters Il
come up will be the constitutional amend
ments passed last session, which will have
to be passed again this session before go
ing to the people for final adoption. One
of the amendments, fayoring biennial ses.
sions of the legislature, will be abandoned
because it provides for the election of al
entire new senate next fall, when the Re
publicans would otherwise have more than
a majority of the senate hold over.
The others will be adopted They in
clude an anti-gambling provision, the con
ferring upon women the right to vote a
school elections, and the elimination o
the lay element from the higher courts o
the state. The legislature will also pass
bill abolishing the lay judges from tn
lower courts by reducing the number O
judges in each, and setting up as quail
flcation that only lawyers may be ap
pointed as judges.
At the caucus of house Republicans As
semblyman james Robertson, of Passaic
was chosen Republican leader over As
semblyman Hicks, of Middlesex.
Ohicial Charged with Manslaughter.