Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-01-21
NEW STATE OFFICIALS.
Governor Griggs Makes Several
Nominations.
SENATOR STOKES DISAPPOINTED
Fifty New Bnis introduced This Week In
the Legislature-A Blow at High Sal
aries-speaker MacPherson Announces
His Committees.
His Committees.


aries-speaker MacPherson Announces
His Committees.
Especial Correspondence
TRENTON, Jan. 20.-The important fea-
lures Of the second week of the Legislative
session have bsen the reelection of State
Treasurer Swain and State Comptroller
! Hancock, the receipt of large batch OF
nominations from the governor, the an
nouncement by Speaker MacP herson of the
assembly committees and the introduction
of large number of new bills in both
houses.
The reelection of George B. Swain OF
Essex county and William S. Hancock OF
Mercer county as state treasurer and state
comptroller respectively was effected in
joint meeting of the legislature at noon
yesterday. They are both very popular and
very efficient gentlemen, and a special
compliment was accordingly paid them in
that they were reelected without o caucus
of the dominant party, indicating an en-
tire absence of opposition. The term for
which each holds office is three years, and
the salary is Sc, 900 year. After the for
mality of the election Treasurer Swain
and Comptroller Hancock entertained the
members of the legislature and number
of other guests at an elaborate luncheon.
GubernatoriaI Appointments.
The first little flutter of excitement this
session was apparent when Governor
Griggs' private secretary appeared in the
senate Monday evening with sealed COM
munieation Endorsed Nominations. /" The
senators Immediately went into executive
session, and, breaking the seal, found an
interesting batch of appointments The
one for which there had been tine liveliest
contest was that of state assessor, to I'LL
the vacancy caused by the resignation of
David Baird of Camden. Ex-senator
Rogers of Camden, Augustus W. Barber
| of Gloucester, ex-Congressman Buchanan
of Mercer and others had been in quest OF
the place, but the plum fell iTf the lap of
Amos Gibbs of Burlington county. 1t is
worth 50, 500 a year, and the term is for
four years. State Assessor Bird W. Spen-
Ger of Passaic was also reappointed.
Wilbur A. Heisley of Monmouth county
landed the prosecutorship of that county,
succeeding Charles FL. WINS. A five year
term and an annual salary of S., 900 make
the prospect for Mr.. Heisley very inviting.
Mr.. Heisley was formerly mayor of Long
Branch and has played an important role
in the politics of his county, being largely
responsible for the return of the present
Republican senator from that Democratic
stronghold.
Other nominations follow: j. Franklin
Fort of Newark as judge of the Essex
courts to succeed Andrew kirkpatrick, re-
Gently promoted to federal judgeship
Geo sc L. Smith of Essex, state fish COM
missioner; Henry Huston, judge of the
Sussex county courts, and Edward J. An
derson of Somerset county, supervisor of
the state prison. This latter is also snug
berth, the term being three years and the
salary SO, 500 year. 1t is Major Ander-
sons second term.
All the foregoing appointees are Repub-
| licans. The governor sent in also the fol-
lowing reappointments: Judge Jersey City
district court, James S. Erwin; trustees of
the Boys Reform school, Nathaniel S. Rue
| of Monmouth and Horace L. Durham of
Middlesex; trustees of Girls Industrial
school, George c. Maddox, Edward H.
Stokes and P. j. Fitzgibbon of Mercer and
Aaron Carter of Essex
Under the rule, all the nominations
were referred to the judiciary committee,
which will report them next week.
Senator Stokes Disappointment.
1t was noted by the observant that the
governor did not include in his first batch
the nomination of George Wurts of Pater-
son as bank and insurance commissioner.
Mr. Wurts has been filing the office ad in
terim since the death of Commissioner
Duryea, with the understanding that he
would be regularly nominated when the
senate met. The failure to nominate him
gives strength to the rumor that the gov
ernor has Mr.. Wurts slated for secretary of
state, to succeed Henry C. Kelsey, and will
give the bank commissionership to William
Bottle of Camden. At all events, it is
pretty well understood that Senator Stokes
of Cumberland is to be disappointed in his
| long cherished hope of succeeding Mr.. Kel-
sey. 1t had been considered as good as
settled that Senator Stokes was the com
ing man, and it is a question whether he
or the wiseacres of the state sustained the
greater shock when the news got out few
days ago that he had been side tracked
The senator makes no bones about ex-
pressing his disappointment, and, being a
very genial gentleman, as well as one of
the ablest men in his party in this state,
he has more than few sympathizers
| Some New Measures.
Over so new bills made their appearance
in the legislature this week, number of
them being of general interest. Senator
johnson of Bergen introduced two new
proposals for constitutional amendments
one providing for the election of assembly
men by assembly districts, instead of by
counties, and the other providing for an
independent court of appeals to be com
posed of five special judges. Both amend
ments were debated and defeated last win
| ter.
Assemblyman Klink introduced an equal
taxation bill which reflects Hudson county
/ sentiment. 1t provides that all real estate
of railroads and canals shall be taxed at To-
cal rates, the state board of assessors being
empowered to raise or lower the taxes in
each district and SO equalize them that
such real estate shall bear it's just and
| equal burden, levied for the use of such
| district. He introduced another providing
for an additional one-half per cent tax for
local purposes on all railroad property now
paying n per cent for state purposes.
Assemblynan Gledhill introduced for
the L. A. w. bill requiring railroads to
carry bicycles free. Senator DAILY put In
one fixing ferriage, where the distance does
not exceed two miles, at 2 cents and pass
| ing bicycles free from to a. m. and
4:30 to p. M, and the same senator, tax
ing hand in the commuters war with
the Central railroad, offered an act allow
ing railroad passengers to carry bundles,
parcels, ETC., SO long as they do not invade
the space reserved for other passengers
Assemblyman King introduced libel
bill, making the person who furnishes
libelous matter to a newspaper liable, and
If malice is shown he may be fined 81, 900.
A bill by Assemblyman Richter proposes
new scale of telephone rates, as follows
Fifteen cents for five minutes converse
ton in the same town, 80 cents for within
Inn r,ai1ar opd oor,&u for 4ixyo v,,ir,,1foc'