The Monitor-register., 1897-01-22
NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE,
TRENTON, Jan. 10, 1897

The chief feature of interest at the
State Capitol this week has been the dis
tribution of of1cial plums and the proba.
BILE action of Gov. Griggs in relation to
the luscious fruit yet to be picked. He
cleared mp the mists in relation to one
important appointment on Monday night
by sending to the Senate the name of
Amos Gibbs, of Burlington county. to
fill the vacancy In the State Board of
Assessors, caused by the resignation Of
David Baird, of Camden.
A large delegation came up Monday
night to urge upon the Governor the ap.
pointment of Mr.. A. s. Barber, OF Wood
bury, but they were unable to change the
purpose of the Governor. and Mr.. Barber
remains on the waiting list.
Another important position that is
causing considerable uneasiness, because
of the uncertainty as to what the Gov
ernor will do (and. by the way, he has an
excellent faculty of keeping his own
secrets), and that Is as to who is to sue
ceed Henry z. Kelsey, Secretary of State,
whose term expires in April next. This
position has all along been conceded to
Senator Stokes, but more recent develop
ments give color to the fear that the SEN
ator is to be turned down for another
man.
Some think that the Governors close
friend, George Wurtz, editor of the Pat
erson Press, and now Commissioner of
Banking and Insurance, is to be given
the place, in which event Senator Stokes
will be given the latter position. Another
report is that deal has been made look.
ing to the furtherance of an ambition
that the Governor is said to have to suc-
ceed Senator Smith in the United States
Senate. and that VIM. Bettle, of Camden,
is to he Secretary of State. Time, of
course, will tell as to the correctness of
these views. Certain il is that Senator
Stokes is not the coming man, unless
good deal more Influence can be brought
to bear upon the Governor than has yet
been mustered for the popular young
South jersey Senator.
A delegation of Senators, composed of
Messrs. Voorhees,. johnson, Skirm, Parry,
Francis, Hoffman, Stanger, Engle, Will
liams and Gould, waited on the Governor
to day to urge the claims of Senator
Stokes, but while he received them cor
daily and listened to their arguments, he
gave no sign as to what his decision
would be. 1t is understood that Senator
Skirm grew quite earnest in his advocacy
of Senator Stokes, claiming that he had
served the State and his party faithfully,
and in pressing the matter upon the
Governor, continued:
''You can personally testify to the
great service be rendered in the cam
paigns of 1895 and 1895, Governor" said
Senator Skirm, growing earnest. "He
represents the young men, and they
should be recognized. We came here as
citizens to say to you that, until a few
days ago, we had not the slightest doubt
but You would appoint Senator Stokes to
succeed Mr.. Kelsey. We had not the
slightest dou bt, because we know the
people want him. We, as the representa- a.
tives, know that the people expected MI.
Stokes to be appointed to the position,
and they were satisfied with the selection.
We wish it understood by your Excell.
ency that we do not come here to dictate
to you, but we wish to insist upoa oul
right to express our opinion. We ask fol
the appointment of Senator Stokes az
Secretary of State"
Governor Griggs in reply said that be
could not see that the young men had any
further claim upon him. ~. Frank Fort
and several others have b,ea taken care
Of" remarked the Governor. He also
mentioned the names of several othel
} young men whom he had appointed, and
intimated that the older ones would be
looked after in the future.
L.. Senator Voorhees, remarked In the
course of his enlogy of Senator Stokes
that there were ten of tho eighteer
Senators present, and of the eight moi
present seven of them would indorse al
that was said and done. One Senator
remarked that it would not be gooG
J politics for the Governor to appoint
J another Passaic county man to Office
particularly such an important one al
, Secretary of State, ''even if he was taker
from another position as honorable al
that of Commissioner of Banking and
Insurance"
1t was remarked by several Senators
} that during his running conversation with
the Governor Senator skirm had been
unusually blunt in referring to some of the
Governors appointments of last niehl
and to several appointments made last
year. When the Senators were about te
retire Senator Skirm said: "I'm not
angered, Governor, but want to give the
plain truth. The people want Stokes, and
we Senators know it."
There re those who say that Governor
Griggs is at work effeoting an erganiza.
tion of Republicans " bich will result in
|
The alleged ambition of the Governor fol-
such an honor is said to be recent, and
that he is in position to realize his desire
if he shows enough political adroitness in
the disposal of patronage at hand.
10 the last election John Kean, Of
Union. who has an ambition to be in the
United States Senate, captured five
Senators who will have vote in the
election for the successor of United
States Senator Smith. There is DO
doubt but that this is big start in the
race, yet it is said that this headway as
gained under peculiarly favorable condi
tiOns in the various counties, and that
Mr.. Kean still has very big job on his
hands to keep up to the finish. Some
veteran politicians here have no doubt,
however, but that Mr.. Kean will be in
at the finish. and at tbs present time they
predict his success, though 1t 10 said be
still has an ambition to bt, Governor, and
that the latest slate is that he shall take
the GovernoIsbip in 1898 aud Gov. Griggs
the Senatorship in 1899
This congested state of affairs caused
the friends Of Comptroller Hancock and
State Treasurer Swain to be little
anxious, and they hurried about and
finally obtained consent for the joint
meeting to be held to dag. and resolu
top to that Effect VAS passed this