Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-01-19
lsnecial correspondenca.l

him Ex-Governor William A. Newell,
who was chief executive of New Jersey
from 1887 to 1860, and who came to
Trenton to be inaugurated under pecul-
lar circumstances. He lived at Allen
town, ten miles away. and big snow
storm came on the night before inaug-
uration. so that wagon traffic was inn
practicable next morning. AS the con-
stItution provided for the Inauguration
to proceed that day, and all arrange
ments had been made. Governor Elect
Newell started out on foot and reached
Trenton in time to the surprise of ev-
erybody. The old gentleman has Of
late years resided in the state of Wash
ington. where he enjoyed many politi-
cal honors. but recently he returned to
New Jersey His presence yesterday
was specially interesting from the fact
that he is the oldest of the living ex-
governors of New Jersey, while Mr..
voorhees, is the youngest governor ever
inaugurated
inaugural Ceremonies.
1t was on the stroke of noon when
Governor Elect Voorhees, and his party
in open barouches, wheeled into the
driveway at the opera house and step
ped forth to their places on the stage.
They were greeted with salvos of APP
plause. Acting Governor Watkins was
with the governor elect. Speaker Pro
Tenn. Squire, President of the Senate
Reed, Chief Justice Magic of the SUI
preme court, President Patton of
Princeton college and the joint inaugu-
raj committee followed John Kean,
r.. fad
accompanied by State Comptroller Han
cock, came next, with several others
following.
The ceremonies of Inauguration then
proceeded, Senator Hutchinson of Mer-
Ger, chairman of the inaugural COM
mittee, announcing each movement in
order. First came an invocation by
Rev DIR. Patton of Princeton. It was
quite lengthy and effective and closed
with fervent words for the successful
administration of the incoming gov
ernor.
Chief Justice Magic. formerly the
legal preceptor of Mr.. Voorhees,. next
solemnly administered the oath of Of
fee. The booming of guns. being sa-
lutte by the Seventh regiment on part
of the state. was heard in the distance,
and then came the presentation of the
great seal of state by Acting Governor
Watkins to his successor. Mr.. Watkins
made a most graceful little speech in
delivering the symbol of authority, and
his sentiments walked up applause from
the audience. Governor Voorhees, ac-
cepted the token quite happily, too. and
was then presented formally to Presi-
dent Reed. who in turn introduced the
new governor to the assembled legisla-
ture. This was the signal for another
outburst of applause. after which Gov
ernor Voorhees, proceeded with the de-
livery of his inaugural address. He was
cool and collected and spoke with ex-
cellent effect, his recommendations to
the legislature being we'll received.
The governor was attired in dark
clothing, wearing a frock coat and a
small black tie around his standing coll
lar. The inaugural ceremony closed
with benediction pronounced by Rev
DR.. Boyle of the State Street NJ E.
church, Trenton. Many friends then
surrounded the new governor to tender
their congratulations. When he could
finally get away, he was driven, with
the inaugural party, to the Trenton
House, where a lunch was served.
From 8 p. m. till p. m. and again in
the evening Governor Voorhees, gave q
public reception at the executive cham
bers in the state capitol. Throngs of
people poured in to pay their respects.
and the new governor must have gone
to bed last night with a sore right hand
The number of lady callers was sur
soR.
tributed to the fact that his excellency
is still q bachelor The decorations at
the statehouse were beautiful beyond
precedent. Flags and bunting were
literally used in the corridors, and in
the rotunda the windows were banked
with palms and other ported plants.
The executive chamber was also set off
to look its handsomest. and under the
glow Of a myriad of electric lights the
effect was dazzling.
Much of the success of the inaugural
ceremonies at the opera house. so far as
concerned orderly arrangement, must
be attributed to the detail of honor.
consisting of prominent officers of the
national guard and naval reserve
whom General Bird W. Spencer ap-
pointed for the occasion.
In Legislative Halls.
The two houses of the legislature i'm
mediately after the inauguration ad-
Journed for the week. With the cleo
ton of United States senator on the
card for next week, little need be ex-
pected in the line of legislative work
then either But lots of work is being
mapped out for the lawmakers, Judging
hxy 10 of
introduced.
Senator McDermott yesterday offered
q resolution in the senate calling for an
investigation by the elections commit
tee into alleged frauds in the registra-
ton and balloting in Hudson county
last fall. The senator last week served
notice on the Republicans that if they
did not institute such an inquiry he
himself would move for one, in view of
the charges which had been aired in
the New York Tribune and elsewhere.
The Republicans, it is said, have no
particular wish to investigate the mat
ter, but they may accept Mr.. McDer-
motifs challenge. If they do not. it
will be accepted by Mr.. McDermott as
a vindication of his party. For the
present the resolution has been referred
TO the elections committee of the SEN
ate.
Another interesting topic precipitated
by Mr.. McDermott is the matter of
holding state convention for the pur-
pose of revising the state constitution.
He offered a resolution providing for
the appointment of a committee consist
ing of four senators and six assembly,
men enllallv divided az m Marty who
shall formulate bill regulating the
election of delegates to such a conven-
ton. Mr.. McDermott consented to have
the resolution go over to some later date
for discussion. II win probably be voted
down. The smaller counties of the
state, and they are In the majority,
have always been opposed TO a state
constitutional convention fearing that
one Of its works would be a change Of
representation in the senate. by which