New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-14
NEW-JERSEY NEWS.

DeIBeh county, VIII ne CHOSEN without OPPOSE
ton. and 1t need hardly be said that he will
make an admirable presiding officer. His lead
ership on the floor OF the Senate and his work
on the most important committees have shown
the qualities OF the man whom his fellow Sen
ators will delight to honor. feeling assured that
dignity. fairness and painstaklng attention to
the business Of the Senate will mark all his acts
as president Of that body. and that he will orna-
ment the Office which he seeks and which like
wise seeks him.
II will be a remarkable and a we'll deserved
compliment to Bergen II the lower house like
wise takes its presiding officer from that county.
Asseinblyman z. ". Wakelee has shown such
qualifications for the speakership that he is one
Of the most formidable candidates for that
office. His competitors will be Vivian NJ. Lewis.
OF Passaic County; Ira w. Wood. OF Mercer. and
Benjamin F. Jones. OF Essex. each OF whom
showed special aptness for legislative work in
the last session There is satisfaction in the fact
that the gavel will be in safe hands. with the
choice resting between four such capable men.
The Senator who succeeds the Bergen County
man as leader the floor Of the upper house
will have a brilliant example to follow and
hard task to fulfil. Senator Johnson devoted
himself with such diligence to the duties Of lead
ership. made such careful scrutiny OF each bill
and kept so we'll posted as to the progress Of
each measure, that he at all times had the bust
ness OF the Senate we'll in hand. and his leader
ship was never merely nominal, still less parti-
san. Thus he set high standard. which the
new leader will naturally seek to emulate:
This task seems likely to fall upon Senator
Johnson. OF Camden. who possesses in fullest
measure the confidence OF every Senator. and
who devotes himself TO legislative work with
painstaking Or upon Senator Stokes may
fall the responsibilities Of leadership. and no one
could be found more familiar with all the details
Of lawmaking than the Cumberland Senator
Judge Cross OF Elizabeth, keen. cearheaded
and popular. is the choice Of number Of his
fellow members, and Senator Pitney, Of Morris
energetic and ready in debate, is also marked
out by some as the man to speak for the ma
jority in the Senate. Upon one Of these four
men will fall the onerous burden Of leadership
and 1t speaks we'll for the party that it has sent
to the Senate such array OF able and high
minded men as to make the choice rather per-
picking.
The Legislature will I'LL two OF the most i'm
portant offices in the State. and this fact alone
was sufficient reason for the election Of Re-
publican Legislature for the verdict at the polls
practically assures the re-eleCllOn Oh w. D
Hancock as Controller and Of George B. Swain
as State Treasurer. Both officials have shown
themselves so competent and efficient that there
is no thought Of making any changes in these
Offices
With the Governor rests the grave responsible
ity Of choosing an officer whose work is Of the
most vital Importance to the Legislature. The
Supervisor OF Bills must be man who cannot
be tempered with He must be prdof against
all temptations 10 tamper with bills in \he inter-
ests Of those who are willing to pay libegally to
have a bill secretly altered or vitatedi bSNsome
apparent clerical error He must also be one
who will supervise bills with scrupulous care
and facilitate the work OF both houses by having
the attes:ed copies of bills ready promptly. With
a Legislature that will be peculiarly efficient in
its presiding officers. in its leaders in Its COM
mittees and in its whole membership, II is TO be
hoped that the Governor will choose wisely the
Supervisor Of Bills. who can do so much TO help
or hinder the work OF legislation.