The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-01-12
LEGISLATIVE
WHEELS Turn.
Bergen Senator EIectt Presi-
dent, Essex Gets SpeBkership.

Leader Welsh and harrison on
Important Committees "A Short
and Busy Session Predicted.
Especial correspondence.
Trenton, Jan. 10 The 124th New
Jersey Legislature is now a fact. It
came into existence on Tuesday with
the usual social amenities and abun-
dance of Jack Roses and the Lily Of
the Valley, If it had not been the
opening of the Legislature, it could
have been taken for floral prize
winning show There was the usual
sister, cousin and aunt, i'll her best
gown, up in the gallery, and the local
leaders from the cities and the towns
in the lobbies to give the proper eclat
to the event. In the House the youth
full BENJAMIN Franklin Jones was
made the Speaker He looks young
enough to be a college freshman. He
is but thirty He was nominated for
this high Office by Assemblyman
Vivian Lewis, of Passaic, who looks
young enough to be college senior,
while the Republican leader, Mr..
Wakelee, of Bergen, is also beardless
and looks like a seminarian. This
youthful two brought the House OF
Assembly into existence. The major
part of the members are less than
forty, so that it is a young mans
House. The minority are all young
men.
The House only organized, but the
Senate got down to business. They
held an executive session, confirmed
some of the Governors appointments
and introduced eight bills. The COM
mittees in both branches were named
and the only thing in the way of do
ing business next week is the adjust
ment of the rules of the two branches,
to correspond to the new law which
provides for printed bills instead of
engrossed bills.
A HISTORICAL GATHERING.
There was not as large crowd on
hand on Monday night as has been the
rule during the former years. 1t
would have been very light had it not
been announced that both United
States Senators, Sewell and Kean,
would be on hand. There we're many
who realized that it was really an
historical event, without precedent
in the history of New Jersey, to see
two Republican United States Senators
standing side by side in the historical
chamber "100'' of Uncle Peters IA
NOUS old Inn and Tavern. The two
Senators were not lonely any time
during the evening for representatives
were present from all parts of the
State.
There was a business conference
early in the evening, and it was de-
cided to cut the session, and do every
thing as quickly as is consistent with
good work, adjourn and go home.
This was regarded pretty good advice,
and important, if new, but the Re-
publican legislative leaders have been
getting that advice FOR the past five
years. Very little was CLEANED at the
Monday night pow-wow in reference
to the National Convention or the
date of the State Convention when
the delegates to the National Con-
vention are selected. Chairman Muir
ply, of his own volition expressed
the thought that the convention
would be held early in May. There
is no slate as to who will be the
delegates at large, but from some
localities it was learned that it will
be more or less an interesting contest
over the representation; ordinarily
there would not be, but the delegates
have the selection of the National
Committeeman and there are several
men willing for the honors and the
responsibility. They are State Chair
man Murphy and Barker Gummere,
the County Clerk of Mercer There
are here and there evidence that fence
building and pipe laying is already
going on and that before the Legis-
lature adjourns there will be several
states pretty we'll chalked.
PITNEY'S POPULARITY.
Those who discussed politics at
the Senatorial reception, figured on
what effect the selection of State
Chairman Franklin Murphy, as Ma
tional Committeeman, would have on
his prospective candidacy for Govern
or. Some think that it would naturally
take him out Of the fight, others
thought that necessarily it would not,
and that Mr.. Murphy would probably
vacate the honor after the National
campaign. 1t was generally admitted
that Senator Mahlon Pitney's chances
for the nomination have greatly inn
proved and will even grow better.
He was given cordial welcome ON
Monday night and besides welcome,
he was given many assurances of
support; many argue that Senator
Pitney, is now the logical candidate,
~. ~.