Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-02-13
THE LEGTsT.ATUPF



sion. One was the measure providing
lor the erection of a monument upon
Anuetam battlefield.
Another matter interfered with the
progress of the legislature this week
namely, the election of State Treasurer
Briggs. This delay in the advancement
OF legislation has been due to the nu-
mefous matters outside which have oc-
cupled the attention of the legislators.
ne time lost can be accounted for in
lhe following manner: First week, or
ganlzation of the legislature; second,
inauguration of Governor Murphy:
thlrd, selection of United States SEN
ator; fourth, selection of a state Treas
ufer; NTH, selection of state comp
troller
No Important Nominations.
Governor Murphy has not sent any
important nominations to the senate
as yet, and it is not expected at this
writing that he will do so until anoth-
er few weeks at least
The principal interest centers in the
Office of secretary of state, concerning
which there is still considerable doubt.
Some claim that the present incum-
bent, George Werts of Passaic, will be
continued in that office through the in
duence of his friend, Ex-Governor John
W. Griggs, while others contend that
the office will go to Colonel Samuel D.
Dickinson of Hudson as reward for
his energetic work in the campaign
which elected Governor Murphy. There |
is comparatively little interest in the
other offices because of the fact that it
is almost practically known what ap-
pointments will be made by the new
governor.
State Treasurer Elected.
The joint session of the legislature
on Tuesday resulted in the election of |
Frank o. Briggs of Trenton to the of
fee of state treasurer, succeeding the
late George B. Swain. Opposed to Mr..
Briggs was Lawyer ". Holt Apgar,
also of this city, whom the Democratic
legislators named as their candidate
on Monday night. The election of Mr.. |
Briggs was by a strictly party vote.
A term of three years, with an annual |
salary of $4,000, is attached to the of
fee of state treasurer.
State Comptroller William S. Han |
cocks resignation, which was rendered |
TO Governor Murphy on Monday. was
the political surprise Of the week de-
spite the fact that rumors of his inten- |
ton to take the step had been in circu
lation since before the recent choice of |
Mr.. Briggs as the Republican nominee |
for treasurer Some days before the |
caucus which determined upon Mr. |
Briggs was held an announcement was
made that Mr.. Hancock had declared |
his intention to resign in the event of |
Mr.. Briggs selection. The act was |
prompted, the report insinuated, by Mr.. |
Hancock's unwiIlingness to serve on
the same board (the statehouse com
mission) with Mr.. Briggs.
Comptroller Hancocl1's Statement.
But Mr. Hancock in a statement to |
the press issued simultaneously with |
the proffering of his resignation to Gov
ernor Murphy entered a vigorous de- |
NAL to the assertion that there was |
friction between himself and Mr.. |
Briggs. The self explanatory state
ment follows:
81 have handed my resignation to the |
governor, to take effect on acceptance
and not later than the Goth inst, and |
make this statement in regard to it:
First, l want it plainly understood |
that there is no personal feeling or |
controversy between myself and Treas |
urer Briggs. l have known him dur |
ing his residence in Trenton as a gen.
tleman of the highest standing and |
with qualities that fit him to fill the |
office he now occupies, and he has my |
best wishes for his success.
POLITICALLY 1 find myself in posi- |
ton where if [ attempt to continue the |
active participation in the affairs of |
our county that 1 have heretofore tax |
en- it means fractional differences This |
[ have never contemplated in any of |
my political plans, my aim always |
having been to exert all of my energies |
to the defeat of our Democratic oppo- |
nents. and [ have not the inclination |
now to alter my original intention. l |
therefore relinquish officeholding and |
with it my active connection with the |
management of political affairs of Mer-
Ger county, my idea being that office |
holders, and particularly those holding
Inc DeSL III IlC SAAt VI INN PeNA y wv |
an obligation to their party to give it |
their best efforts for success. This / |
realize it is impossible for me to do |
without the result heretofore stated.
ST also realize that success can only |
come in the future, as in the past, by |
unity of action. and not desiring in the |
least to jeopardize the successes of the |
future is another reason l take this |
action.
my participation in the political af-
fairs of our county and state up to this |
time has been most agreeable, made
so largely by the advice and support
of friends. and to these L desire to
make grateful acknowledgment"
Morgan to Succeed Him.
Although there is no dearth of as
nirants for the berth made vacant by
Mr.. Hancock's resignation, which takes
effect next Tuesday, it is pretty gener-
alIy conceGed that J. Willard Morgan.
a Camden lawyer, will be chosen to
Sncceed him. Mr.. Morgan, VINO mas
baon conspicuous figure i'll Camden
county nolitics for many years, is look
cd unon as a sort of dove of peace
whereby the nOEtH JSloOy "iAN' 5000
Jersey factions will again be brought
into the close relationship which exist
cd before the contests for United States
senator and state treasurer developed.
Mr. Morgan seems in every way quail
fled to fill even so important an office
as that of state comptroller. He is at
nresent a member of the United States
commission in the south Jersey district
and in past years has served as city So
Iicitor of Camden and chairman OF the.
Camden county Republican committee.
McCarter's Interest Bill.
Senator McCarter's bill providing that
fine state treasurer deposit funds IN
banks designated by the governor ana
relieving the treasurer and his bonds
men from liability by loss when the
states money is in such banks has
aroused much opposition through the
state. 1t is contended that this Dill
practically makes the state treasurer
an ornamental officer and transfers MS