The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-01-14
LEGISLATURE
CONvE:NES
Francis Is Now President
of the Senate and Brad
ley Speaker Of the
House.
FLOWERS or SPEECH AND NATURE
Newly Elected Ohacsrs Tell
How Thankful They Are
and Promise the Min
ority a Show.
FLOWERS or SPEECH AND NATURE


filed with fragrance of rare and beauti-
ful flowers which adorned the desks of
the members. aud in the presence Of
many fair women who smiled upon the
lawmakers from crowded galleries. the
One Hundred and TWenty-sixth Session
OF the New Jersey Legislature was for
mal1y organized this afternoon. On no
similar occasion have the galleries and
lobbies been more crowded and seldom
hsIs such q large gatherixg Of men promi-
nent III the affairs of the State Witnessed
the opening Of a session Of the Lesis-
lature.
Captain James Parker Clerk of the last
Assembly. called the House to order with
the time honored formula The time
having now arrived for the opening of
the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Ses-
sion. etc. The Rev. George B. Maddox.
chaplain of the State Prison, made the
opening prayer, and Leader Horner sol-
emnly declared there was no significance
in his selection
The members then stood UP and with
rpiifte6 hands each impressvely pfomis-
ed to defend the constitution Of the State
and Nation and to feaglessiy and hones--
ly discharge mis- duties as a member OF
the General Assembly of New jersey.
Taen the election of a speaker was taxi
en- Up. the Republicans nomiuating Will
lam j. Bradley of Camden and the Demo-
Gratis John DENIM of Hudson. Mr. Brad
ley received IS and Mr.. DENIM Il. Mr..
Bradley was declared elected and was
escorted to the chair by a committee.
When The applause which greeted his ap-
spearaEce had subsidized he thanked the
rnenlbers for the high honor which had
Leen conferred up on him for the second
tine and said that he did not propose to
ii any way dictate any action to the Leg
islature Feelingly he referred to she
death of General Sewell and said that
The matter would be brought before the
Assembly in an appropriate manner. He
promised to use his best 4endeavors to pre-
side over the deliberations OF the House
ii q fair and impartial manner and as
sured the minority that their rights
would be protected.
The Speaker announced that Upton ;.
Jeffrey. of Camden, and Charles R.
9acen, of the same county, would be his
secretary and assistant secretary. Both
are newspaper men and two of the most
popular of the legislature correspondents.
Captain James Parker of Passaic was
re-elected clerk and the chief officers cf
The last House were similarly honored.
The Democratic members placed full
slate in nomination The Hudson men
who were honored were:-Sergs gsant-at-
Arms. Thomas Keely; assistant to clerk
of House, Thomas B. Mettam; two keep
ers OF gentlemen's gallery, Timothv
Aarons and John w. Cfeary; doorkeepers,
John Hogan, Charles d. Kelly, Peter 4
Sullivan. Edward Green. David Prosser.
Pages-Afilton Bamberger Abraham
Davis, William J. Boucher, Joseph Sacks.
John Dolan, Harkimer Murphy, Henry G..
Cabell and Edward Nah1er.
The scene in the Senate chamber was
duplicate of that in the House. The
adiniring friends and relatives of the
Senators and those who could not gain
adnittance to the Assembly chamber,
crowded the galleries and Hobbies. The
odor Of fragrant flowers was very strong
everywhere and the ladies' gallery was
crowded with an animated throng of en-
tHlusiastic and cordial witnesses.
Walter Edge, last years secretary,
called the Senate to order, and after the
new grave and reverends had taken the
oath, the election of President took place
Mr. Reed nominated Senator c. Asa
Francis. OF Monmouth and the Demo-
Gratis named William C. Gebhardt, Of
Izunterdon. Mr. Francis received II and
Mr. Gebhardt 4 votes. On taking the
chair Mr.. Francis made q lengthy speech.
He began by thanking the Senators for
the honor they had conveyed upon hiEa
as he entered upon This sixth and LAST
year of service in that body" While it
WAS not for him TO attempt to direct or
even to suggest their action there were
sofse subjects he might with propriety
speak Of, he said. He then spoke OF tie
assas sination Of President Mckinley. and
declared that laws should be enacted
making it criminal offense for men q
the Golgolz type to maintain societies for
the spreading Of their anarchistic
speeches. He answered the criticism that
legislatures wasted too much time in get
ding down to work by saying that if they
did pass bills early in the session people
would say that they acted harshly and
rushed bills through without giving them
proper consideration.
He believed that there were too many
Jaws on the statute books. but every year
The population increased and new laws
zgere necessary. He advocated. however,
nat an new laws should be carefully con-
sidered. He spoke Of the .'Passaic River
neIlution problem saying that the sew
age eanutfed into the Passaie River had
become menace to the health ard com
fort of the people cf the Passaic Valley
The Constitsational amendments hf
sasd. would come ~ for consideration
araln ana The school law might need
legislative action He called attention ID
TIC neea Of new senate chamber II
s-.za,11 1, q cold and 4f7u f7d5rtf7s Il