Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-01-08
STATE LEGISLATURE.
Especial Correspondence


grist of laws. There will be no fric-
ton in the organization of the legisla-
ture, the dominant party having some
weeks ago decided upon its legislative
officers, and all that is now necessary
is to go through the form of nominal
ing and electing them
Senator e. c. Hutchinson of Mercer
VIII preside over the deliberations of
the upper branch. He was the unani-
nous choice of the majority at eau
Gus held two weeks ago. Senator Hutch
1nson is prosperous merchant miller
of this county and was elected to two
terms in the senate by large majority.
During his career in the legislature he
has been member of some of the most
important committees and has always
taken an active interest in all matters
that came up for legislation.
Senator Wakelee of Bergen county
will be the majority leader in the sem
ate. He is the youngest member of the
present senate and one of the brightest
men in that organization. He is a law
yer and served two years as majority
leader on the floor of the house. He is
now serving his second term in the SEN
ate, having been elected in 1900 to fill
the unexpired term of First Assistant
Postmaster General johnson and again
in 1901 for full term of three years.
In the house John G. Horner of Bur
nngton will be the speaker He was
leader of the majority in the lower
branch last year and acquitted himself
with much credit in that difficult posi-
ton. He is lawyer and is the son of
the late Judge Asa p. Horner of Cam
den county. He is serving his third
term in the assembly.
Robert NJ. Boyd of Essex will be the
majority leader on the floor of the
house, and it may be expected that he
will handle the trying problems of that
position with a skill and diplomacy
that are sure to keep his party away
from the shoals that beset the domi-
nant wing in matters of legislation.
Mr. Boyd is a lawyer He is serving
his third term in the assembly and was
prominently mentioned for the position
of speaker this year.
Officers of Both Houses.
There will be comparatively little
change in the more important officers
of the two houses. In the senate Wal.
ter g. Edge of Atlantic will again act
as secretary The assistant secretary
will be Howard L. Tyler of Cumber-
land, who served in that capacity last
year. Robert A. Waterbury of Union
will serve another term as journal
clerk, and William H. Fisher of Ocean
county will again be the assistant jour
nal clerk David A. Mcintyre of Essex
will be bill clerk, the calendar clerk
will be Robert q. Bustard 81 1'-- IL be
supervisor of bills. James Shoemaker
of Cape May will again act in the ca.
pacity of assistant supervisor of bills.
James Parker of Passaic, who has
had several terms as clerk of the house,
will again act in that capacity during
the incoming term. His assistant will
be Upton S. Jefferys of Camden. The
journal clerk will be George E. Coe of
Union, and George A. Grover of Essex
will be supervisor of bills. George p.
Powell of Essex will be sergeant at
arms. The remainder of the house Off
GERS will not be decided upon until next
Tuesday just before the legislature
convenes, when caucus of the Repub-
lican members will be held.
The Governors Message.
Governor Murphy's message will be
submitted to the legislature just as soon
as the organization of the two houses is
effected. 1t is expected that this mes
sage will prove highly interesting aud
important document. The governor is
starting on the second year of his term,
and he has had chance to familiariZe
himself with the conditions existing in
the state departments and state affairs
In general and will in all probability
have some very valuable suggestions to
offer to the lawmakers. Perhaps the
most important matter upon which the
governors message will treat will be
the problem of the publication of the
Pnssaic river, a subject that has occu-
pied the attention of the state legisla-
tors for several years, with the result
that they seem no nearer to satisfac-
tory solution of the problem than they
were when 1t was first taken up. The
governor in all probability will urge
that the matter receive definite treat
ment at the hands Of the lawmakers
this year and that once and for all this
weighty question be settled. He will
probably offer some recommendations
in this connection along the line of the
report of the Passaic district sewerage
commission, which has been at work OF
this problem for the past six months
The question of state aid for the puri.
fcation of the Passaic river is much
discussed proposition, and many argu-
ments are advanced for and against it
1t is urged by those opposed to such a
scheme that the expenses of the state
are becoming larger each year and that
the fact that there is good sized sur
plus on hand serves to make the legis-
lators extravagant. Those who favor
the proposition claim that the states
surplus is being added to every year t.
Ine extent of several hundred thousand
dollars and that from present indica-
tons this increase will continue and
that in view of this fact a portion of it
should be appropriated to further a
plan to relieve one of the largest dis
tricts of the state from a nuisance
which has become almost intolerable
and which they have had TO contend
with for some years. 1t is urged to bur-
den the municipalities with the cost of
the publication of the Passaic river
would place upon them a charge that
would greatly embarrass them.
The Primary Election Law.
Not the least important of the mat
tiers to be considered by the incoming
legislature and upon which positive ac-
ton it would appear seems at last to be
taken is the primary election revision
law. There is great interest in this
proposition throughout the state A
special commission appointed by the
governor last winter has been making
close study of the conditions and
viii submit a bill which is to be radical
enough to remedy some OF the evils al
legged to exist in primary elections Of
today.
Another matter in connection with
elections that is likely to receive con-