Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1907-01-03
NEW FACES In
THE LEGISLATURE

Trenton, Dec. 81. When the New
Jersey Legislature convenes on Janu-
ary s. for the first time in more than
a dozen years it will be nearly equally
divided between the Republicans and
Democrats, the Republicans having a
majority ON joint ballot of only seven
votes.
In the Senate there are Fifteen Re
pubiicans and six Democrats, and in
the House there are thirty-one Demo.
Gratis and twenty nine Republicans.
Last year the Democrats had only
seven members in the Legislature all
told, three in the House and four in
the Senate. For thirteen consecutive
years the Republicans have controlled
both houses
The Speaker of the House will be
Edgar E. Lethbridge, Democrat, Of
Essex, and the Democratic floor leader
of the House will be Abram Klenert,
of Passaio county. The Republican
leader will be Alfred, N. Barber, of
Mercer.
Senator Bloomfield H. Minch, Re-
publican, OF Cumberland county. will
preside over the upper house. Senator
Thomas J. Hillery, of Morris. will be
the Republican leader, and Senator
James 8 Minturn, of Hudson, in all
probability the minority Democratic
leader.
The Senate will be composed of nine
lawyers, six Republicans and three
Democrats; two merchants. two manu-.
facturers, two contractors, a brewer,
civil engineer, physician, glassblower,
insurance agent and a banker. Fifteen
of the Senators were born in New
Jersey, three in New York and one
each in Pennsylvania, Maryland and
Wisconsin. The oldest Senator is
Doctor Price, of Sussex, who is 81
years old, and John Boyd Avs is the
youngest, having just passed 81. SEN
ator Wakelee, of Bergen, is serving
his seventh consecutive year Senator
Cornish, of Warren, is serving his
eighth year, but not consecutive.
Senator Hand. of Cape May. has re.
turned for third term, but not con.
secutive. Senator Lee. of Atlantic, is
ia his sixth year. Senators Brown. of
Monmouth; Bradley, of Camden. and
Shinn, of Ocean, are fifth year mem
bers of the Senate. The new Senators
are Robbins OF, Burlington, and Silzer,
of MiddleseX
In the House Assemblyman Gibbs.
of Camden, is the oldest in years,
while Mr.. Hahn, of Essex, is the
Youngest member. Hahn is "a years
old. Nearly all of the Democrats are
first year men, including Lethbridge.
OF the Republicans in the House some
are veterans. Assemblyman Evans. of
Atlantic, will this year serve his
sixth consecutive term. Assembiyman
Gibbs, of Camden, and Assemblyman
Buck, of Cumberland, are fifth year
men. In the House there are fourteen
lawyers, eight Democrats and six Re
publicans. There are six insurance
men. four merchants, three manufac
turers, two farmers, several editors,
bottlers, clerks, a blacksmith, miller,
undertaken, druggist, halter, creamery
man, surveyor, Street Commissioner,
college professor, dentist. physician,
supervisor, contractor, horseman,
plumber painter piano dealer, wagon
maker, accountant, maohinist super
I intendent and the Mayor of city.
Forty-four we're born in New Jersey
and the birthplaces of the others in.
clude Germany, England, New York,
Delaware, Massachusetts and Ohio.
There are several good orators in each
branch of the Legislature, and also a
number of men who cannot make q
speech in public. 1t is believed that
the preponderancy of new men in the
Assembly will lead to many complica
t,npS