The Penn's Grove record., 1908-01-24
FORT I~hAUGURATED
Change In Administration Fea'
ture of Week at Trenton.
NEW PUBLIC UTILITIES BILL
Many Important Measures Introduced
In northumberland Jury Reform
and Civil Service BiIls-Railroad
Taxation Again.
Especial Correspondence

lin Forts induction into Office and the
inaugural ceremonies yesterday mainly
occupied the attention of the legisla-
ture the early part of the week. The
ceremonies were simple, but impressive,
and took place before the members of
the state legislature and the judiciary,
the state officers and a great crowd OF
persons that packed Taylor Opera
House so that even standing room was
not available. For many years he In
auguration of the governor of New
Jersey has been In important state
event. There have been professions
with military and political organiza-
lions in line, and bands have played
martial music. There was always a
big reviewing stand in front Of the
capitol from which the new governor
reviewed the procession. Governor
Fort wanted none of this glitter and
requested that it be all abandoned.
For this reaso there was no military
display except the salute and the at
tendance upon the governor of his mill
tary staff.
The joint legislative committee in
charge of the arrangements for the in
auguration met shortly before noon at
the %statehouse. The committee was
composed of Senator Harry D. Leavitt
of Mercer, Senator Bloomfield II.
Minch of Cumberland and Senator ia
cob C. Price of Sussex and Assembly
men Theodore B. Gibbs of Camden, DR..
Edward II. Ginnelley of Mercer, Henry
Young, Jr., of Essex, Mark A. Sullivan
of Hudson and Oliver G. HolcOmbe of
Hunterdon.
AS the gubernatorial party entered
the opera house it was a scene that
will long be remembered. On the stage
were the members of the legislature,
which had met at the s%tatehouse and
adjourned to the opera house, which
was beautifully decorated; the judi
ciary and state officials. In the bal
cony was Winkler's Second Regiment
band discoursing superb music. In
the boxes were the members of Gov.
ernor Forts family and his aged ia
Their, Andrew H. Fort, and other dis
tinguished persons. AS Governor
Stokes and Governor Elect Fort en-
tered the opera house they were greet
ed with loud cheering and applause,
which lasted several minutes. Presi-
dent Thomas J. Hillery called the leg
islature to order after the band had
rendered a selection Then followed
the prayer by the Rev. DIR. James Lud-
low of the East Orange Presbyterian
church, which the new governor at
tends. The oath of office was admins
tered by Chief Justice William S. Gum
mere, while those on the stage stood
during the ceremony.
Governor Stokes peech.
After the oath of Office had been ad-
ministered Edward G. Stokes, the re-
firing governor, delivered to Governor
Fort the great seal of the state of New
Jersey. AS he performed this cere-
Wony former Governor Stokes spoke
fn part as follows:
"A time honored custom allots to me
the happy duty Of delivering to you
the symbol of authority you are now
to assume. Simple are the ceremonies
that induct into Office the chief mag
1strate of u state. The transfer Of
the great seal completes the official IT,
tie to the recipient. This becomes
rightly yours not by virtue Of inher-
itance, not by arbitrary will, not by
royal fiat, but by the voluntary will Of
the sovereign people of New Jersey.
The governorship is yours by reason
of the peoples choice and their conf
dence in you. This high honor, while
1t has great responsibility, brings
equally great neutrality-suspicious.
ties for usefulness and good and bene-
fit to all-and opens a field where duty,
not glory; service, not a throne, In
spire ones efforts.
New Jerseys name is associated
with patriotic purpose and impartial
justice and with a loyalty and faithful
ness of the Jersey blue. Our state is
the work of years in the devotion of
sons. 1t is through the efforts of those
who have her welfare at heart am
who are stirred by the right and gov.
erned by the truth that the common.
wealth lives on, each generation add.
ing something to her glory and each
new idea contributing to her progress.
ITO you is now given the honor of
administering the affairs of the state.
1t is your good fortune to add to the
history already made and to win the
approval of those you have been elect
ed to serve. l congratulate you upon
the high honor and the prospect. AS
l deliver to you this great seal 1 do SO
with the assurance that your admins.
tration will be wise and fruitful in
beneicent results. May the blessing
of him who numbers the hairs of OUT
heads fall upon your pathway, and
may the good will of the people be
yours to the journeys end"
A Splendid Reception.
The executive chamber was convert
ed into a bower of beauty for the gov
ernor's reception, which was held
from 8 to 5 o'clock in the afternoon
and from 7 to 8 o'clock in the evening.
Southern smilax, palms and ropes of
laurel, interspersed with roses, orchids
and other varieties of flowers, all
rightly Illuminated nv hnndrnds NJ
cleaning i-ncandescent lights on a
background Of American flags, made a
scene of such brilliance and splendor
as is seldom witnessed even at inau-
gural functions. Thousands crowded
into the capitol to greet the new ex-
ecutive, and in those long waiting
lines wealth and beauty touched Shout
ders with poverty, scarcely noticing the
contrasts presented in their anxious,