Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-04-15
Suggests House Presiding Of
flcer Designate Voluntary In
vestigating Committee.
STATE EXECUTIVE TENDERS
SERVICES TO ASSEMBL YMAN
Attorney=General Advises Mr.
Fort 1t Would Be Improper
for Him to Act.
[rrom a STAIR correspondent. !

TRENTON, April 15-Governor Fort
today decided that if any investigation
of the alleged orgies of the closing
night of the Legislature is to be made
it should be instituted by the Assembly
itself Sensational newspapers have
grossly and ridiculously exaggerated
the frivolities, the Publication of which
stories have created some unfavorable
comment.
The EVENING STAR predicts that
t..4re will be no investigation ordered.
Speaker Harry p Ward, of the
House, will give the subject his imme-
diate attention.
Speaker Ward, at his office in the
Title Insurance Company, 1876 Broad
way, New York city, today said to an
EVENING STAR man:
Having received the letter from
Governor Fort and the opinion OF the
Attorney General only an hour ago, l
must be excused from deciding SO
quickly whether [ will order an investi-
cation or not. will take the subject
under careful consideration and will
announce my decision tomorrow L
fully agree with the Newark EVEN
ING STAR that the 'horseplay' was
unjustly exaggerated by certain news
papers. The question, however, for me
to decide is whether there is foundation
enough in the stories to warrant an IN
vestigation, and L will do so without
: delay"
Governor Fort today issued letter
which he wrote to Speaker Ward,
which defines the attitude of the Gov
ernor in the matter. He also attached
to the letter communication he re-
ceived from Attorney General Edmund
Wilson.
.AlIeged Improper Occurrences"
The Governor refers to the orgy as
s.alleged improper occurrences" He
says the matter should be inquired into
and result reached that will satisfy
public interest insathe question. The
detailed statement of the Governor
follows in the Ward letter and the let
ter from the attorney-general:
ITO Honorable Harry p. Ward,
Speaker of the House of Assembly,
C'ioster, n. J.
MY Dear Sir-Since my conference
with you on Tuesday last 1 have been
considering the question Of entering
into an inquiry as to the alleged i'm
proper occurrences in the rooms ad-
jacent to the Assembly on the closing
night of the Legislature.
IN order that whatever action was
taken might be taken within the law,
and properly, L have conferred with
the attorney-gene as to my power
and authority within the premises.
Tie has written Inc a letter, copy
OF which is hereto annexed and is made
a part fthis letter. His conclusions
agree with the view which 1 have
entertained My judgment about the
matter is that any inquiry which is
made or any investigation undertaken
must be by the House of Assembly it
self While, as the encouragement
points out, the House has adjourned
and there is no authority to appoint
Il committee with any power to sub
poena witnesses and the like, still the
matter can be undertaken by volun-
tary committee which you may desig-
nate, and the whole proceeding con-
Quoted upon your initiative.
THAT the matter should in some
way be inquired into and a result
reached that will satisfy public in
terest in the question l think you will
agree with me is essential.
You can designate committee and
theyJcan invite all the members of the
House whom they can reach, and all
the House officials, and they can learn
from them who was present upon the
occasion referred to. They can also
ascertain who other than Assembly
men, if there We're any Assemblymen,
and what officials of the House were
present and what was DONE
This report, if the inquiry is made
thorough and every effort made to learn
the truth that is possible within the
power of the voluntary committee, will
unquestionably satisfy the public and
present the real truth in the matter.
IF l can be of any service in review
ing the evidence taken by the commit
tee, or in any way aid it, 1 will be glad
TO do so upon its or your request
I'm view of the many inquiries made
to me as to what course the executive
proposes to take / deem it proper to
make public my letter to you, together
with the letter of the attorney general.
Yours very truly,
JOHN FRANKLIN FORT"
Attorney-Gcneral's Reply.
"Ohice of the Attorney General, Tren-
Trenton n. j., April a.
ton, n. j., April H.
Hon John Franklin Fort, Governor of
New Jersey
Dear Sir--You have asked for my
opinion as to what power you, as Gov
ernor. have to investigate the alleged
acts of disorder which are said to
have occurred on the floor of the House
of Assembly and in the committee
rooms adjacent, during the closing
hours of the recent session. Such an
investigation, if prosecuted by you as
Governor, would be not only without
precedent but, in my opinion, wholly
without legal warrant or authority.
The authority cannot be found in the
Constitution or in the statute law, and
it cannot, of course, emanate else
where.
"A research upon your part with
view of ascertaining the facts df at
tenipted) must. therefore, be yolun-
tarily assumed. You would have no
[S>sts.=ea ON sec~-d ps~eN