Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-01-12
MESSAGE READING
WEAR|ES SOL0Ns,
50 IRIS CUT SHORT
Governors Request Surprised
legislators Committees to Or
ganize and Appoint Clerks.
rrrom a stan. correaponaent.l

fE'rom a stan 0orreapondent.l
TRENTON, Jan, 12.-Goyernor John
Franklin Forts first request of the 1910
Legislature, which was organized yes
terday, was passed up. The Governors
request was not fatty ignored, but was
sidetracked as gently and apparently
as reluctantly as the occasion would
permit. The Governors request was a
departure from custom, and it was
working hardship upon the lawmak-
ers. He had made special request
that his message be read in full instead
Of being pigeon-holed by the clerk of
the House. Subsequently the Governor
appreciated the inadvisability of his
request and forgave everybody.
"A message from the Governor"
shouted John r. Flavell. 1t was the
new sergeant-at-arms first official act
James r. Nugent, the Democratic state
committee head, walked into the AS
sembly chamber. The Newark city
counsel commented on the voice, which
Tor twenty years has sounded as
though its owner was nursing a bad
cold. It's a voice, however, that can
never be misunderstood whether on the
Assembly floor or in the Republican
county committee meetings, where for
many years Flavell has served as secre-
tary. The Governors son, Leslie r.
Fort, entered with his long stride, and
the much-talked- message The orig
inal was handed to Captain James
Parker. who proceeded to read the
lengthy document. Copies We're mean
while being distributed among the
members.
BY Special Request.
The clerk was reading the close of
the financial section of the message.
when absolute quiet was again restored,
One by one the members looked in
quiringly at Colonel Walter Il, Edge.
the majority leader, for relief The
old-timer, Captain Parker, continued
the reading of the figures. They were
running into the iousands and the
millions so that even the clerk began
to get dizzy at the sight of SO many
ciphers
Go on. Mr.. Clerk" calculated the
majority leader. ITS a special request
of the Governor. He asked that his
message be read. He objects to the
discourtesy that has heretofore been
sno to the chief executi s address
to the Legislature. Go on, Mr.. Clerk"
Captain Parker yawned. Several
members started to quit the chamber
and conversation in various sections
of the room grew SO loud that the
clerks voice became almost inaudible
L
the ninor:ty's choice for speaker,
erossedNthe room and when near Col
onel Edge asked:
rs Jim going to read 1t all?"
The Governor wants it," reiterated
the colonel.
Clerk Parker sighed and took another
plunge. More members left the floor.
and, seeing the hardship that was be-
ing worked in view of the fact that
the assemblymen had not as yet had
luncheon. Colonel Edge arose and said:
"Under the circumstances. Mr..
Speaker, I move that the further read
ing of the message be dispensed with"
A chorus of voices seconded the mo-
ton. and ii was carried vigorously. II !
seemed to give new impetus to the
turning of the legislative machinery.
and the members took their seats and
decorum was again restored.
A Poetic Tribute.
Colonel Edge later explained TO the
Governor why his first request could
not be complied With, and the Gov
ernor, realizing the hardship it was
working, expressed entire satisfaction.
I.aughingly, he said he hoped some of
his more reasonable requests later in
the session would receive more favor
able consideration. Wiseacres around
the State House insist that the Gov
ernor made the unusual request to have
his message read simply to ascertain
the attitude of the members toward
him, and that he compliments himself
in the knowledge that more of his mes
sage was read before the reading was
dispensed with than has been the case
on opening days in many years.
An original little verse was recited
by Assemblyman Moore of Passaic, in
nominating Clerk Parker. 1t follows:
Doubt that the stars are on fire,
Doubt that the sun doth rise,
Doubt truth to be liar,
But do not doubt Jim Parker"
During the interim between how ana |
next Monday night, when the law