Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-03-15
Legislators Surprised to Find
New Administration Meas
ure All Printed.
DID NOT EVEN WAIT
FOR COMMITTEE ACTION
Expense of Preparing Substitute
May Be Questioned by
Legislature.
fFrom a stan Correspondent

TRENTON, March 15.-When the
House of Assembly convened shortly
before noon today the members found
that the third house." now composed
of Governor Wilson and his personal
advisers, had another substitute for the
so-called Geran election reform bill al
ready printed. although without any
known authority from the House.
The cost of printing these substitute
bills agreed upon by the governor and
his advisers will amount to about $500,
according to the usual rate of printing
bills. and the cost has been incurred
without any legislative authority.
As matter of fact. even the steer
Ing committee, a majority of whose
members approved the proposed bill''
of last week. knew nothing about the
committee substitute" until they saw
the copy.
The lack of knowledge displayed by
the new Third House in ordering the
printing of their bin before 1t had been
presented to the Assembly by the ju-
dietary committee. was the subject of
much criticism.
1t caused some of the members who
Rad been awed by the arguments of the
Governor at the conference Monday
afternoon to think he was, after all
somewhat smaller than they consider
ed him on that occasion.
Eliminates section ~.
A few changes were made in the
BILL including the elimination of sec
H. rxf
signers required to nominations for
local officers.
No change appears IN the new bill
in section z the section appropriating
$4,000 annually to the Civil Service
Commission for the service performed
under that section which expressly
provides that the commission shall
have no voice in the matter of appoint
ments under this section.
Assemblyman Matthews, as chairman
of the judiciary committee, said he
expected a majority of his colleagues
would insist on a report OF the Geran
bill and oppose the report of the Nc
Gowan bill, which Is known as the
Essex substitute for the Geran bill,
Mr.. MCGOWAN declares that unless
his bill is reported with the Geran bill
he will invoke the Fifteen rule" tc
force consideration.
state Gazette's Editorial.
The Trenton State Gazette today
printed the following editorial:
In employing the big stick methods
that distinguished the Roosevelt ad-
ministration, Governor Wilson is in
viting criticism from the people and
the press of New Jersey.
He is determined to have his way
about the Geran election bill. in spite
of the fact that. IN the judgment of men
experienced is governmental affairs
and acquainted with the temper and
wishes of the people. the measure is
not calculated to bring about the re-
forms aimed at and vhich the people
have demanded.
It is always wise to concede the right
to think and act to every man. whether
he agrees with us or not In the cam
paign last fall Republicans and Demo
Gratis pledged themselves 10 the enact
ment of election reform laws, and the
Republican and Democratic members
of the Legislature are disposed TO keeI
those pledges.
Early In the session the Senate
passed a bill of this character, which
was unanimously supported by the Re
publican members. That measure has
slumbered In the keeping OF Demo
cratic House committee six weeks, ano
all efforts to have it reported eithei
favorab bly, or unfavorably. have failed
because a Democratic speaker is OPP
posed to giving the Republicans any
credit for a disposition to keep theil
promises to the people.
This arbitrary stand on the part o.
Speaker Kenny savors strongly OF this
'coal combine" days. and that period
in the history of the State when ths
Democratic members of the Senate un
dertook to prove that ten is majority
of twenty-one.
The big stick and the s1 am IT.
policy of President Roosevelt and o
Colonel Roosevelt, had a good deal t
do with his tumble from the high pin
nacle upon which he had set himself.
1t is all right for man To be ;
leader. and all right for him to ne :
governor. but when he starts out to b.
a dictator, he is running counter Il
the drift of public sentiment.
Governor Wilson is absolutely rsgh
when he says that 1t is his clear pre-
rogative, under the constitution # tn
State. to suggest at any time measure
for consideration by the Legislature
and that ii was clearly within tn
meaning of the constitution that hi
suggestions might be in the form o
regularly formulated bills, but 1t look
as if, in the Geran bill, he had offere.
a suggestion without granting tn
members of the lower branch of tn
Legislature. at least. the right to con
slider 1t. He demands that it be passe'
as it was presented and in this demand
relieves the legislators of the necessit.
of considering 1t.
The case comes very close to cen
tralising the power of Judgment of tn
prosecutor. the Jury and the court Il
one man.
The New York Evening Sun toda,
prints the following editorial:
The state of New Jersey.
"They are hanging the old order o.
government in New Jersey these day
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