Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-03-16
GOV. WILSON
SCORES AGAIN
Geran Bill Reported Favor
ably by Committee.
fsnecial Corresnonaence.l


Trenton, March 16.-Governor Will
son scored a strong point yesterday in
his demand that the Legislature pass
the Geran primary and election bill
when a majority of the members Of
the Judiciary committee reported the
bill favorably to the House of Assem-
bly,. The favorable report was signed
by Assemblymen Geran, Simpson and
Streitwolf. Majority Leader Matthews,
who is chairman of the committee, is
strongly opposed to the bin as 1t has
been revised in conferences between
Governor Wilson and Democratic leg
islators and declined to join in the
Favorable report. Minority Leader Nc
Gran, also a member of the commit
tee, sided with Mr.. Matthews.
Messrs. Matthews and McCran did
not submit a minority, committee re-
port, although it had been persistently
reported during the day that the Ma
jority Leader would offer the MCGOWAN
bill as a substitute for the Geran meas
IRE. The MCGOWAN bill was drawn by
James r. Nugent, chairman of the
Democratic State Committee, and rep
~resents a counter-move of the old-time
political bosses against the progressive
ideas of the Wilson administration.
Mr.. Matthews declared the Geran bin
was the most important measure now
being considered by the Legislature
and he consequently moved that 5000
copies of the revised form be printed
and 80 copies mailed to the home ad-
dress Of each Assemblyman. This was
ordered done.
All through the afternoon Assembly
man Geran and other friends of the
had been c~anvassing the
members of the House in an effort to
determine definitely whether there were
enough votes to pass the bill. Thirty
one are required. Just before the
House adjourned, the administration -
leaders determined to secure a test
vote ON the measure.
A move to this end was made when
Speaker Kenny, who is favorable to the
bin and who spent part Of the day on
the 1oor rallying votes for 1t, handed
to the clerk for the second reading
what he supposed was a copy OF the
substitute offered as a majority report
from the Judiciary committee. 1t turn
ed out, however, that the substitute
form had been sent to the public prin-
ter Immediately after Mr.. Matthews
motion for printing it Mad been car
.ried. Speaker Kenny was not aware of
this fact, and had to finally acknow-
ledge that the Geran bill could not be
considered until the substitute form was
actually in the hands of the clerk. As
a result of this situation, the effort to
have a test vote failed.
Although they are not absolutely GER
tain al to the exact lineup in prospect
on the Geran bill, Governor Wilson and
his friends are confident that when the
bill is called up on the door of the
House 1t win be supported by more than
a majority Of the members. At least
four Republican neutrality-suspicious..
Richmond, of Salem, Jackson, of Pas
sale and White and Pine, Of Burlington
have promised to vote for the bill.
Those who are keeping in close touch
with the legislative situation as 1t af-
fects the "administration'' bills ex-
press themselves as certain that the
IGeran bin will not only pass the House
but will be put through the Senate
with the aid of two or more votes from
Republican Senators. SENATE = Nichols
Edge and FTelinghuysen are all counted
as being favorahly inclined to support
the measure as desired by the Cover
nor.
Parker Field Opens May 80.
Plainfield, March 16:-The Plain
field Playground Commission, which
has taken charge OF the new athletic
field on Randolph road, has. an
nounced that the official name of the
playground will he Parker Field"
In honor Of Andrew MCLEAN Parker.
the donor. Arrangements are being
made to formally open the field on
May 80. 1t has been completely
equipped by Mr.. Parker, including
baseball diamonds, tennis courts,
etc, and the commission has decid-
ed that no admission fee shall be
charged, but that various athletic
organizations using the field will be
privileged to take up q collection.