Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-01-04
BRIEF LEGISLATIVE
SESSION IS PLAN
Of THE MAJORITY
Indications Are That Harmony
Will Prevail at l35th
Meeting.
DEMOCRATIC SENATOR'S WILL
CAUCUS HERE TODAY
Senator Fielder Issues Call for
Joint Caucus Tuesday at
IL O'clock.

That the one hundred and thirty-f1fth
session OF the New Jersey Legislature,
which opens In Trenton at noon next
Tuesday, will be a brief. businesslike
and harmonious one will be finally de-
terrnined at a conference of the nine
Democrats who make up the Senate
minority In the office of Senator Harry
v. Osborne this afternoon.
The Democratic assemblymen have
already held their conference and
agreed to meet with their senatorial
colleagues In joint caucus In the speak
ers' room OF the State House. next Tues
day immediately. preceding the OPEN
ing of the session.
The Republican senators, while In a
majority, will not attempt to block the
efforts Of the Democratic assembly
men to carry into effect the reforms to
which both parties are committed even
though they emanate from a Demo-
cratic source.
AS leader of the minority in the Sen
ate. but of the majority when the
total voting strength OF both parties ts
concerned, Leader Osborne will be
sponsor for several of the more i'm
portant bills such as rate making
power for the Public Utility Commits
sion, equal taxation. employers la
biltty and extension of tho direct pri-
mary law.
Although the Democrats are in q
minority in the upper house there are
number of important matters to be
discussed. A minority leader Is TO be
elected. BY common consent this honor
will fall to Mr. Osborne. Senator
James b. Fielder, of Hudson county.
who sent out the call for today's meet
ing. recently told Mr.. Osborne at Tren-
ton that it was the wish of a number
of the Democratic members of the
upper house that ne should assume
the leadership this winter. Mr. Os-
borne said he was willing. The Essex
representative is serving the last year
of his term.
The situation in Ocean County will
be taken up George C. Low, Demo-
crat, now holds a certificate from the
Board of Elections for the Senatorial
seat from that county. In the recount
proceedings brought by Senator Thomas
A. Mathis, Republican, Supreme Court
Justice Voorhees, refused to revoke the
certificate. He held that there was in
OF the original count till the recount
began. The attorneys for Mr.. Mathis
took the case before the whole court
and decision is expected In the near
future, probably before the organza-
ton of the Legislature. If the court finds
against Mr.. Mathis he may POSSIBLY
appeal to the Senate which has a Re-
publican majority, and which Is final
judge of its own membership, to seat
him. If the decision is against Low,
the latter is sure to appeal to his fell
low members for the recognition of
what he considers his rights.
Todays conference will make up the
minority slate for the offices in the
gift of the Senate. Candidates will be
selected for secretary. assistant secre-
tary, journal clerk, assistant journal
clerk, supervisor of bills. sergeant-at-
arms and other places. OF course these
nominations will be only honorary, as
the patronage Is controlled by the Re
publicans, who have already chosen the
men who will get the plums. The
Democratic Assembly caucus which
met in this city recently, created a
precedent by cutting down the number
of Jobs, thus saving the State a consid-
that the Democratic Senators will place
themselves on record as favoring a re-
duction in the number of places TO
filled by the Senate.
Democratic State Chairman James r.
Nugent has been invited to attend the
conference.