Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1911-01-10


Trenton, Jan. 10:---With the tate
OF the direct primary principle, as
represented In the attempt Of James
Smith. Jr., to defeat James e. Mar
tine for the United States senator
ship, as the star proposition before
it, the New Jersey Legislature was
organized this afternoon for the one
hundred and thirty-f1fth annual ses-
sion. Scheduled for noon, 1t was
considerably later when the leaders
finally got the law making machin-
cry In motion, the delay being
caused by party caucuses and politi-
cal wire pulling Of one kind or an
other After thea officers had been
chosen In each house, Governor
Forts third and last annual message
was read and the other necessary
steps were taken for statute build
ing, which will really begin next
Monday night.
The tenseness of the United States
senatorial fight, the incoming Of the
Democrats after being so long OUT
side the legislative breastworks and
the many important public questions
pending such as further control of
public utilities through rate maxi
Ing power, extension Of the direct
primary law, legislation against cor
Tupc practices in elections and the
possible upheaval in some of the
state departments through the new
Democratic accession, brought to the
State House an unusually large num-
Der of politicians OF both parties, as
well as crowds of spectators who
thronged the galleries In both cham
bers.
The United States senatorship was
uppermost in the talk heard In the
corridors and among the politicians.
Among Democratic legislators and
leaders who take an impartial view
Of the situation 1t was the prevailing
opinion that Smith would be unable
to win John Kean's seat at Washing
ton. With the detection In the
Smith ranks In Hudson county,
which it is generally believed will
grow as the result Of the death OF
Robert Dayis, and the exposition to
Smith shi ich e @anifsssttrrhg & tself In
ia4s home delegation of Essex, IL @saAs
the general belief that Smith had no
hope for his own hcances, but was
concentrating his efforts to defeat
MARITIME at all hazards and thus re-
tain the party mastership In his
hands.
Senate Called to Order.
The Senate was called to order by
Senator John D. Prince, of Passaic
county, the Republican leader, who
read certificate from Secretary of
State Dickinson showing that the
senators elected last November We're:
Edge, of Atlantic; Nichols, OF Cum
beriaud; Leayitt, of Mercer, Repub-
licans, and Johnson, OF Bergen;
Fielder, OF Hudson; Fitzherbert, OF
Morris, and Low, Of Ocean, Demo-
Gratis. There are nine hold-over Re-
puhlicans and five hold-over Demo-
Gratis, SO that with Low seated, the
Senate stands twelve Republicans
and nine Democrats.
As soon as the certificate had been
read q protest against the seating OF
Law was presented from Thomas A.
Mathis, Republican. Of Ocean, who
as the result Of the recount In that
county is contesting the seat In the
courts. The oath of Office was adj
ministered to Law with the other
senators-elect, pending the decision
OF the question by the Supreme
Court, and 1t is expected that later
the Senate Will order an investiga-
tion OF the alleged irregularities In
the Ocean county vote.
Senator George s. Silzer, OF Mid
dlesex county, was elected tempo
rary President, an honor always Civ
en- to the minority. After the cre-
dentials OF the senators-e1ect had
been presented and the oath of office
administered to them, Senator Prince
nominated Senator Ernest r. Ack-
erman, OF Union county, for Presi-
dent. The nominating speech was
as follows:
1T is with extreme satisfaction that
] nominate at this time for the high
Office Of President Of the Senate q
man whose entire Legislative career
has been one Of absolute independence
and integrity; man who by his abil-
ity and strict devotion to duty has won
the esteem and confidence Of his coll
leagues on both sides Of this Chamber;
one who has never listened to the de-
mands Of any who have sought legis-
1ation against the welfare of the State
yet he was leader whose tendencies
were always in keeping with the spirit
OF the times, as is evidenced by the
many laws he has fathered
need mention olly his very yalu-
able services in giving to our state,
-.mong other important measures, the
satisfactory civil service law. He has
Always upheld the high character which
the tradition of his county has insistad