Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1911-11-23
OUR TRENTON CORRESPONDENT.

Trenton, November z1.-Several So.
Jersey politicians who visited the
State House to-day expressed the be-
lief that Senator Walter E. Edge. of
Atlantic county, will win the floor
leadership in the Senate. They base
this on the belief that he will have
five South Jersey votes to start with
and that when the caucus meets next
week he will get the one more neces-
sary vote from North Jersey. While
none of the Senators are openly ex-
pressed as to where they stand on the
leadership, it is the belief OF those
South Jersey politicians that Senators
Hand, of Cape May; Lewis, of Burling
ton; and Gaunt, of Gloucester, are for
Senator Edge Senator Nichols, of
Cumberland, who because OF his we'll
known independence is being looked
upon as holding the balance OF pow
er," says that he has not pledged HIM
self. He is very friendly to Senator
Edge, however, and his political enem-
ity to former Governor Stokes is we'll
known 1t is not at all likely, there
fore, that Nichols will be for Senator
Leavitt, of Mercer, the other candidate
who is very close to Stokes. If this
be the correct lineup it will take only
the vote of one north Jersey Senator
to make Senator Edge the leader and
place him in line for the Senate presi-
dency in 1913. OF course, Senator
Leavitt will not give up the leadership
without struggle.
George Wright, member of the Re-
publican State committee from Pas-
sale county, and right-hand man to
Vivian NJ. Lewis, the undisputed Re-
publican leader of that bailiwick, says
he does not think that the fact that
Senator Prince is in line for the
Presidency of the Upper Chamber will
seriously initiate against Assembly
man McCran for the House speaker
ship "The only objection to one
county having two of its men elected
is that it violates an old political ira
dition," said Mr.. Wright. I'VE live
in time of the upsetting of old Gus
toms, however, and l don't think this
situation is going to count against
Passaic this time. ?
&ss
If the Senate presidency and the
speakership should fall to Messrs.
Prince and McCran, it is doubtful if
James Parker, who also halls from
Passaic, would be able to land the
the past 10 years, barring two DEM
ocratic majorities. Mr.. Parker is
not discouraged, however. He says
that Of the 81 members on the Repub-
lican side only eight secured re-elec
tion from last year and only three
others have had any previous legis-
lative service. This condition, he
says, necessitates man in the posi-
tion of clerk who is thoroughly ex-
perienced, and he thinks he fills the
bill better than anyone in sight.
From all the information obtainable
it appears that Assemblynan Charles
NJ. Egan, of Hudson, has the best
show to capture the House minority
leadership. Personally, he is conf
dent of landing the place and will UNI
doubtedly have the backing of Cover
nor Wilson, having been one of the
latters most active supporters DUR
ing the last session.
The increase of s9S,000,0O0 in the
taxes against the railroads of the
State is quite pleasing to those who
have fought for several years for a
re-valuation of the railroad and canal
property on the ground that the as
sessments had not kept pace with the
great growth of the railroads. The
increase will mean that the roads will
have to pay $1,885,000 more in taxes,
provided the new assessments stand
The most of this additional tax will
go to the public schools. The taxes
on second class railroad property,
which includes stations and the like,
goes to the municipalities. The in
crease in the second class property
tax is 1929, $50, which will be dis
tributed pretty generally among those
which have second
class property; but, doubtless, the
most of which will go to Jersey City,
Hoboken, Camden and such places
where the large terminal stations are
located. One-half of one per cent of
the other taxes go to the State for
State purposes and all the balance
will go to the schools. OF the in
crease, therefore, about $1,000 will be
the States share, while s1,34S, 900 will
be the increased sum to distribute
among the school districts of the State
m****
Having been elected to the Assem-
bly, on platform one plank of which
was free bridges across the Delaware
River, Oliver G.. Holcombe, of Lam
bertville, who was member of the
Assembly from 1906 to 1908, will be-
gin fight for free bridge law as
soon as the Legislature convenes.
The rapid growth of automobile trav-
ell has greatly increased the demand
for free bridges, as not only the pay
ment of the toll, but also the delays
caused by the holdups at the toll
gates are far from pleasing to the