New-York tribune., 1911-12-11
PLANS TO UPSET WILSON
Republican Steering Committee
Returns to Machine Methods.
PROGRESSIVE SNAG AHEAD
Pierce, Smalley and Colgate Not
Likely to Approve of eau
Gus Gagging

,,-~, .,s REGULAR Correspo,tcrt of The Tribune
Trenton. Dec. 10 - The Joint steering
committee of the Republican members ol
the senate and Assembly, which met mere
yesterday. is goins 10 find u oli'cuiC
task 70 have lts recommendauons aoopleS
bv the members OF the two branches %
the Legislature. according 70 some OF tne
more independent lawmakers, for' IL 30
,oi,ted out not alone did the committee
exceed us authority in making the recon,
r1erdations IL did. but IL ignored one Oh
the principal points i' the resolu'ioH
under which II was appointed. IiAs was
that II revise the act defining the en-
oIoves OF the Legislature 10 CONFORM u
present needs. and thus do away WIN
lot Of unnecessary plans.
The resolution providing for the ap-
pointnnent OF the committee came from
senator Pierce, OF Union. and u dehneu
the powers Of the committee. brenH a.
follows: To revise the act defining the
Off .ers OF the Legislature 10 conform 10
present needs; 10 invite members intend
ing 70 offer bills carrying out pledges 70
have them ready at the opening OF the
session. and 10 cooperate 10 advance
legislation. in order TO make the coming
session a short one.
Instead Of discussing these things the
committee spent the afternoon talklns
over subjects not covered by the resolu-
ton. and then issued a statement in which
it recommended 70 the respective caucuses
that a date for temporary adjournment De
6xed az the opening Of the session so that
the lawmakers can return and take action
on the bills which have met Governor
wilson's disapprovaL passinC them over
his veto. If necessary. 1t is pointed out oy
those interested in having the Republican
lawmakers carry out these promises thaJ
the adoption Of such & recommendation
outside Of the fact that the committee hao
no power 70 make twas 3. mistake po-
nttcally. and the hope was expressed oy
more than one hard-headCd Republican
Yesterday that the committee Will quickly
get together and resci, 3 il.
The Republican Senators are TO have
conference on Tuesday. and II looks as
though there will be trouble If an attempt
is made 10 Jam these recommendations
through. II is not thought that Senators
Pierce. smaIley and Colgate will agree 10
any such plan They are more likely to
insist that the committee colfne Itself to
the things set forth in the resolution
taking up other things.
There was one point IN the committees
recommendation. however, which was in
teresting and which indicates the purpose
ri the machine TO control. If possible, the
independents This was t-e committee s
recommendation Of its suggestions 10 the
"caucuses" The caucus has always been
a favorite way Of the machine, when hard
pressed. 10 bring Independent members
INTO line. but thev have been few and far
Iatween IN recent years. the lawmakers
rolding what they termed conferences,
a. which d free discussion was had with
no implied obligation. IT was seldom, In
deed tnat any lawmaker did not support
t measure as agreed on al these confer
..ee.. although there was no obligation
iut it made him feel taat he had pre-
.erved Ais individuality as the representa-
fivc Of his county in the Senate
The Republicans have q majority OF
only one in the Senate crd this apparent
ly Is the reason for the desire TO return 20
the old machine caucus, SO that every
senator can be held in line. It is not
probable. however If the independent
members of the Senate have their way
that there viii be any caucuses this win
ter. as there is feeling among them that
each lawmaker should have the right 70
express his views on the floor Of the Senate
If ne disagrees with any Of the things con-
rained in bills submitted by any Of his col
Leagues.