Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-02-08
POLITICS AND COMMENT FROM
THE STATE CAPITOL.


| Trenton, Feb. 7.--Dr. William Al.
| Wetzel, principal of the Trenton
High School, and Assemblyman John
e. Gill, of this city, who is an educa-
| tor, have issued statements refuting
| the charge that they are parties to an
organized movement to diseredit and
dispraise the State Board of Educa-
| ton and State Commissioner Calvin
N, Kendall, and generally to attack
| the new school laws passed last Win
ter 1t was charged that these men
acting with certain ,disgruntled Sup
erintendents and Principals were
waging campaign against the new
/, laws and the new State Board. The
charges referred to letter sent out
by DR.. Wetzel to educators all over
the State, asking for their opinion
en- the new laws.
DR. Wetzell in his statement said
that his soul purpose was to get in
| formation from educators as to where
they stood on the laws passed last
winter, particularly the law requir-
ing a uniform examination and a
minimum course Of study. Without
mincing words, DR.. Wetzel character
ized this law as vicious one that
s., uld be repealed. He said it was
jan1med through the Legislature last
winter without a public hearing and
had there been hearing it would
have reached the statute books. Con-
tinuing, DR.. Wetzel declared that
when the parents come to under
stand that the new law means that
the work of the children through the
school term is not to count for pro-
motion in connection with an examin-
alton, but that an examination on test
questions made out by the State Com
missioner is to be the sole ground for
promotion from the Grammar Schools
to the High Schools, there will be a
general outcry against the law
Leading educators in and out of this
State are condemning the law, Dr.
Wetzel said.
Assemblyman Gill admitted that
he had talked with DIR. Wetzel over
the question of getting information as
to some of the new school laws, but
claimed there was no campaign to
discredit anybody. Both men insist
ed that there was no politics in the
matter, and that the good of the
schools was the only interest being
considered. Mr.. Gill, this week, is
introducing bill to repeal that part
of the law requiring uniform examin-
ations as the sole bsEis for promotion.
The Legislative program this week
included the Introduction OF another
flood of bills, the passing of a few
measures of minor importance. a few
minor appointments by Governor
Wilson and several hearings on pend
ing bills. The bills passed by the
Senate included provisions for the
inspection of oyster beds, for a suita-
Bile New Jersey representation at the
Doth anniversary of the Battle of
Gettysburg. Among the bills passed
in the Assembly were: Requiring the
American flag displayed on town and
county buildings ON business days;
making it misdemeanor to use OBJ
scene language in public places while
intoxicated; permitting licensed hunt
ers to take so reed or rail birds in
one day. the present limit being Is;
prohibiting the use of motor boats in
taking CLANS. The appointments by
the Governor were: William L. VALID
ron, OF this city, state superintend-
ent of weights and measures; DR..
Henry B. Costill, of this city and
Alexander Marcy, of Burlington, to
the State Sterilization Commission.
Some of. the provisions III bills in
troduced are: For county commits
sions to work for the determination
of the mosquito; for a non-partisan
commission to investigate w,,ather
convicts in the State Prisna can be
utilized on the public road and other
public work; repeating the schoo,
law of 1911 requiring uniform exam
nations, which is meeting with op-
position among educators; recurring
larger train crews on steam and cleo
trio freight, express and passenger
trains; appropriating $1,500,O0O for
the Delaware River Drive from Tren-
ton to Port Jeryis; providing for a
New Jersey Commission of eleven
members for the San Francisco Ex-
position in 1915
F*<s
Senator Smalley, of Somerset coun-
ty, introduced bill in the Senate this
week which has already attracted
considerable attention 1t authorizes
the formation of corporations for the
establishment of trackless trolley
lines over exclusive routes.
q 4 *s%&
The Court of Chancery opened its
February term at the State House
Yesterday with Chancellor Pitney pre-
siding and 26 cases listed for argu-
ment. None of the cases were Of
Statewide Importance.
A**&
Former Governor E. c. Stokes, who
favors the nomination of Colonel
Theodore Roosevelt for President and
who has his home in Cumberland
county, expressed himself last night
as much pleased with the result of
the Presidential primary conducted
in this county during January by the
regular Republican County Committee.
The ballot resulted as follows. Roose-.
Ve1t 1924 Taft 1dQ. II aE,or1n+t~