Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-02-29
POLITICS AND COMMENT FROM
THE STATE CAPITOL.

Trenton, Feb. 2S.-After the Senate
had received on Monday night the re-
port of the Judiciary Committee on
its investigation of the charges of at
tempted extorton against Senator
Richard Fitzherbert, of Morris Co., it
voted to try Senator Fitzherbert next
Tuesday at 1890 a. m, upon the
question of his expulsion. The COM
mittee presented full report of its
proof and recommended that the Sem
ator be tried by the entire Senate.
This recommendation was unani-
mously adopted. The trial will be the
result of the charges preferred
against Senator Fitzherbert of at
tempted extortion in connection with
two bills introduced by him, and
which were strikes" at the CONNER
eial Acetylene Gas Company. The
specific charge against Senator Fitz-
herbert will be the commission of an
offense inconsistent with the trust and
duty of a member of the Senate. To
expel Senator Fitzherbert wiH re-
Quire a two-thirds vote of the SEN
ate. There are eleven Senators and it
will, therefore, require the votes of
at least three of the Democratic col
leagues of Senator Fitzherbert to un-
seat him.
There was an exciting climax at
the State House yesterday afternoon
to the proceedings brought last week
for the disbarment of Senator Will
lam C. Gebhardt, of Hunterdon Co.,
in which former Senator James N.
Pidcock, of Hunterdon, played the
leading role. Pidcock is also a
Democrat, is from Hunterdon and the
mortal political enemy of Gebhardt
as the leader of the Anti-Gebhardt
Democratic faction in the County.
Pidcock appeared at the State House
and it was claimed he appeared to be
intoxicated. He said he was seeking
Gebhardt This was during the re-
cess before the afternoon session. Pid-
cocks actions were so suspicious that
he was escorted from the capitol, but
later returned. Senator Gebhardt
learning of Pidcock's actions applied
for police protection, and was es-
lcorted back to the State House from
lunch by two police officers. In Ex-
ecutiVe session the Senate inveSti-
gated the matter. Senator Gebhardt
this week filed in the Supreme Court
his answering affidayits to the disbar-
ment charges. He denied any at
tempt at Jury tampering in Hunter
don County as charged in the affi-
davit of former Sheriff Green, of Hun
terdon. Senator Gebhardt, also filed
affidavits of Sheriff Holcombe, of Hun
terdon and other officers of the county
refuting the charges. The Court took
the affidayits; and will announce its
decision later whether a rule shall
issue requiring the Senator to show
cause why he should not be disbar-
red. After he had filed his affidavits
Senator Gebhardt denounced the pro-
ceedings against him as outrageous,
inexcusable and damnable.
E&*#
Former President Theodore Roose-
welt having followed his hat into the
ring and announced that he will ac-
cept the nomination for President, the
Roosevelt followers in this State have
already planned for renewed activity
in their campaign to secure the New
Jersey delegates to the National Con-
vention for the Colonel. State As
SCISSOR George L. Record, who is one
of the Roosevelt leaders, said today
that meetings would be started imme-
diately in various sections of the
State, and that every effort would be
made to capture New Jersey for the
next President.
Governor Wilson sent to the Legis-
lature this week special message
urging the ratification by this State
of the proposed income tax amend
ment to the Constitution. The Gov
ernor pointed out that a large major
ity Of the states have already voted
in favor of an amendment providing
an income tax, and stated that It
would be a conspicuous service to the
country if New Jersey added her vote
to that of the other states. He claim
ed 1t was of utmost Importance that
the power to levy an income tax
should be bestowed upon the Congress
of the United States.
Senator Nichols, of Cumberland, in
troduced an income resolution JAM
uary 9, the opening day of the ses-
sion and following the appearance OF
the Governors message he notified
the Senate that unless his resolution
was reported soon from Committee
he would move to have the committee
relieved OF It's furtner conSluefdtloH- :
Unless there be a change of front
on the part of some of the Senators,
it is not believed the income tax pro-
position can pass this Legislature.
The Republicans are believed to be OPP
posed to it, and Senator Fielder, DEM
ocrat. has also announced himself as
opposed to an income tax. Unless,
therefore, there is a break among the
Republicans, the resolution will not
pass the Senate.
BY adixing his signature to them
Governor Wilson this week made laws
Of the following bills: Requiring that
dust blowers be installed in factories;
requiring safety devices on n1achin-
cry III factories: permitting chains on
automobile tires when roads are slip
perv because Of snow or rain; provid-
:. !, f<s,s q monument ia New Jersey