Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-01-04
POLITICS AND COMMENT FROM
THE STATE CAPITOL.

Senate, and Speaker McCran in the
Assembly, next Tuesday, the New Jer-
sey law-making machinery will start
for the 136th session of the Legis-
lature. With the Presidential cam
paign but few months in the future,
this legislative session will be mo-
mentous one, and is expected to furn-
ish one of the sternest political bat
ties ever fought on Jersey soil. Be-
cause of the fact that the vote in
the Senate in so evenly balanced be-
tween the Democrats and Republi-
cans, the latter having only one ma
jority, the floor of the upper house
will probably be the scene of con-
fiict.
Both political parties will endeayor
to make the session aid in the po-
litical campaign for the Presidency.
With Governor Wilson as one of the
leading candidates for the nomination
for President, the Democrats in par
ticular will seek to make the session
count in the interest of the Governor
Opposed to the Governor and his fol-
lowers there will be not only the Re-
publicans but the Smith-Nugent COM
bination which has already lined up
to fight the move to place Governor
Wilson at the head of the national
ticket.
With the Republicans in control in
each house that party, of course, will
take the lead in shaping the legisla-
ton. The Republican party measures
have already been decided upon. and
they will be in line with the party
platform of last fall These measures
will include simplification of the Ger
an election law, appropriation of
grade crossings, Jury reform, auto
mobile reciprocity, inland waterways
development, forest and water conser-
vation, extension of good roads, etc.
Besides these party propositions, bills
will also be introduced for the further
protection of factory operatives; to
make more stringent the pure food
| laws; for the extension of the work of
the course in agriculture at the
/ State Experiment Farm in New Bruns-
wick and other important questions
The opening of the Legislature will
be a picturesque ceremony. and will
bring to the State House not only the
usual large crowd of politicians, but
also hundreds of spectators. 1t is ex-
pected that there will be the usual
elaborate floral display in the Assem-
bly,, while the more conservative SEN
ate will content itself with less elab-
crate show of flowers. The Senate
will be called to order by Senator
Edge, of Atlantic, Chairman and floor
leader of the Republican majority.
The Senators elect will then present
their credentials, and take the oath Of
office. They are, William T. Read, OF
Camden; Colonel Austen Colgate. of
Essex; George w. F. Gaunt, of Glou-
cester; William w. Smalley, of SOM
erset; and Carlton B. Pierce, of Tn
ION, Republicans; and John w. Slo-
cum, of Monmouth; j. Warren Davis.
OF Salem; Thomas Barber, of Warren;
Democrats. Then the organization
will take place by the election. by
party vote, of Senator John D. Prince,
OF Passaic, as President; Francis B.
Davis, of Gloucester, as Secretary. and
Guadaloupe A. Holl, of Mercer. and
the choice of the minor officers. The
Democratic minority will have full
slate OF offices, which will be placed
IN nomination, but, of course, they
will be out-voted by the Republicans.
The House of Assembly viii be call
ed to order by the Clerk of the last
House, who was Daniel A. Dugan. ,f
Esser County, now Judge of the Dis
trict Court in Orange The so mem
| bers of this house will then present
their credentials and take the oath Of
office This will be done by all the
members standing at their desks and
with the right hand raised repeating
the oath to uphold the Constitution of
the State and of the United States.
and properly to perform the duties of
an Assemblyman. The Republicans
having a majority of IA members in
/ the Assembly, will easily control the
organization, there being % Demo-
Gratis out of so members. Last wear
the Democrats controlled the Assem-
bly, with 42 members to only Is Re
publicans. The change this year to
Republican control will not only
throw all the Offices in the House into
republican hands, but will also change
the political complexion of all the
committees from Democrat to Repub-
ican.
The Assembly will be organized by
the election of Thomas P. McCran. of
Passaic, as Speaker; Upton S. JEFF
ferys, of Camden, as Clerk; Thomas
IlGiiien, of Essex, Assistant Clerk; ]
R. Flayell, of Essex, Sergeant-at
Arms and the selection Of the minor
officers. In this House, too, the Dem
ocrats will make their nominations.
their choice for Speaker being Chas.
A. Meer, of Warren County. These
nominations. however, will be but
empty honors.
**s*
/ Following Ehe organization in the
two Houses, Governor. Wilson's first
annual message will be submitted and
read, and the usual number of COPIES
ordered printed for public circulation.
The Governor has completed his mes
sage, but has given no hint as to
what its contents are. 1t is reason
able, however, to expect that it will