The Penn's Grove record., 1912-03-08
Senator Davis Letter ON Legislation.
State House, Trenton, N. j.
March 6, 1912.
o the Residents of Salem County,

Trial OF RlcuafQ FltZneIDelt, OeH1o-
cratic Senator from Morris County, be-
gan on Tuesday morning and closed at
4 O'Clock to-day, Wednesday. There
will be a session this evening in which,
l assume, the matter will be discussed
by the Senate and probably Il vote taken
upon the charges preferred by the Ju-
dietary Committee against him, as to
whether he has been guilty OF conduct
unbecoming u Senator and should be ex-
PEELED from the Senate in consequences
thereof. The Senate was ably repre-
scented by Edmund Wilson, ESQ.,, At
torney- General OF the State OF New
Jersey, and the Senator by Ex-senator
William D. Edwards, of Jersey City.
Both OF these gentlemen are among the
ablest attorneys in New Jersey, and
fierce legal battles have been waged
during these two days. The result at
this time is prOblemaIical, but it is the
general opinion at the State House, SO
tar as l am able to assertion, that not
so strong IA cast has been made out
against the Senator as was anticipated.
At the conclusion of that hearing to-
day the Senate in a body, both Demo-
cratic and Republican, went to the Gov
ernor's office and requested the Cover
nor to appoint Senator George 5. Sllzer
from the county of Middlesex, Secre.
tary Of State; the Governor did not
state whether he would make such APP
pointment OF not, but thanked the
Senators for comforting with him on the
subject, said that it was a handsome
thing for them to interview him Oh be-
half of one of their members and that
he already knew Senator Silzer was a
fine gentlemen and able Statesman.
Senator Read from Camden County,
stated that the Senate had construed
the Constitution strictly, which said that
such appointment could be made with
the advise and consent Of the Senate,
and so the Senate had called upon the
Governor to advise him.
At 4.30 O'Clock this afternoon the
Senate sitting as a Committee of the
whole gave a public hearing Lo the adj
vocates of Local Option upon the bill
with reference to that subject, intro
duced by Senator t1ebhardt of Hunder-
ton County. The meeting was largely
attended, every available foot of space
was crowded. The speakers were able
and eloquent. Judge Blair, Of Ohio,
who dis-franchised 1890 voters i'll
Adams County because they had sold
their votes, ably advocated the aus of
Local Option, while Ex-Goyernor John
W. Griggs spoke with that cIearness
which is characteristic of him against
the bill.
Tie bill which | introduced several
weeks ago allowing fishermen to catch
carp, suckers and catfish with cast nets
from September to May 3Ist was re-
turned with minor amendments from
the House where Assemblyman Smick
did great work in having it passed with
out a single vote i'll opposition on Mon
day evening. The Senate at once kind
ly suspended the rules and %cOncurred
in the amendments. The bill has been
printed and l shall TAXI it to the Gov
ernor to sign this evening. L have no
doubt that he will sign it Immediately,
and before we leave the Senate Tonight
the bill will become a law.
have leen asked by several persons
why [ voted against the Pierce Grade
Crossing bill, which provides for The
abolition Of grade crossings. Last fall
both Democrats and Republicans were
pledged to such an issue; the Republi-
cans expressly promised the abolition
of grade crossing at the entire expense
of the Railroad Companies. The Dem
ocratic platform While not so explicit
implied the anne thing. The Pierce
bill provides that all municipalities
shall pay Is per cent. of the expense i'll
CURED III removing any crossing if it
petitions for said removal. This is a
violation of both platforms, the bill in
some other respects is unsatisfactory
also.
There are two other bills in the Sen
ate, one introduced by Senator Fielder
from Hudson County, and the other by
Senator Read of Camden County who
is a Republican, botil Of these billsprc-
vide that the crossings shall be remov-
ed at the entire expense of the Railroad
Companies, and my hope is that the
former bill will be defeated in the
House AMI that either the Fielder or
the Read bill will be substituted there
for. Both of these bills are as a whole
much more satisfactory than tue Pierce
bill. The Pierce bill lis a step i'll the
right direction, but is not what we
stand pledged to, and is not so good a
bill as the two other bills that are to be
acted upon by the Senate. 1t was for
this reason that l voted against the
Pierce bill, hoping that one OF the other
bills would be substituted.
Yours very truly,
j. WARREN DAVIS.
Senator Silzer made an able speech
against the Prince bill on February