Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1912-02-08
LEGISLATURE
WAS BUSY
Earlier Date for Presidential
Primary.
MAY Be IN APRIL.
Some Political Bills that May Be
Aimed at the Growing Roose-
velt Boom.
VOL. LXiv

lT6ntOu, IN. d., req. O.-1uS anu
machine Roosevelt boomers among the
Republicans of the State, led by for
mer Governor Stokes, have discov-
cred what looks like a scheme to pre-
vent the taking of vote for the hero
of San Juan Hill at the Presidential
primaries in May. A bill introduced
last night by Assemblyman Holloway,
of Essex, providing for an amendment
to the Geran law, stipulates that no
vote shall be taken in the preferential
primaries for any candidate for
President without his consent. OF
course, the Colonel has not yet really
consented to the use of his name as
candidate, all his utterances upon
that subject having been veiled or
subjected to degree of doubt which
leaves at least loophole of escape
in case of necessity.
But the Roosevelt boomers have no
notion that when the time comes he
can safely be regarded as an active or
respective candidate for the Office.
They are pushing along on this basis,
at any rate, and the Holloway bill is
evidently intended to prevent their
further progress. 1t will be interest
ing, indeed, to watch its fate, since
there are very considerable number
of Senators and Assemblyman lining
up with Stokes and Colby in the Roose-
welt movement. The Republican ma
-jority in the two Houses is going
mighty slow ON bills that have par
tisan complexion because of the mar
row limits of the Senate vote and the
presence of SO many progressives. In
deed it is doubtful is any distinctly
partisan bill could get a majority of
caucus of either House, so tightly
is the line drawn.
A hearing set for yesterday after
noon upon the bills providing sundry
amendments to- the Geran law drew
an audience of one, and Senator Leav-
lit concluded that there was no great
demand for such changes 1t has been
practically decided, however, to
change the date of the Presidential
primaries to the fourth Tuesday in
April. This, it is said, meets the ap-
proval of the friends of Governor
Wilson and the Roosevelt boomers,
as it will facilitate the election of
national delegates in their favor
1t also removes the objection raised
that the rules of the Republican Ma
tional Committee conflict with the
present primary election in this State
and that there might arise some Ques-
tion of the regularity of delegates
chosen under it.
When Assemblyman McAllister's bill
prohibiting the removal from the
State of more than SO reed or rail
birds as result of one mans days
hunting came up in the House, it
precipitated lively debate. The
Cumberland man, in explaining the
operation of the measure, stated that
the law now provides that only Is
such birds may be removed and that
this worked a tremendous hardship
upon non-residents who come in and
pay the required $40 license fee. Be-
side this ten spot they are compelled
to hire what is known as "pusher"
at from S. to $40 day to get through
the reeds where these birds are found,
and considering that there might be
other expenses, such as are usually
required in hunting or fishing trips,
not to say anything of bait, the cost
of Is birds to a man comes exceeding
ly high.
Mr.. Beard, of Essex, stated that in
view of the fact that Mr.. McAllister's
bill would permit the killing of so
birds of each species, a gunner could
& bag hundred birds a day, which he
regarded as unsportsmanlike, and
highly improper, to say nothing of
the probability of removing from some
other eager hunter the chance of kill
ing bird or two. Several other
members took a hand in the proceed
ings and Mr.. Egan asked for an ex-
PLANTATION from Mr.. McAllister as to
the difference between rail and
reed bird. For moment this fius-
tered the Cumberland man. who evil