Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-21
SENATOR MUNSON
1FAVORS WHAT THE
MAJORITY WANTS
Solon on Return from Europe
So Declares Himself on
'Jury" Legislation.
PLEADS IGNORANCE OF
LEGISLATIVE SITUATION
Favors Chancellor Bill With
Referendum, if Most of the
Democrats Want 1t.

Senator Samuel T. Munson, of
Sussex county, who had been tour
ing Europe since the regular session
OF the Legislature adjourned, re-
turned today on the White Star
liner Olympic and announced that
he would vote for the chancellor
sheriff jury bill with referendum
or any other measure that the ma
jority Of the Democrats want.
Half a dozen friends gathered at
the White Star line pier, in New
York, to meet the Senator and Mrs.
Munson. The Olympic was sched-
uled to dock about s o'clock this
morning, but it was nearly two hours
later when the giant liner was towed
into place and the passengers per-
mitted to leave.
Senator Munson threw up his
hands and exclaimed EXCUSE me-"
when he was first approached for his
opinion on the jury bill.
You see. I have no knowledge of
what has been going on in New
Jersey while I was away" he ex-
planned, "I did not receive any news
papers or anything else which would
give me an inkiing of the situation"
Told Of situation.
It was explained to the Senator
that at conference between Presi-
dent Woodrow Wilson and the State
leaders in Jersey City the "chan-
cellor" bill was decided upon as the
measure to be passed, but after it
was seen that this could not get
through the Legislature without
referendum, that feature was at-<
tached and this bill passed the House
by a substantial vote. He was told
that this measure failed by one vote
of passing the Senate.
"WiH you vote for this chancellor
bill with the referendum r. he was
asked.
''1f the majority of the Democrats
want that bill they.ll get it.n he
answered. "I'll vote With the ma
jority of the Democrats for any bill
they want
Asked If he was opposed to a refer
endum on jury bill. the senator re-
piled that 1t depended on what sort
Of referendum was proposed He
again reiterated his assertion that he
would vote for the chancellor bill
with referendum.
'fli be with the majority of the
Democrats for any jury bill they
want to pass" he added decisively.
senator Becomes Indignsnt
Senator Munson was indignant
when one of those who met him at
the pier declared 1t had been insinu-
ated that he had made the trip to
Europe to dodge the issue on jury
reform.
That's ridiculous he said; any
one who can afford to go abroad for
a trip will do so. have registered
my belief in jury reform on three
separate occasions. ] knew that theraI
was to be a special session of the |
Legislature called on May 9Th. but
thought the whole matter would be
settled long before this time. I
thought the Legislature would meet
for one session and put the jury bill
through. / never imagined situation
like this would arise
The senator was told that both
branches of the Legislature would
meet on next Monday.
rs that SOP" he inquired. Then he
added with a laugh, II guess I'll go
on, vacation"
Becoming serious again he repeated
that he would be ION deck" and Wilt
vote with the majority of the Demo-
cratic members of the Senate on any
jury reform measure they attempted
to put through.
Senator Munson and Mrs. Munson
appeared to- be in the best of health.
He declared that they took the trip
merely for pleasure and had visited
England. France, Belgium and other
places. The one drawback of the
trip, he declared, was the bad weather
they experienced most of the time
abroad.