The Penn's Grove record., 1914-01-23
DEMOCRATS KICK
OVER TRACES
California Plan of Lawmakinq
May Be Adopted
ASSEMBLY NAMES BEEKMAN
Senate Selects J.. w. sIocum as Head
Hundred Bills introduced at the
Opening Of 18Th Session Of Leg
Observation-Disclosures Trouble.

Especial Trenton Correspondence
Trenton.-The 13Sth annual session
OF the New Jersey Legislature began
with the organization Of the Senate
and the House Of Assembly:
Some Of the minority Republicans
reminded one another that the Demo
Gratis might be sorry before the work
is over that the session started on
the 18th. The Democrats, on the
other hand, pointed out that "13" is
President Wilson's lucky number and
therefore there is good reason to be
lieve the party will not make bad
breaks and lose in popularity.
Senator John Webley Slocum, OF
Monmouth, was chosen President OF
the Senate; Senator Peter James Nc
Ginnis, of Passaic. majority floor lead
er, and Senator William Thackara
Read, Of Camden, as the minority floor
leader.
In the House of Assembly Azariah
NJ, Beekman, of Somerset, was elected
Speaker. Assemblyman Joseph M.
Branegan, Of Hudson, Is the Democra,
tic floor leader, and Assemblyman EN-
erson L. Richards is the Republican
leader on the floor.
AS the result of a kicking over of
the traces by a Democratic Assembly.
man and a Democratic Senator the
lawmakers may adopt the California
plan, after all. ~Assemblyman Walter
McDermott was the legislator who sur
prised his colleagues by the introduc-
ton Of a resolution providing that no
bills be introduced after March 2, and
that the Legislature take a recess on
that day until April /.
The first part of his resolution was
adopted, but the second part Of it was
given to the Judiciary Committee. 1t
will come VI again, so the Democrats
will have an opportunity to think it
over. Senator Egan, Of Hudson, had
a similar resolution ready to introduce
In the Senate, but he was persuaded
to hold 1t over. About two weeks ago
the Democratic Senators, together
with the Speaker and majority leader
of the House, had a conference with
Mr.. Fielder, at which it was decided
to sidetrack the California plan for
this year. Assemblyman McDermott
is an anti-Wilson Assemblyman.
After organization the gates were
let down and a hundred bills were in
troduced. There were sixty-three
measures in the House and thirty-sev-
en- in the Senate, and they covered
a wide range. Among them were bills
providing for the opening Of saloons
on Sunday. the preferential primary
ballot, the abolition of personal taxes,
the elimination Of grade crossings, and
the creation Of a new tax system for
the State. There was also one which
amended one of the "seven sisters
by explicitly e%xempting labor unions
from its provisions.
Senator Price. of Union. introduced
the Connecticut grade crossing law,
changed to meet conditions in the
State. He also introduced his bills
providing for a reorganization Of the
ak system and the imposition of a
tax on bank stock. Senator Egan in
troduced a bill exempting from taxa
tion the personal property Of the in
iividual, the storekeeper and the man
lfacturer. while Senators Colgate and
Hennessy had measures providing for
the preferential primary ballot, that of
Mr.. Hennessy providing for three
choices.
Both, houses had warm debates over
changes in the rules, the Senate adopt
ing the suggestion of the Republicans
that the appropriation bills be intro
1uced and printed not less than a
week before the adjournment of the
Legislature. Another radical change
suggested by the Republicans that was
adopted provides that every bill must
be reported from committee in writ
ing, to show how each member voted.
Senator McGinnis, the Democratic
leader, in accepting this change, said
It was a question of individual opin-
ion and not party politics. Both these
changes were turned down by the
House.