Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-01-16
Democrats Have Small Ma
jOrity In Legislature.
BEEKMAN HEADS ASSEMBLY
Lively Partisan Contests May Be Ex-
pected During the Session-Governor
Has Many Plums to Hand Out-Flood
of Bills In Both Houses.
[specIal correspondence. ]

Especial Correspondence
Trenton, N. J.. Jan. 14.-Lively par
tisan contests may be witnessed in the
one hundred and thirty-eighth legisla-
ture of New Jersey. for the Democrats
have not as wide a margin IN their
representation as they had last year.
In the senate the Democrats will have
n majority of only one, while in the
house it will be fourteen. Last year
their majority on joint ballot was for
ty-five.
Impressive ceremonies marked the
opening of the 1914 session. The en-
ate was called to order by Majority
Leader McGinnis of Passaic. Follow
ing the prayer by the Rev. DR.. |. L.
Wood of Trenton, the official document
from Secretary of State Crater desig-
mating the eight senators elect was
read. They are Edge of Atlantic,
Hutchinson of Mercer, Rathbun of
Morris and Mathis of Ocean, Repub-
Leans; Hennessy of Bergen, Ackley of
Cumberland, Egan of Hudson and
Smick of Salem, Democrats.
Senator George w. #. Gaunt of
Gloucester, Republican. was then made
president pro tenn, following the GUS
ON of giving that honor to the minor
ity. He welded the ga. eI during the
organization. The credentials Of the
members were presented and the oaths
administered. Senator Slocum of Mon
mouth, the choice of the Democrats,
was next elected to the presidency.
His opponent was Senator Colgate, Re-
publican. Of Essex, and the balloting
was along party lines. Mr.. Dill was
renamed secretary, and the other Off
GERS were chosen. The message of
Governor Taylor was then read. In
Difference to Governor Fielder, be
made it brief and left state issues to
his successor.
Former Assemblyman Mark T.. Phil
lips of Essex, clerk of the last house.
called the house of assembly to order.
Prayer was offered by the Rev. f. w.
Soule of Somerville, and then the sixty
members presented their certificates Of
election. The oath was administered
by all the members responding at one
time and made an impressive scene
With right hands uplifted each one
promised to support the constitution
of the United States and faithfully
discharge his duties.
Beekman Speaker.
Assemblyman Azariah M. Beekman
Of Copnaraat uraS calaofad n cnaokar
by the Democrats, the vote being along
party lines and was 81 to %. The
Republicans nominated Assemblyman
Hervey S. Moore of Mercer. After
the appointment of committees the adj
dress of Governor Taylor was pre-
scented.
Adjournment was taken until next
Monday night. Tuesday the Inaugural
ton of Governor Fielder will take
place. At that time Governor Taylor
will urn over to Governor Fielder
the great seal of the state. and the
oath of Office will be administered to
him by Chief Justice Gummere of the
supreme court. The ceremonies will
take place in Taylor Opera House at
noon and are to be of simple nature.
as the governor is opposed to any dis
play.
Economy is to be a watchword of
the administration of Governor Field
er. To keep a check on the number
of bills introduced. the innovation OF
having a reference bureau and legal
expert is to be tried out this year.
The bureau will be in the library of
the state. and the lawyer will be sta
toned in the attorney generals office.
Information for the benefit of the dele
gates may be obtained through both.
Watch For Joker.
To prevent the rushing through OF
any bills that may contain a possible
ticker" the Democrats have decided
that no measures are to be introduced
after March 3 except with unanimous
consent and none is to be taken ND for
final reading until at least ten days
after the second reading. This was a
compromise reached in the proposal to
follow the California plan of conven
ing for the introduction of bills and
then adiourning for weeks while the
measures were examined by the inhab.
itahts OF the state. When a sufficient
period had elapsed both houses were
to return to pass on the bills. Cover
nor Fielder disliked the idea, as he
feared 1t would be impossible to get o
Quorum attend the sessions if the
members found that the proposed stat
utes would not affect them.
All the glory of the session l.. not to
be left to the Democrats. The Repub.
licans have banded together to be
alert. progressive legislation Is to be
championed by them throughout the
term. and any error their opponents
make will be recorded for the future
knowledge of the voters. Publicity
will be a strong card played by the
G. o. P. Former Governor e. C
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