Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-08-14
WESEMAN WARNED
OF SEAS DANGERS
Retiring State House Custodian
Gets Binoculars to Spot
Foreign Warships.

Special to the Evening Star.
TRENTON, Aug. 1.-THE Senate
] chamber at the State capitol here was
/ the scene late yesterday afternoon OF
brief ceremony, in which retiring
Custodian John w. Weseman, OF
Newark, and State Comptroller Ed
ward I. Edwards. were the leading
participants. Weseman was the re-
cipient of a set of marine glasses. and
the comptroller. in a brief and witty
speech, made the presentation on be-
half of the State House employees
who have been under the retiring GUS
todian. The presentation was wit
messed by a number of the retiring Of
ficials subordinates, attaches of the
other departments and outsiders. Mr..
Weseman was very much affected by
the token for himself and a large bou-
quet of roses for Mrs. Weseman, and
responded with difficulty.
In making the presentation Comp
troller Edwards, who is a member of
the State House Commission, which
recently accepted the retiring custo-
dams resignation and named John A.
Smith, of Camden, to succeed him,
paid a tribute to his efficiency as head
of the force of workers whose duty II
is to keep the capitol in good condi-
ton. He humorously outlined some
uses to which Mr.. Weseman, who is
yachtsman, may put the marine
glasses when at sea. The comptrol-
ler's speech was as follows:
No Fault to Find.
at have been requested by the en-
ployes of the State House Commission
md your associates to deliver rep
rimand to you on the occasion of your
departure from the storms of public
life to the quiet of private life.
am sure that if they intended to find
the slightest fault with the way in
which you have performed your du-
ties in this building, they have chosen
the wrong spokesman. 1 have moth
ing but praise for the way you con-
Quoted your office. I confess that
came here four years ago prepared to
find fault, but you soon disarmed me.
Cleanliness is said to be next to god
illness in the everyday virtues, and
so I must acclaim you a worthy off,
cial. You have been strict but fair to
your 6Idil, Opttl III SOdi oCdAlh6o WIN
the commission, economical but not
parsimonious with the State treas
ury, courteous to the public. In short,
faithful servant to the State.
Although in office nearly twelve
years, you have always acted, not as
though you owned the office and could
neglect its duties, but as though you
| held Office by deserving it.
Keep Within Three-MiIe Limit"
I'VE know that you will not forget
us. but we live in troublous times.
Your friends here have learned that
you are an adventurous mariner and
wish to protect you in case you stray
beyond the three mile limit. These
| glasses which, in the names of your
associates, present you, are for use
keep them near the compass and
/ the wheel. Should you spy a German
/ cruiser off the coast, hoist the Stars
and Stripes and make for the shore
| lest the Kaiser impress you into his
/ army, where they need good fighters
| Should an English or French man-of-
war assail you, put up a white flag
and reply that your name is Solomon
not Weseman.
"But should a Yankee destroyer
/ gOu 6tiOW yOuI PdDtIS anu
| tell them what a loyal Jerseyman
you are. These are long distance
glasses, but you will never need them
to recognize your many friends in he
| State House.
IT can wish no better fortune TO
your successor than that he should
emulate your example and the length
of your term. We wish you, not good
by, but auf Weidersehen."
Regrets Leaving state House.
In face of the emotion that he felt
Mr.. Weseman's reply was punctuated
with breaks in his voice. He thanked
! his associates in the department for
the token of esteem. not, he said
merely for what it was worth, bur
| for what it meant 81 regret leaving
here" he said/ mot because l will nc
longer be on the pay roll, but because
1 of the associations that / shall miss
] appreciate these gifts the more
when I think that they are given Ia
me despite the fact that 1 have moth
ing to give you in return In the way
OF vacations or favors. If yor
give my successor the same faithful
service you have given me his tasl
Will be an easy one. / assure yot
that I shall never need long distance
glasses to recognize any of my friends
here"
Mr.. Weseman, who is a Republican
was appointed custodian in July, 1901
succeeding the late Joseph II. Bon.
| nell. His resignation takes effect to,
morrow, when John A. Smith, the ap
pointee of the State House Commits,
sion, will assume the duties. Mr.
| Weseman will engage in the real es-
| tate business in Newark.