The Penn's Grove record., 1915-11-12
STATE Capitol NEWS
What The State Officials Are Doing.
What The Political Leader Are
Talking About.

& JDAllBS over Lut4 AlELOiAs the LbEElUlA-
can members and nHembers-elect Of the
Legislature assembled, the meeting bring
ing the first skirmishes for the organic
alton Of the 140th Legislature on Tues
day, January II, next. The plans for
the organization Of the Senate went off
smoothly, while it became evident that
there will be lively contests for the
Speakership of the Assembly and for
the position of State Treasurer.
The Republican Senators decided to
hold their caucus at SOnce, thus introdue-
ing an innovation, as the general prac-
tice has been to defer this until some
time in December. As Senate President
Edge declared, it woild be better to have
the conference now and get the matter
QUE Of the way, as it only served to en-
gender the possibility of party turmoil
to postpone it.
Senator William Z. Read, of Camden,
who was the Republican leader in the
upper House last session, was chosen as
the party candidate for President Of the
Senate, this honor being coupled with
that of the Craftsmanship of the caucus
throughout the coming session. Senator
Read will be elected to the Presidency
on January IL by the party vote Of il
Republicans to s Democrats. This viii
make Senator Read Acting Governor
next year on occasions when Governor
Fielder may leave the state. Senator
Charles A. Rathbun. of Morris. was made
Republican leader. Francis 3. Davis, Of
Gloucester county, who has been Seere-
tary of the Senate two years, in 1917
and 1918, will be reelected to this posi-
ton. Mr.. Davis was at the State House
yesterday as a candidate for the Secre-
taryship, and there was no opposition
to him.
The following steering committee was
appointed to apportion the other offices
among the counties having Republican
Senators and to make further arrange
ments for the opening Of the session OF
1916: Senators Mathis, Of Ocean; Edge,
Of Atlantic; Colgate, of Esesx; Pierce, OF
Union: and Smalley, of Somerset The
Republican Senators viii meet again on
November % to hear the report from
this committee. Leader Rathbun was
authorized to assign to the various Sem
ators the drafting of bills to carry out
the Republican state platform pledges.
> .
Senator Edge, as chairman of the Re-
publican State Convention held October
). Yesterday named the committee OF ten
authorized by the Convention to arrange
to nave the platform pledges enacted INTO
law. The Committee comprises State
Chairman Newton AK. Bugbee; Senators
Read, Rathbun, Gaunt, Of Gloucester;
SenatOr-elect McCran, of Passalc; AS
sembIyman Pngram, of Essex; Runyon,
of Union; Hammond, of Somerset; Whit
man, of Atlantic, and Assemblyman-elect
Roberts, of Burlington.
The lineup yesterday of the RepuDh-
can Assemblymen indicated that the
Speaker will likely be AssembIyman
Charles c. PiIgram, of Essex, noted Tor
his aggressiveness in the House last SEES
sion. or Assemblyman Arthur n. Pier
son. of Union, who was the Republican
leader during the last session., with the
chances favoring Pilgram. Mr.. Runyon
has friends who declare that be Is the
logical candidate following his leader
ship, and that he should be chosen Inc
Essex county delegation, with its twelve
members. however, is for &lfram, and
Alfred n. Dalrymple, thss leader,
who came to the S~tataskR with ms
delegation. declared tfSkMgram would
be elected. The indications are that
whether Runyon or Plgram be mace
sneaker. Assemblyman John B. Hates,
of Camden, will be the leader. Inc he
publican Assembly caucus will not De
held until later. X
Upton S. Jefferys, of frk
of two or three recent RepS1sNS@d AS
semblies and Captain James Parker, OF
| Paterson, who was Clerk several times
in past years. are both candidates for the
Clerkship this year. Both were at the
State House yesterday, campaigning for
the position. 1t cannot now be foretolc
which will win, although it seems that
the chances rather favor Jefferys.
There is lively speculation as to who
will be made State Treasurer next Feb
ruary. when the $4,000 office will pass
/ into Republican hands again. State
Chairman Bugbee mingled with the law
makers at. the Capitol yesterday as an
active aspirant for the position. Form
err Water Supply Commissioner George
f. Wright, of Passaic county, announced
himself as a candidate and the five Pas
sale Assemblymen said they were for
him. There was also mention of form
err Senator Thomas ]. Hillery, of Nor
ris county. and former State Comptrol-
Ter Henry ]. West, of Camden, as can
didates.
Assemblyman George W. Downes, OF
Morris, brought to the State House q let
ter from former State Treasurer Daniel
S. voorhees,, in which Mr.. Voorhees, de-
clared that he would not be a candidate
for State Treasurer.
at is highly gratifying to me" wrote
Uncle Dam" that my numerous friends
throughout the state have voluntarily Of
fered me their support for the Treasur-
ership. / wish to make grateful acknOw-
Judgement to my friends for their ex-
preston of confidence in me, which to
me is an endorsement of my former adj
ministration of the Afice, and also TO
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