Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-01-15
Legislature Makes Record For
Session Opening.
EDGE IS HEAD OF SENATE
atlantic Man Is Chosen President Of
Upper House and Godfrey. of Same
County, Gets Assembly Speakership.
c. 0. p. Has Majority of Seventeen
on Joint Ballot.
Especial correspondence.l

trenton, n. j., Jan. 13.-With both
Republicans and Democrats more anx-
ious than ever to establish themselves
firmly in the good viii of the people.
the opening yesterday of the one hun.
dred and thirty-ninth legislature estab-
lished a record for the important bills
introduced Oh the first day of the SEES.
sion. Senators on both sides of the
house have gubernatorial aspirations.
and they are most DESTROYS of giving a
good impression.
The Republicans control senate and
assembly and selected members of
their party for the offices In both
branches. For the second time In the
history of the legislature the presiding
officers of both are from the same
county. Senator Walter E.. Edge OF
Atlantic county was chosen president
of the senate and Assemblyman Carl
ton Godfrey of the same county speak.
eT of the house. Objections were Of
fered against the plan of so ~favoring
II section of the state, but the prece-
dent established in 1912, when Senator
Prince and Assemblyman McCran I'LL
ed the respective chairs as represents
tives from Passaic, was finally fol.
lowed.
Republicans In Majority.
In the senate there are eleven Re-
publicans and ten Democrats. There
are thirty-eight Republicans In the
house and twenty-five Democrats. This
will give the G. o. p. a majority of
seventeen on joint ballot.
Large bouquets of flowers from their
friends adorned the desks of both SEN
ators and assemblymen. The galleries
were crowded, and the occasion was
made notable by the presence of many
stylishly gowned women
Senator Edge was placed in nominal
ton for president by Leader Read of
Camden. The name of Senator McGin-
mis- of Passaic was presented for the
Democrats by Senator Henaessy Of
Bergen, minority whip. The election
was along party lines. Francis B. Davis
of Gloucester county, secretary of the
1912 senate. was again given that posi-
ton. Committees were named. and
rules to govern the procedure were
adopted.
Ceremonies of a similar nature were
carried out in the house. AssemblymaIf
Bertram e. Whitman of Atlantic pro-
posed the name of Mr.. Godfrey for
speaker. The minority voted for AS
semblyman Quinn of Middlesex. Upton
S. Jefferys Of Camden was selected for
clerk. The leadership for the Repub-
leans was taken by A~ssemblyman Run
yon of Union county, and Assembly
man Martin of Hudson filed the same
position for the Democrats.
The message of Governor Fielder was
then received.
Promise End of jockeying.
Jockeying of bills recommended by
the economy and efficiency commission
promises to be ended this year. 1t Is
generally admitted around the state
house that neither party is anxious to
reduce the opportunities for patronage.
but both have made pleas for votes on
their promises for reform. Campaign
material would be provided opponents
If a re~actionary attitude were shown.
The governor himself. 1t Is asserted, Is
anxious TO take care of as many
friends as possible in salaried posi-
lions. The larger the list of such
places the greater the amount that can
be depended upon for campaign funds
vxy3f1 p..p.x ~ fba, optfal.xon. ,,1xx, -,
der civil service they can be more In
dependent and the levy on their sala-
ries, ranging in some instances as high
as 10 per cent, n be collected as
easily as formerly.
Senator Edge is the only Republican
ON the efficiency commissio and it is
asserted that some of the democrats
thought they could ON him as an
excuse for blocking the proposed legis
lati0n. This was to be done through
looping off the head Of Colonel Lewis
L. Bryant, chief of the department Of
labor. Colonel Bryant Is a Republican
and is from Edges home county. With
the senator known to. have United
States senatorial aspirations, this was
a blow to him. but he caused a surprise
when he agreed that the colonel must
go. Mr.. Bryant was reappointed by
Governor Wilson despite Democratic
opposition. as he had the support Of
the labor unions.
For all the departments which will
be formed under the consolidation
Governor Fielder will have the naming
of a nonsalaried board of eight mem
bers, not more than four of whom are
to be members of inc party. By and
with the advice and consent of the
senate the executive will also select a
chief for each department. The econo-
my commission has expressed the wish
that so far as the reorganization will
permit, old and experienced employees
shall be retained.
Future economy and efficiency activ.