Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-03-02
FIGHT TODAY ON
CANAL BILLS, OUT
OF COMMITTEE
Democrats Strengthen Forces
to Defeat the Amended God
frey Measures.
CAMDEN NORMAL SCHOOL
Is SAID TO BE THE LURE
Martin Sure They Won't Pass
and Godfrey Is Not So Con-
fident Now.
From a star Correspondent.

TRENTON March 2.-The first
real action on the Godfrey Morris
canal abandonment bills will come
to the measure which we're reported
out of committee last night will come
up on a special order of business.
The Democratic members of the
House are said to be armed with suf-
fic'ent ammunition to completely rout
their Republican opponents. Speaker
Godfrey himself is known to be
doubtful of having sufficient num-
Der Of votes to pass the measure. The
fight will be on.
The bills were reported out of COM
m'ttee last night with amendments.
The principal one provides for the
erection of a normal school south of
Mercer county.
Normal School Promised.
This means that Assemblymen
Keats. Pancoast ana wo'verton. the
three Republican assemblymen from
Camden, have carried their point. It
Is understood they would vote for the
Godfrey bills only on the promise of
SsrU,UUU normal school.
All day yesterday the Morris canal
abandonment hills were uppermost In
the minds of the legislators, both Re-
publican and Democratic. The Re-
publicans conferred on the measure
for nearly three hours. The confer
ence was he'd in Speaker Godfrey's
private chamber Everything is said
to have gone smoothly until Assem-
blvman John Hunter. of Passaic, en-
tered the room. Mr.. Hunters atti-
tude was decidedly aggressive.
Shakes Fist In Godfrey's Face.
He didn't hesitate nor mince words.
Scarcely was he in the room before
he pitched into Speaker Godfrey He
walked -ieht up to where the speaker
sat and, shaking his fist in his face,
said:
"I want to tell you. Godfrey. that
I'm not going to vote for your meas
ures. ] know what they are. You
can't fool me. have a livins to
make. cousdn'7 honestly support
those biIis and z back 1, raee the
people who sert me here. They know
what thAse bills mean as well as you
and I do"
Mr.. Hunter.s outburst started his
associates. One Of them piucked his
ceat and urged f'm to keep quiet.
Everything was all right, he was as
sured
"I''l not be or'et and everything is
not all right" Hunter shouted. His
voice could he heard in the assembly
chamber. what do Won think arm :?
You people are Republicans or, at
least. you are supposed to be. But
are YOU? know that I am. and a
sraunch one. too. but I'm not going
to stard for this "
Mr.. Hunter aeain directed his at
tention to Speak ker Godfrey. and sad:
'I simply wanted you to know what
my position In this matter Is. I'm
not going to vote for your bills. and
you can all go to h--."
Hunter then walked out of the con-
ference. slamm'ng the door after him.
He made for his desk and dropped In
others planned to push the canal bills
along. Hunter was wide awake Just
before the session was called to order.
however. and Immediately was on his
feet. He wanted to teIl the speaker,
he said, that he didn't care any
more for him than he DID for anv
other member Of the House. He
closed his remarks with an
EXCUSE me. Mr. Speaker"
Mr. Barbour rose to a point of
privilege. He said the press had
made 1t appear during the past week
that he boited the caucus on the
Morris canal bills. He wanted 1t
nown that he was an out-and-out,
dyed-in-the-w Republican, and al
ways expected to remain one. Hs
never bolted a caucus in his l'fe and
never intended TO. He wanted to
know how he could bolt a caucus
when he wasn't in the caucus room.
Martin Demands Full Report.
The interest was keen when Assem-
blyman Barradale, as chairman OF
the committee on railroads and
cana's, arose to make his report.
When the bills were presented with
the amendments the clerk failed to
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