Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1915-01-12
ECONOMY KEYNOTE Of
GOVERNORS MESSAGE:
BEFORE LEG|SLAT TURE
139th Legislature Convenes To-
day at Noon, When Governor
Fielder Reals First Annual
Message---O Campaign.
Special to the EVENING NEWS.

trenton, Jan. IL OWlnsihS pneh
to Republican control again after two
years of Democratic supremacy, the
199th New Jersey legislature organ
lied at noon today for a season that
will be featured by many big lawmak-
ing questions, and which will be the
preliminary battle-ground for the
election of governor in 1916. Also,
1t will open the campaign for the
United States senatorship in III
when a successor will be chosen TO
Senator James E. MARITIME.
Although the new legislature has
Joint Republican majority of seven
teen-one in the senate and sixteen
in the assembly-it is confronted by
Democratic governor, making the
political situation an important one
and insuring that the many important
appointments will be from the Demo-
cratic ranks. However, as Tar as
legislation is concerned this opposing
political faith of the executive is not
as formidable as it appears, because
under the state constitution any bill
vetoed by the governor may be pass
ed over this disapproval by major
ity vote of each house.
Many rights are LOOkeu TUT.
With a Democratic minority sup
ported by Democratic governor,
and with both parties striving siren
nously for legislative record that
will pave the way for victory in the
gubernatorial and senatorial cam
paigns, the session is sure to see many
bitter partisan eombats.
cn tteersa th rssaanssf Senator Maafteh waiter T. Padge
of Atlantic, who Is being doomed for
United States senator, as president
and chose Francis B. Davis, of Glou-
eester, as secretary, all the other
officers elected being Republicans. AS
their pilot in the organization, the
Republicans had Senator William t.
Read, of Camden, who as chairman
Of the Republican caucus, will be the
majority floor leader throughout the
session. This will add to his boom
as a candidate for governor.
Atlantic county was likewise given
the honor of supplying the presiding g
officer in the assembly, Carlton God
frey, assemblyman from that county,
being made speaker, The assembly
clerkship went to Upton S. Jefferys, a
Camden newspaper man, who filled
this place in 1912.
Proceedings of the Senate.
Senator Read, of Camden, the Re-
publican leader, called the senate to
order and Secretary of State Crater,
of Monmouth, read certificate
showing that the senators elected
last November were: Read, of Cam
den; Colgate, of Essex; Gaunt, of
Gloucester; Allen of Salem; Small
ley, of Somerset; and Pierce, of I'm
ion, Republicans, and Ackerson, of
Monmouth, and Barber of Warren,
Democrats. Senator William E..
Ramsay, Democrat, of Middlesex
county, was then chosen temporary
president, long custom having given
this honor to the minority. Follow
ing this the certificates of the cleo
tion of the eight senators named
were submitted and they took the
solemn oath to support the consti1
tuition of this state and of the Unit
ed States and properly to discharge
their duties as Representatives of the
people. William L. Dill, of Passaic,
Democrat, secretary of the last SEN
ate, was made temporary secretary.
Salem is the county gained by the
Republicans this year. 1t is one of
the features of the new session that
there are only two new members in
the senate, Ackerson, Democrat, of
Monmouth, and Allen, Republican, of
Salem, all the others having been re-
elected
Senator Edge was nominated for
president by Senator Read The
Democrats nominated Senator Peter
]. McGinnis, of Passaic, for president
and Senator Edge was elected by
strict party vote of eleven to ten.
President Edge was escorted to the
chair and assumed the position which
carries with 1t the acting governor
ship In the absence of the governor
Prayer was offered by the Rev. DR..
Edward G. Read retired Presby-
terian clergyman, of Plainfield, who
a few moments later was elected the
chaplain of the senate for the ses-
sion at salary of $500, the Repub-
licans having decided upon this plan
instead of having a different chaplain
at each days meeting the pay being
$40. The permanent chaplain was
(. part of the Union county patronage
and Dr. Read was elected by the I'm
ion county delegation.
Lawyer Francis B. Davis, of Glou-
cester who was secretary of the SEN
ate in 1912, was next chosen for his
old post by the party vote over Will
liam L. Dill, the Democratic candi-
date. A committee was then sent to
Governor Fielder notifying him that
the senate had organized and was
ready for any communications from
him. and the assembly was likewise
notified by committee of the organi-
Eation
Other Officers Elected.
The other officers, all Republicans,
were elected. as follows:
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