Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-01-13
RUNOR Of PLAN
TO TAKE POWER
FROM governor
Republicans Are DESTROYS of
Vesting Appointive Rights
Z in Legislature.
THAT is ONE OF THE
STORIES FLOATING ABOUT
Whether True or Not, the Ru-
NOR Has Had a Disquieting Eff
feet on Democrats.
Special to the Evening star.


TRENTON, Jan. 1S.-A disquieting
rumor fioated almost noiselessly
through the state House corridor late
yesterday afternoon. That is, it was
disquieting to Democrats. Republi-
cans affected to discredit the rumor
and some even pooh poohed it, but
when pressed to talk promptly but
toned their lips and walked OFF, DEM
ocrats were lulled into a brown
study, and the few spoken to shook
their heads obviously and remarked,
''Well see."
The story, If such It may be called,
in brief is that the Republicans have
In mind a plan to take from Gov
ernor Fielder much of the appointive
power now vested in the executive
and transfer 1t to the joint legislative
session
There are many nice positions in
sight that are soon to change owner
ships, and the Republicans are said
to have reached the conclusion that
it might not be a bad idea to have
the giving of these offices. The Leg
islature In joint session W. be DOM
mated by the Republicans.
Have Eyes on the Plums.
1t is said that the beginning Of the
tight for the adoption of the plan will
come when the economy and efficiency
bills, now before the Legislature, are
being discussed. Under these, If
passed, there would be numerous ap-
pointments in the creation of new
State departments to take the places
and to handle the work of those
abolished.
Some of these appointments.
although not majority of them, by
any means, would be positions carr y
ing very comfortable salaries, and
they would naturally be sought by
Democratic friends of the governor.
A Republican, generally well in
formed, intimated that the Repub-
licans propose to nave the depart
ment heads elected by the Legis-
lature in joint session. In this way
the governor would be shorn of all
power. and his hands would be tied
In every way. OF course, he has the
right to veto the bills If they pass
the Legislature and come ito him in
this form, but the Legislature can
pass them over his veto.
Governor Fielder has heard rufnor
Of the plan Of the Republicans, but he
is hoping that they are merely the
talk of the corridors ana that they
will not develop into fact. He knows
he will have trouble with the con-
firmarion of his appointments this
winter, but still he does not want q
big batch of them taken away from
him. He has told some of his friends
that he does not believe the Repub-
leans would dare to make the move;
that it snacks too rougly of parti-
sanship, but 1t Is known that he is
considerably worried over the situ-
alton.
Question as to County Judges.
A new feature was interjected into
the matter by a declaration that
while the governor cannot be deprived
of the right to name justices
of the Supreme Court and the
chancellor, as the constitution gives
him that power, Common pleas
iudgships are places over which the
legislature has constitutional au-
thority and that, as a point of fact,
the Governor never should have
appointed judges of the Court of
Common Pleas.
In support of this contention ref
erence was had to section g. article
of the constitution, which contains
this clause:
Judges of the Courts of Common
Pleas shall be appointed by the
Senate and General Assembly, in
joint session"
This clause has never been
amended, it is declared, and 1t is
added that various governors and
attorney generals have evaded pass
ing upon 1t when asked for opinions.