Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-01-21

Upper and Lower Houses.
Especial Correspondence
Trenton, Jan. 19.-Although the house
of assembly had only a short session, a
mild sensation was caused by the in
PRODUCTION of a resolution for the in
vestigation into the conduct of the of
fees of the prosecutor of the pleas and
judge of the court of quarter sessions
in Hudson county. The resolution is
aimed at Judge George G. Tenant and
Prosecutor Robert S. Hudspeth, Demo
cratic national committeeman.
The action was taken by the lower
legislative body over the indictment of
Samuel w. Smith, chairman of the
Hudson county Republican committee
and secretary to Congressman Gray
He is alleged to have been implicated
in a deal over an alleged disorderly
house.
Assemblyman Johnson, an Essex Re
publican, presented the resolution. as
1t would affect Democrats in Hudson
county. 1t is stated in the resolution
that sworn statements have been made
that indictments returned by the grand
jury of Hudson have been ~fraudulently
changed in their drafting by the prose
cutor's office. 1t is also maintained that
some of the indictments were unlaw
fully placed on the files of the court of
oyer and terminer by the presiding
judge.
The committee of the judiciary of
the house is asked under the resolution
to speedily investigate the allegations
and to report to the house of assembly.
The resolution was referred TO the jul
dietary committee and was not report
ed out at the session yesterday.
AS the senate had cleared its calen-
dar Monday evening, it did not return
yesterday, breaking away from the
precedent that had long been estab
lished.
Hearing Next Tuesday.
Announcement was made by the as.
sembly committee on judiciary that it
will give a hearing next Tuesday morn
ing at 1916 O'Clock at the ~statehouse
on the series CT bills by Assemblyman
Pierson of Union county to regulate
municipal finances.
These measures were drawn by Mr.
Pierson as chairman of the Legislative
committee named last year to inVesti-
gate municipal finances. They call for
uniformity in the bookkeeping meth
DDS, limitations on bonds and pub
licity in the operation of the treasury
offices.
President Read of the senate does
not look for the upper legislative body
to sanction any radical changes in the
Geran election law. He himself does
not favor the placing of a party stand
ard on the ballot to permit the voting
of a straight ticket.
EDGE and Fielder Differ.
Governor Fielder and senator Edge
of Atlantic are still at odds Over the
merits of the bill introduced by the
latter to create a purchasing bureau.
with the governor at its head. The
real work of the bureau, the purchas-
ing of supplies for state institutions.
would be done by an Sgent at a salary
of $1,000 per year. The governor. how
ever. as a member of the statehouse
commission would have the duty of
overseeing the work. The chief execu
tive claims that too much of his time is
already taken up with petty detail
work and objects to this added burden.
In response to these criticisms of the
governor. Senator Edge has issued a
statement taking issue with him. He
contends that it is the duty of the gov.
ernor to be as active where the finances
t of the state are concerned as they are
where expenditures are made. He main
, tains that large sums that would be
handled by the purchasing department
tention of the governor.
Senator Edges apparent determine
ton that the governor shall not escape
any of the duties which the senator be.
} lieves to be a part of that office has
also brought a fight on his hands with
Minority Leader Ackerson of Mon
mouth. The difference of opinion in
this case is as to the proper method
of carrying ont a budget system for
the appropriations by the legislature.
Both Edge and AckerSon have intro
duced measures providing for a bud
get system. Senator Edges puts the
responsibility of making up the bud.
get on the governor. Under the Aek-
erson plan a board. consisting of the
governor. comptroller. treasurer and
two members specially appointed. one
from each party. for a term of six
years would make up the budget. II
is the contention of Senator Ackerson
that under the Edge plan there would
be too much room for politics.
The action of the senate in adjourn.
ing for the week without taking any
action on the nomination of Grover C
Richman. Democrat, of Wenonah as
prosecutor of Gloucester county has
led to the report that the Republicans
intnnd tO hold tha anDOintmanf nm nv 4,