The Penn's Grove record., 1916-06-30
STATE CAPITOL NEWS
What The State Officials Are Doing
What The Political Leader Are
Talking About.

Trenton, June 2S.-There was a warm
political battle at the special session Of
the Senate yesterday over two Of the
appointments made by Governor Field
er, adding a bit of excitement to the
meeting which it had been expected
would be quiet and uneyentfal. The APP
p%ointmeDts which caused the fight were
those of former Senator George c. Low,
Democrat, Of Ocean county, 10 be Com
mon Pleas Judge Of that county, to sue
coed Judge Isaac W.. Carmichael, de-
ceased; and Richard Z. Hughes, Of Bur-
lington county, Democrat, to succeed
himself as State Prison keeper. The
term Of each office is five years. The
salary of the prison keeper is $500 a
year and the judgship pays $500 a
year. Hughes was named to the State
Prison by Governor Fielder last spring
after the death Of Keeper Madden, this
! appointment being ad interim, while the
( appointment yesterday was for the full
term Of five years. Hughes is the Bur-
lington county member Of the Demo-
cratic State Committee. During the few
months he has been prison keeper he
has inaugurated several reforms.
AS soon as the nominations had been
received from the Governor, the Senate
went into executive session behind
closed doors to consider them and the
battle was on The Republicans, led by
Senator Mathis, Of Ocean, charged Gov
ernor Fielder with playing politics and
making these appointments now in or
der to get the full terms and forestal a
Republican Governor from making them,
should one be elected next November.
This charge was holly resented by the
Democrats and from what could be
learned the executive session was a
warm one.
When Governor Fielder learned that
there was opposition, be withdrew both
appointments. This will permit him to
continue them as ad interim selections,
whereas, had they not been withdrawn,
he could not have re-appointed them.
Low will be appointed for the ~unexpired
term ending April 1, 1917. Hughes will
be continued as an ad interim a~ppointee
until the next Legislature meets. As a
4 Governor cannot make any appointments
during the last week of his term, Gov
ernor Fielder will be unable to i'll this
position next January and the selection
will 60 to the new Governor. So, if the
Republicans can elect their Governor
they will get this $500 berth.
When the Republican Senators reach
ed the State House yesterday morning
they learned of the plan of the Governor
to appoint Low as Judge. They held
: a caucus at which Senator Mathis show
ed bitter opposition to Low. Senator
: Wells, of Burlington county, was not at
this caucus and did not oppose the nam
ing of Hughes for the full term. The
general opposition led by Mathis, how
= ever. working through Senatorial Court
: esy.' blocked both nominations, lead
ing to their withdrawal by the Gov
ernor.
The other appointments of the Gov
; ernor to the Special Commission to pro-
vide additional Accommodations for the
:, insane Of the state were confirmed with
out opposition, they not being political.
5 They were as follows:
o Edmund E. Read, Jr., of Camden; DR..
5 John Nevin, of Jersey City; Assembly
man o. II. Hammond, Of Somerset; DR..
Stewart Patton, of. Princeton; John
Whelan. Of Elizabeth, and Clark ID.
Eaton. of East Orange.
/ The special session of the Senate was
e short. 1t was called TO order by Presl-
dent Gaunt. of Gloucester county, and
prayer was offered by Chaplain Read
of Union county. Senators Edge, of At
lantic; Allen, of Salem. and Florance, OF
Middlesex, were named as the eommIttee
J. 10 wait upon the Governor and INFORM
m him the Senate was ready for business
The Governor Immediately sent IN ms
L. nominations and the closed session fol-
y lowed.
b, One of the features Of the session wa;
ID the presence Of more than forty former
senators. making the largest gatherlns
l. Of Senators and former members IN th'
II history of the State. After the Senate
n had adjourned. the members and former
members met in the Senate chamber anC
Of organized the Senate Association of New
he Jersey for social and r%eereational pur'
D. noses. Governor Fielder was elected
nresident. and Senator Harry p. Leay'
re itt. of Mercer county, secretary. fof
he lowing the organization, the MEMBER
went by automobiles to the Trenton
is Country Club where an elaborate dlnnel
r was served.
y There are % former Senators living
ny making 116 eligible for membership I
inc new Association. including the :
n. present Senator's. An annual dinner WI
hereafter be held, taking the characfe
ed AZ ! reunion Of members and ex-mem
a. bers.
p The living ex-Senators Of Glouceste
county. all of whom will be MEMBER
as are. + BOYD Avis. Of Woodbury., Thos
On N Ferreu and s. Fl. Stanger, Of Glass
vn horo. q Fl. Barker, of Pasadena. Cal
and s. L. Pancoast. of Mulica Hill
Sc = = .
- Congressman John ]. Eagan and Jai
~ A. Hamill. Democrats, of Hudson cour
= ty. are favoring the payment Of wage
"a to members of the National Guard Will