The Penn's Grove record., 1916-01-14
STATE CAPITOL NEWS
What The State Officials Are DOing.
What The Political Leader Are
Talking About.

Legislature yesterday brought more than
the usual number Of politicians to the
State House, and naturally. there was
much political N Alfred n. Dali
rymple, Of Essex County. was much in
evidence in the Capitol corridors. and be-
fore the session was called to order.
photed Senator Colgate, Of Essex. thru
the main corridors, Introducing him to
visitors. Senator Colgate wants to be
Governor and is backed by Essex County
for the honor, hence Dairymple was not
losing any opportunity Of making the
Senator known.
One Of the bits of gossip was that for
mer Senator John d. Prince, Of Passaic
County, will enter the Republican guber-
Material race. provided he finds that Vice
Chancellor Vivian NJ. Lewis is not going
to run. 1t was understood that Senator
Edge, Of Atlantic, was getting ready to
announce his candidacy for the Governor,
and would soon open campaign headquar-
ters. There was considerable comment
on the decision Of the Republican leaders
to make Senator Read. Of Camden, State
Treasurer, thus eliminating him from the
Gubernatorial contest. 1t was generally
conceded that Senator Read is very well
qualified for the Treasurership.
There was not so much Gubernatorial
talk on the Democratic side, but it was
admitted that II. Otto Wittpenn. the
Hudson County leader. will be able to
make a lot of progress in his race for the
G~overnorship during the legislative ses-
sion through his control Of the Hudson
County Legislative delegation. Witt
penn has Senator Egan, of Hudson Co..
with him. and controls II of the u As
semblymen from that county. This en-
ables him to dictate the Assembly Dem
ocratie caucus, if he so desires. Sena-
tor Hennessy, of Bergen County. who
some time ago announced his candidacy
for Governor on the Democratic ticket.
was busy with the organization Of the
Senate. and his boom was not particular
ly in evidence. During the last few weeks
the talk Of State Treasurer Grosscup as
a candidate for Governor has died out.
due probably to the fact that Mr.. Gross
cup has made no announcement about the
matter. During the past week or two
the Wittpenn boom has been in the as.
tendency.
james r. Nugent. the Essex County
Democratic leader. was prominent in the
State HOUSE corridors yesterday, but re-
fused to discuss the question of Demo-
cratic candidates for Governor or United
States Senator.
Governor and Mrs. James T. Fielder
left the State House yesterday afternoon
and went to Washington, where they
were guests at dinner last evening of
President Woodrow Wilson and his bride.
Although the visit is a social one. it is
considered likely that the Governor viii
talk over the political situation with the
President.
The New Jersey Legislature organized
at the State House for its 10th session.
The opening was a picturesque ceremony
and was witnessed by hundreds of citiz-
ems and politicians from all sections of
the state. The Senate. with its member
ship of thirteen Republicans to eight
Democrats, elected Senator VIM. T. Read
of Camden County. President. and re-
elected Francis B. Davis, of Gloucester
County. Secretary. This is an increase
of four in the Republican majority in
this branch over last year. Senator
Read was the majority leader in the SEN
ate last year.
He is slated to be chosen State Treas
urer in February at a joint meeting of
the Legislature, to succeed Edward F..
!, Grosscup, Democrat. His election as
Senate President carries with it the hon
or of being Acting Governor when Gov
ernor Fielder is out of the State. As
Governor and Mrs. Fielder left for Wash
/ ington Yesterday to be the guests of Pr s
ident and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, Senator
; Read will be Senate President. Acting
Governor and State Treasurer all within
; the short space of less than two months.
T. &Io IYareo &c Aer1-,blv rrh0-o ~bo
Republicans nave a majority of 20. as
! against 16 last year. Assemblyman Chas.
G. Pilgrim, of Essex. was made Speaker.
after having been selected some weeks
/. ago by the Essex-Camden alliance over
Assemblyman William n. Runyon, of
Union, who was leader last session. Up
ton S. J~efferys, of Camden. was re-elect-
ed Clerk.
Senator Read. in assuming the Presi-
|, dency, made the usual plea for a short
: session, but added that a short session
. lies as much in the hands of the public
: as in those of the legislators. meaning
that if the people would nave all their
bills introduced early the session need
not be prolonged. President Read point
ed out that the Republican and Demo-
cratic platform pledges do not differ ma
terially and stated that therefore, there
should be a common zeal in seeking leg
s ~islation for the best interests of the
state.
! Speaker Pilgrim supplemented Presi-
dent Reads plea by urging the Assembly
e men to introduce their bills early in the
session, and to pass at an early sitting
: a resolution fixing the day of adjourn
e ment. President Read stated after the
session today that if all the bills were
introduced by the middle of February,
final adjournment could be reached by
March Il, giving a session of ten weeks.
e Governor Fielder in his annual mes
sage. recommended that the powers OF
the State Board of Public Utility Com
7 m~issioners be extended so as to author
ize it to compel the railroads to Issue any
form of passenger tickets it may deem
fNan&w~l