The Penn's Grove record., 1916-05-12
STATE CAPITOL NEWS
What The State Officials Are Doing
What The Political Leader Are
Talking About.

Trenton, May 10,-David Baird, the
Old Guard leader Of the South Jersey
Republicans, led his party ticket at the
presidential primary for delegates to the
National Convention. held on April -.
Governor Fielder was high man on the
Democratic ticket. The vote for en-
dorsement Of President Wilson for a sec
ond term fell about 1000 votes behind
that Of the number Of ballots cast for the
Big Four Col. Theodore Roosevelt
led in the expression Of preference for
the Republican candidate for President.
though his vote was so small as to be in
significant, especially when it is consid-
cred that in some parts Of the state the
Republican primary ballot had no space
for marking the preference for Presi-
dent. The facts given are shown by the
official canvass of the vote which was
begun today by Secretary of State Mar
tin. The returns as filed by the coun-
ties were tabulated today. with Warren
County figures missing. That county
has not yet sent in its returns.
tn total vote Of the twenty counties
expressing a preference for Woodrow
Wilson for President was 24.64S, and
be was the only candidate voted for by
the Democrats. he having been formally
endorsed by his party long before the
primaries.
The total vote Of the Democratic dele
gates-at-large, or Big Four not includ-
ing Warren County, was as follows
Governor Fielder, 27.670; United States
Senator William Hughes. 2T.342; Con-
gresham Thomas J. Scully, 27.19S:
State Chairman Edward E. Grosscup.
27.2S3. The vote endorsing Wilson fell
3.022 behind that of Governor Fielder
for delegate-at-large.
On the Republican side. the ''Big
Four vote was David Baird. 4l.049;
State Chairman Newton A. X. Bugbee.
40.729: Hamilton Kean, of Union, 40
$50; Ira A. Kip, of Essex, 40,619.
Baird bases his claim to the chairman
ship of the delegation to the Convention
upon the fact that he received the high
est vote. while the friends of State
Chairman Bugbee claim that according
to precedent, he should be made chair
man.
The Republican vote for preference
for a candidate for President was as fol-
lows: Roosevelt, 1.065: Senator Root.
81; Justice Hughes, 3S3; Henry Ford.
the automobile maker and peace advo-
cate. 81.
The vote of Warren County, when adj
ded, viii not materially change the fore
going figures.
The split in the Civil Service Commits
sion was emphasized again yesterday
when it required SO ballots to reorgan-
ize for the ensuing year. For 81 bal
lots, the Commission divided two to two
on the question of choosing a president,
and then finally smashed precedent and
elected George H. Burke, of Paterson,
a Republican, president. Under a reso-
luton adopted in 1912, the presidency
should have gone to Edward H. Wright,
a Democrat, of Essex County, he being
the ranking member of the Commission
in point of service.
Theodore H. Smith, of Jersey City,
the new member of the Board, who was
! appointed by Governor Fielder during
the last days of the Legislature, and who
is a Republican, took his seat yesterday
to succeed Col. Alexander P. Fordyce,
whose term ended yesterday. Commits
sioner Smith refused to be bound by the
resolution referred to and would not sup
port Wright. The deadlock caused the
meeting to be a lively one. On the 3Sth
ballot, Commissioner Hoff, Democrat, of
ARLINGTON, switched to Burke, giving
hin three votes and e~lecting him. Those
voting for Burke were Smith. Hoff and
Burke, while Wright voted for himself.
During the past year the Commission
has been deadlocked two to two on sew
eral. important questions, and the advent
Of Commissioner Smith is expected to
change this. There has been some talk
that after the Commission reorganized
an attempt would be made to get rid of
Gardner Colby, as secretary and chief
examiner, but it is understood that this
move will not be undertaken now.
= >
Thomas B. Usher, Of the Hudson
County Tax Board. was elected presi-
dent of the New Jersey Association of
County Tax Boards at its meeting in the
State House yesterday, Frank McLees,
Of Bergen County, was elected vice
president; ex-Assemblyman William p.
Macksey, of Essex, secretary, and An
drew T.. Kenny, of Somerset, treasurer.
=
Inc taxes upon lHe second Class f3it-
road property due the various taxing
districts all over the state were paid
over this week by State Treasurer Read.
The total sun paid to them was S2.160.-
00S. &c. These taxes are assessed by the
state at the local tax rate in each tax
ing district; are then certified to the
State Comptroller. who in turn hands
them over to the State Treasurer for
collection. After they are collected
from the railroads, the proper amount is
sent dow TO each taxing district for
local uses. The largest sum received
this year by any taxing district was ST.
+ 093,151 in Jersey City, and the small
est, Is cents in Harrison township,
Gloucester County.
i The total amount received by all the
! taxing districts in Gloucester County