The Penn's Grove record., 1916-02-25
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY, rs, 1916
A CAPITAL NEWS.
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offer strong opposition to the Colgate
bills for employers liability. One of the
bills, if it becomes a law, will compel eV-
cry farmer to take out liability. insur-
snce for all his employees. The farmers
claim these laws would drive them out OF
business or bankrupt them. They want
all farmers to be excepted from the pro-
visions of the measure.
The Assembly this week passed the bill
by Mr.. Godfrey, Republican, of Atlantic,
reorganizing the State Department OF La
Dor and extending the term of State Com
missioner of Labor Lewis I. Bryant, who
is a Republican, from three to hve years.
1t went through by the vote of Al to IL.
Four Democrats voted with the hepuD-
leans in favor of it. Democratic leader
Geran called it a "cry baby measure and
charged that its only purpose was to
keep the Republican COMMISSIONS in
Office and prevent Governor Fielder from
appointing a Democrat. Commissioner
Bryant's term will end next September,
and unless this bill becomes a law, his
successor will be named during the present
session.
By a unanimous vote, the Assembly
also passed the state budget bill by SEN
ator Edge. 1t creates a state budget sys-
tenn and makes the Governor, the State
Treasurer and State Comptroller the
Budget Board. Most of the responsibility
for the budget is placed upon the Gov
ernor, and he has objected to this. This
has led to some speculation as to wheth-
er he will sign it, but it is thought he
will approve it.
Minority Leader Geran explained that
while the Democrats preferred the Bud
get bill of Senator Ackerson, Democrat,
of Monmouth, which provided for a per-
manent State Budget Commission yet
they would vote for this bill because they
realized they could not get anything bet
ter.
There was a lively hearing on Monday
afternoon on the Hennessey bill permit
ting women to vote for Presidential cleo
tors next November. There were several
speakers on both sides, and the suffra-
gists and the anti-suffragists had large
delegations present. The contention of
the suffragists was that this was a nat
ional question and, therefore not to be
regarded as settled by the defeat of the
woman suffragist amendment to the con-
stitution last October. The a~nti-suffra-
gists disputed this claim:
The State Federation of District School
Boards has elected former Sheriff Frank
Il. Sommer of Essex County, as presi-
dent, to succeed Charles P. Taylor, of
Newark, resigned. Mr.. Sommer is coun-
sci for the State Public Utility Commits
sion and while sheriff of Essex County.
became motel for his reform crusade to
clean up Newark and enforce the law.
He is a progressive Republican. Mr..
Sommer is accounted a live wire" and
may be expected to give the Federation
a live administration. That he has orig
inal ideas about the public schools was
shown by his address before the FEEDER
alton a month ago which stirred the or
ganization greatly for its force and CO.
gent criticism of some of the present day
school theories and administration.
The Federation disapproved the bill
by Assemblyman P~ierson, of Union Co.,
proposing two hours military training
a week for each male high school pupil.
The Democratic members of the Legis-
dature, with one or two exceptions, will
tender a dinner on March Z to Naval Of
icer H. Otto Wittpenn, of Jersey City,
who is now regarded as one of the lead
ing candidates for the Democratic candi-
dates for Governor. 1t will be given in
the Washington Hotel in Newark. Sen
.tor Hennessy, of Bergen County, also
a candidate for Governor, will, of Co-rse,
not join in a Wittpenn dinner, as he is
promoting his own campaign. The din
ner will be part of the movement to fur
ther the Wittpenn boom, and the friends
OF Mr.. Wittpenn are planning for q big
demonstration. The Indications are grow.
ing that Wittpenn, as the leader of the
progressive wing of the Jersey Demo-
crazy, and with his Hudson County pres
hge, will become the accepted candidate
of the leaders of his party. Of course
Developments may change all this before
the primaries in September but no such
developments are manifesting themselves.
The Executive Committee of the State
Association of Democratic County Com
met here this week and started
aggressive plans for the campaign. Ar
engagements were made for a meeting of
every county committee in the state
the lei few weeks, and these
meetings will have special features.
Prominent speakers viii be secured and
IN other ways the gatherings will be
made OF unusual interest. Following the
meeting of the committee in each county
the work of organizing campaign clubs
will be taken up. Lucius 7. Russell, of
Elizabeth, president of the Association,
said today that a club will be organized
In every small own and borough, and in
each ward of all the larger cities.
W propose to wage the most vigor-
GUS campaign we can possibly ~inaugur-
ate, declared Mr.. Russell.
.
The question who shall run as the Pro-
gressive Republican candidate for Cover
nor has been settled, and George L. Rec
ord is the man who will carry the stand
ard as the head of the state ticket. Mr..
Record has formally announced his can
didacy, after having been selected at a
conference of the Progressives. Mr.. Rec
ord will not run as a Bull Moose candi-
date for Governor in November, but will
enter the Republican primaries in Sep
TENDER as a Republican candidate for the
standing for Progressive prin-
Mr.. Record ~nnounces that he will run
on a platform of local option or home
rule Oh the question of saloons; on the
question of giving the municipalities pow
er to own and operate their gas, electric
light, water and trolley service; on the
question of exempting from taxation
buildings, farm machinery and other i'm
provements, household furniture and mer-