The Penn's Grove record., 1916-12-29
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1916
State News
CONTINUED from page u

ing and critical stage. The votes as re-
counted show the election of Congress
man Scully, o~verturning the plurality of
II given Mr.. Carson on the face of the
original returns. The Democratic lead
ers say the ballots in the hands of JUS
tice Kaliseh will still further add to the
plurality of Scully. 1t is expected that
the three Democratic members of the
State Board, Governor Fielder, Senator
Ackerson, of Monmouth, and Florance,
of Middlesex, will still refuse tomorrow
to vote to give Carson the certificate of
election. Senator Florance, however,
has declared he will not vote for any
further adjournment of the State Board.
IL he shall hold to this view tomor-
row, compelling the Board to give Car
son the certificate of election on the face
of his original seeming plurality, it will
practically be seating a man in Con-
gress when officially it is known that he
is not elected. Furthermore, if the
Court of Errors does not decide the leg
atty of the recount promptly on Janu-
airy 4, or very soon thereafter, further
complications viii arise. The term of
Senator Hutchinson, one of the Repub-
lican members of the Canvassing Board,
will expire on January 9, and there is
a question whether Governor Fielder
can legally fill his place. Besides that,
the term of Governor Fielder will ex-
pire on January 16 and on that day the
Canvassing Board will cease to exist.
So, if the recount is not settled before
the 10Th and the whole decided, there
will be no Canvassing Board upon which
tO coruo fho HnY1rf arIar aa1 - ooron
to summon another Canvassing Board
until next fall. In this case the Third
District Congressional seat would re-
main vacant, because there would be no
way of issuing the certificate of election.
Carl Vroom, assistant SECRETARY of
Agriculture of the United States Gov
eminent, will deliver an address at the
annual meeting of the State Board of
Agriculture in the State House on We'd
nesday evening, January "A.
Governor-elect Edge will entertain
the Republican members of the incoming
Legislature at a dinner in the Robert
Treat Hotel, Newark, on Friday even
ing of next week. In connection with
Az dA4dC LhC1C vii 'UG du IulOTIldl
discussion of the plans of the majority
for the session of the Legislature. The
new Governor conferred with the Re-
publican conference committees of the
Senate and House a few days ago at At
lantic City. The purpose of this con-
ference was to reach a general under
standing as to the legislative program
and to plan the majority work of the
two Houses. The Governor-elect de-
sired to meet these committees to talk
over with them the Republican legisla-
tive outline, so they might understand
each other and thereby work to better
advantage. There was a general discus
sion of the Republican State platform,
and arrangements were made to have
the necessary bills drawn and introduced
after the inauguration, to carry out the
platform pledges. Governor-elect Edge
informally talked over his inaugural mes
sage, but gave out no information as to
what it will contain, except to emphasize
the fact that he will declare emphatic
ally for a business administration and
the enactment of the necessary laws to
make this possible.
The State Economy and Efficiency
Commission, of which Governor-elect
Edge is president, has decided to dis
solve. 1t will make an informal re-
port to the new Legislature winding I'D
its affairs, but will not seek any ap-
preparation next year. The members of
the Commission say they have accom-
plished practically all of the work for
which they were appointed. The office
at the State House will be kept open
until March 1, with Chief Clerk Charles
q. Kelly, Democrat, of Jersey City, in
charge, in order to clean up some de-
tails, and after that date the Commits
sion will cease to exist. 1t is consid-
cred likely that as the result of the lat
er work of the Commission, Governor
elect Edge will recommend to the Legis-
iature some further consultations of
State departments. The several con-
solicitations that took effect on July /.
1915, creating the departments of Con
servation and Development, Commerce
and Navigation, and Taxes and Assess
ment; the reorganization of the Board
of Health and the Department of Shell
Fisheries were based upon the recon-
mendations of this Commission. At its
beginning the Commission was composed
of a majority of Republicans, but for the
past two years has been Democratic.
Senator Edge, however, was kept as the
president.
One of the chief recommendations
made by the Civil Service Commission
in its annual report to the Governor and
Legislature is the establishment of a
character investigation bureau. The
Commission declares that it should have
some tangible means of discovering Just
the sort of people who apply for en-
trance into examinations. Another i'm
.provement urged is the comforting of
greater freedom on the Commission for
the exclusion of candidates. as MANY
who apply for examinations do not fully
measure up to the preliminary require
ments. Although members of the Conn