The Penn's Grove record., 1916-01-28
STATE CAPITOL NEWS
What The State Officials Are Doing.
What The Political Leader Are
Talking About.

senpiy met MONDAY evening and Tues
day and then adjourned until next Mon
day evening. Bills already introduced
were advanced, others were placed on the
calendars, Governor Fielder made some
appointments, and the Senate confirmed
some appointments made last week n
the week before. There were several
lively public hearings on important meas
ures. There was a warm partisan skirm-
ish in the Assembly over the resolution
to investigate the alleged illegal indiet-
ment in Hudson ounty of Samuel S.
Smith, chairman of the Hudson County
Republican Committee. The resolution
was introduced last week and referred to
the judiciary Committee.
Yesterday Mr.. Geran, of Monmouth
County, the Democratic leader in the As
sembly, and a member of the judiciary
Committee, sought to force the Commit
tee to report the resolution, and Mr.. Run
yon, Republican, of Union, another mem
Der of the Committee, Joined in this move.
Majority Leader Hates, of Camden, op-
posed this action, claiming there had not
been sufficient time to investigate the
charges, and the members could not vote
intelligently on the question. The mat
ter went over for consideration at a meet
ing of the Committee after the House adj
journed yesterday afternoon. The Com
mittee took the question up and by the
vote of three to two, decided to have a
public hearing on the whole matter at
the State House next Monday morning.
A~ssemhlymen Hates, Crosby and Godfrey,
Republicans, voted for this action, and
Runyon and Geran opposed it.
Tho rocolnttan hoe ka.I - - A.
posal to bring impeachment proceedings
against Judge George G. Tenant and
Prosecutor Robert S. Hudspeth, of Hud-
son, and SO has stirred the whole State.
The interest is heightened because of the
charge that politics is at the bottom of
the charges, and also because Supreme
Court Justice Francis Swayze and Judge
Tenant have found William P. Verdon,
the Republican leader who inspired the
resolution, guilty of contempt Of court
and sentenced him to 80 days in jail and
a fine of $3.50. He has appealed, and has
been released on $1,000 bail. Without
a doubt, the hearing next Monday will
produce some big sensations.
Owing to the very unusual character
of the whole proceedings, there has been
much speculation as to the political sig
nihcanee. The resolution was introduced
in the Assembly by Mr.. johnson, a Dali
rymple Republican, of Essex, after the
Hudson County Democratic delegation had
refused to have anything to do with it.
1t is claimed that the object of Alfred
N. Dalrymple in having the resolution
put in at the request of Verdon, was the
hnno that he ~x,..lI 49, -
of the Hudson County Republicans for
Ex-Governor Franklin Murphy, of Essex,
for United States Senator, as against
former Governor Stokes. Stokes has
been active in Hudson and Bergen Coun-
ties lately in paving the way for his can
didacy, and the Murphy men are ex-
tremely anxious to head off any Stokes
sentiment.
Governor Fielder this week reappoint-
ed Frank Smathers, Democrat, of Allan
tic City, Judge of the Atlantic City Dis
trict Court, and also ~re-appointed Hen
ry III. Eldredge, Democrat, Judge of the
Cape May County Court. The Senate
confirmed the appointment of Charles G..
Garrison, Democrat, of Camden County,
for another term as Supreme Court JUS
tice, term seven years and salary $12,-
600, and the appointment of Joseph f.
Stricken, Democrat, as Prosecutor of Mid
dlesex County. The appointment of
Grover c. Richman as Prosecutor Of
Gloucester County is still tightly bottled
up in the Senate Judiciary Committee
by the Republican Members of that Com
mittee, Rathbun, of Morris, and Edge, of
Atlantic The Democrats continue to
charge that the Republicans are playing
politics in this 6libustering, the Repub-
licans retaliating with the contention
that the Democrats may have certain
officer holders resign their present terms
in order that Governor Filder may fill
the Offices for full terms, and thus fore
stall a Republican Governor should one
be elected.
The Senate passed the Assembly resc-
luton providing for a visit of the Gov
ernor. Legislature State officials to
meetings. and for a committee to ar
range for the visit. President Read ap-
pointed Senators Wells, of Burlington
and Ackley, of Cumberland, as the Senate
members of the committee. The House
members are Assemblymen Hammond, of
Mercer and Iobst, of Hunterdon. Gov
ernor Fielder is to appoint the fifth mem
Der. The committee will meet next Mon
day.
The Senate has concurred in the House
resolution providing that no bills shall
be introduced after the week of Febru-
airy IA. Senator Edge declared today
that the Republican majority proposes
to hold strictly 30 a business-like ses-
sion and reach final adjournment ON
! March Is. This win be three or f.
, weeks earlier than usual.
I
Senate President Read has appointed
Senator McCran, Republican, of Passaic
Continued On page a.