The Penn's Grove record., 1916-11-24
STATE CAPITOL NEWS
What The State Officials Are
Doing. What The Political
Leaders Are Talking
About

Trenton. Nov. 22-Repulicans of the
House of Assembly composing the ma
jority that will rule that body will hold
their organization caucus at the State
House next Tuesday. At that time the
candidates for Speaker, floor leader and
Clerk will be selected, and a steering
committee will be named to complete the
slate Of officers and look after the other
details in preparation for the formal be-
ginning of the regular Assembly work ON
January 9. The call for the caucus was
issued today by Assemblyman George H.
Dalrymple, Of Passaie. the dean of the
Republicans in the House owing to his
long service therein.
Assemblyman Charles A. Wolverton.
OF Camden, now seems to lead for the
Speakership. the gathering Of the poll
tIc1ans and legislators on Governors
Day this week having shown a trend of
Speakership sentiment in Wolverton's
favor and away from Oliphant, of Mer-
Ger. The Camden delegation came to
the Capitol yesterday strong for VOL
verton for Speaker. With them were
County Clerk Frank Patterson and In
ton ). Jeferys. who will be Clerk of the
House. They all were certain that VOL
Vefton would be named to preside over
the Assembly. Coupled with this was
the report that David Baird. the Cam
den Republican leader, was for State
Chairman Newton A. X. Bugbee. for
State Comptroller. County Clerk Par
%terson, who is one Of Baird's chief lien
tenants, said that he did not know Of
any combination between Baird and the
Essex Republican organization as TO the
Speakership and Comptroller. However
there was a persistent rumOr that Bug
bee would get the COMPREHENSIVE with
balrds backing and that one of the chief
Assembly offices would 90 to Essex
with Wolverton in the lead for Speak
ef. 1t was said that Assemblvman
Sehoen. of Essex. would be made lead
er. Some thought that Schoen might
get the Speakership and Wolverton the
place of leader. Essex county. as us
ual. seems to be in the position of wait
ing until the organization situation Is
quite well defined and then with its adj
vantage OF Il Assembly votes dictate
to the caucus what position she wants.
1t may be regarded as certain that if
Bugbee is made Comptroller. Mr.. Oil
plant cannot expect TO be Speaker. as
there is opposition to both jobs coming
to Mercer county. Assemblyman OH
plant still claims that he will win the
Speakership. but he does not at this time
appear to have the votes. Assembly
man Runyon. of Union. and Dalrvmnle.
of Passaic, were both looking after their
Speakership booms yesterday. but Meth
er boom appeared to be making much
progress.
The gathering of politicians at the
Capitol yesterday was eomparativelv
small after the reeord-breaking crowd of
last week. Vovernor-ele Edge IS
away on a vacation and the fact that ne
would not be present kept many awav
from the State House. Senator Edge
will leave for the South next week to be
away two or three weeks. and upon his
return will actively take up the prepare
tions for his Inauguration.
Assemblyman Dalrymple viii preside
at the Republican Assembly caucus
With A members in the caucus. % votes
will be necessary to a choice of the an
didates for Speaker and other offices.
Assembly West. of Gloucester, and other
South Jersey Republican members de-
clare that Wolverton viii get all the
South Jersey votes in the caucus, max
ing II. If. through a combination with
Baird. the Il Essex votes are thrown To
Wolverton. he will win. Under this ar
rangement. Schoen. of Essex. would he
sure of the leadership and that county
would also land two or three of the best
| paving offices in the. House. probably
including the sergeant-at-arms,
.
The date for the final conference of
the Republican Senators and Senator's
elect has not vet been fixed. but will he
held within the next two or three weeks,
it is expected. After all the officers
have been decided upon and after the re-
turn of Governor-elect Edge there will
be conferences upon the question of the
legislation for the coming session. 1t
is expected that the several platform
pledges will he assigned to committees
of the Republican Senator's and Assemb-
lymen for them to draft the necessary
bills. Following the custom of the past
two years. these measures will be pre-
pared for introduction the first or sec
ond week of the session in order that
they may nave early consideration.
Owing to the fact that the Democrats
will be in the minority in both branches
Of the Legislature. the interest in the
caucusses of this party is less than it
should be. The dates for the confer
ences have not vet been decided upon.
but will take place within the next few
weeks. The Democrats viii have a COM
plete Legislative program embodying
their platform pledges.
Former Secretary of War Lindley NJ
Garrison. who resigned from President
Wilson's Cahinat and CONGRESSMAN Thos