Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-01-26
Especial Correspondence

was successful yesterday in the first
test of his strength when Senator Ed
mund Burke Osborne of Essex county
endeavored to hold up the confirmation
of the executives choice for prosecu-
tor in his district. The senate wanted
Second Assistant Prosecutor Van Blar-
com for the place, but Governor Edge
determined that the office should go to
j. II. Harrison, former county counsel.
Although Mr.. Osborne had publicly
declared for Van Blarcom and insisted
that he was the best nan for the posi-
ton. the name of Harrison was sent to
the senate. After lengthy deliberation
the judiciary committee determined to
| report out the name, and then in exec
utive session yesterday it came before
| the body for approval.
The Essex senator demanded that
| the confirmation be withheld On the
ground that the method of the pro-
posed approval would be a violation of
senatorial courtesy" The retort
made to him by the Republican leaders
was that every courtesy had been fol-
lowed. They pointed out that the gov
ernor had first consulted Mr.. Osborne,
that Mr.. Harrison was competent to
fill the position and that he was not
personally distasteful to the Essex EN-
ator.
Osborne Votes Alone.
Three times, however, Mr.. Osborne
took the f1oor to argue in favor of his
position, but on the vote he vas the
only one recorded in the negative.
Senators Martens and Munson joined
with the Republicans in the vote of
affirmation, but other members of the
minority refrained from casting any
ballot.
This contest is generally accepted as
being the opening gun in the battle
that is expected to be waged by Sena-
tor Osborne during the remainder OF
the session. He is classed as a militant
Progressive and was formerly . do.ai
nant factor in the bull moose party. In
the last campaign, however, he ran as
a isgular Republican. 1t was on his
suggestion that a plank was inserted
in the Republican state platform call
ing for an increase in the utility corpo-
ration assessment.
He desires to have the advance made
from 2 to 5 per cent Immediately, but
the other Republicans are inclined to
the scheme for a graduated scale ex-
tending over three years. This does
not meet with the view of Mr.. Osborne,
and the failure of his colleagues to
stand by him in his clash with the gov
ernor is expected to make him even
more vigorous in his attack on the pro-
posed measure.
Not Popular With Majority.
An indication that the Essex senator
will not be a ~favorite with the mem
bers of the Republican majority was
shown when his resolution calling for
an investigation of conditions in the
last primary and general elections in
Essex county was referred to the COM
mittee on judiciary. This action was
taken on the motion of Senator Nc
Gran, the majority leader.
The resolution of Mr.. Osborne stated
that it was reported that $4,000 was
expended by the brewers to defeat him
in his senatorial candidacy because he
was pledged to local option. He main
tanned that hundreds of men, presum-
ably hired by the brewers, were at the
polling places urging voters to oppose
him. No account of their employment,
he stated, appears in the expenditures
of any candidates or committee re-
quired to be filed by the corrupt prac-
tees act.
Gaunt Presents Option Bill.
George w. f. Gaunt, president of the
senate. was accorded the courtesy of
introducing the first measure in his
branch of the legislature, and he again
presented the local option bill. G.. Ro-
land Monroe, legislative agent for the
Anti-Saloon league, asserted that the
bill is practically the same as that
which passed the senate two years ago
and which received a so per cent in
creased vote in the house last year.
Slight changes were made, he ex-
planned, to meet friendly suggestions
by the associated druggists of the
state. The Measure provides for "home
rule in a municipality which obtains
a petition containing 80 per cent of the
names of the voters desiring a wet or
dry vote. The ballot is to be final for
two years, after which time another
might be taken to learn if the people
still favor their former decision. Sen
ator Mackay, Republican, of Bergen
county introduced the local option bill
which he declared for in the campaign.
1t provides that the question shall be
submitted to the voters of a municipal
fly at a general election instead of at
a special election. 1t also directs that
if a municipality votes wet the licens-
ing power shall be exercised by the
governing body of the municipality in
stead of by the court as is now done
in some sections of the state.
Another effort will be made by AS