The Penn's Grove record., 1917-01-12
FRIDAY, JANUARY II, 1917
State News
CONTINUED from page II

and to have general charge of creating
and maintaining a highway system and
all road work of the state. The new
Governor also recommends a state tax of
one mill, which he estimates will pro-
duce $15,00O,000 in five years., when the
tax would be abolished. As the Leg1s-
lature is Republican, the Edge plan Will
be adopted in preference to the one pro-
posed BY Governor Fielder's Commission.
The members of the latter commission
are: John W. Herbert, of Middlesex
Frank B. Ridgeway, of Gloucester; j. ID.
Wood and H. A. Bonnell, of Essex, and
State Road Commissioner Stevens, OF
Hudson
Strictly following the plan mapped out
by the Republican majority members,
the Hist Legislature organized shortly
after noon yesterday for the 1917 session.
The only ripple was the attempt of the
Democrats in the Assembly to amend the
rules, but being outvoted, the minority
failed in this move. The organization at
tracted large crowds of politicians and
citizens, Il was a picturesque event.
The floral display on the members desks
was unusually elaborate. The most
striking floral piece was presented to
Senate President Gaunt, of Gloucester,
by the State Grange, of which he is
Master.
In the Senate the chief officers elected,
l. Utlus 4ACpublICdhog hClCs 4ColuNlly
George W. +. Gaunt, of Gloucester; sec
rotary, Francis B. Davis, of Gloucester;
assistant secretary, G. Bartrom Wood
ruff, of Elizabeth chaplain, Rev. DR..
Edward G. Read, of Union; supervisor
of bills, Robert NJ. johnson, of Atlantic;
journal clerk, William s. Stiles, of
Salem; calendar clerk, George NJ. Hurl-
burt, of Lakewood bill clerk, ]. Wads-
worth Baldwin, of Essex, s~ergeant-at-
arms, J. Albert Harris, of Cape May.
The Senate adopted a fitting resolution
paying a tribute to the memory of the
late Senator William w. Smalley, of
Somerset.
In accepting the Presidency of the
Senate, Senator Gaunt made a plea for
a bushes government. He said, in part:
We are irrevocably pledged to the es-
tablishment of economy and efficiency
plans that will place every department
of the Government on a strict business
basis. This we must surely do"
In assuming the Speakers gavel in the
Assembly, Assemblyman Schoen de-
clared 1.-The people of New Jersey are
looking to us to enact constructive Legis-
lation which has for its sole object the
fulfillment of the doctrine of the founders
of this Republic, of equal rights aid
equal opportunities without injury or
wrong to any one"
After the Assembly had chosen Mr..
Schoen speaker, it elected Upton S.
J~effreys, of Camden, Clerk, nd James
Parker, of Paterson, Assistant Clerk.
Both have served several terms in the
House.
=
The furry over the rules in the House
came when Mr.. Geran, of Monmouth
moved to adopt an amendment provid-
Tnr EhnE oil 49, ~-- l.
public; that a record be kept of how the
committee members vote on all questions
of reporting bills, and that these records
be filed in the Office of the Clerk as
public records. Republ'c an I ader Oil
plant opposed it, claiming the rules al
ready gave enough protection in this par
ticular. The motion was defeated by the
party vote of Al to 16.
" + = = y
The Assembly adopted resolutions upon
the death of former Assemblyman Will
liam w. Smalley, late Senator from
Somerset, and George J. Brackner, of
Hudson. Assemblymen Runyon, of I'm
ion Amerman, of Somerset, and Geran,
of Monmouth, were named as a conn t.
tee to draft a suitable resolution upon
the death of Senator Smalley to be sub
mitted to the House.
y = = = =
Under an agreement reached by the
leaders of both parties. the Legislature
adjourned until next Tuesday morning
at IL o'clock. No bills were introduced
and it was decided to have none intro
p, when both party leaders will have
their respective platform measures ready
and they will be submitted to the law
makers The introduction of bills was
deferred until after the Inauguration next
week.
Governor-elect Edge was an interested
spectator at the opening of the legislature
session. With the swearing in of Emer-
son L. Richards as the Senator from
Atlantic. Edge became a private citizen
for the first time in several years. but
it will last only one week. Governor
elect Edge and his family have occupied
the home on West State street. this city,
where they will reside during the session.
The new Governor will be ~inaugurated
next Tuesday at noon in Taylor Opera
House, this city. The ceremony will
follow the program already announced.
The Legislature will meet at the State
House at IL o'clock and march to the
theatre, where it will meet in joint session
on the stage with Senate President Gaunt
presiding. In the presence of the law
makers. state officials and thousands of
citizens the oath of office will be adj
ministered by Chief Justice William S.
Gummere. Governor Edge will then de-
liver his inaugural address. Later he
will review the big civic parade from a
stand in front of the State House. A
public reception will be held in the Capt.
toll from 3 to 5 o'clock, followed by the
dinner to the Governor at the Robert
Treat Hotel in Newark.
y
New JERSEYS fourteen electoral votes
were cast for Charles E. Hughes, for
President, and Charles W. Fairbanks, for
Vice President, at the meeting of the
Electoral College at the State House on
Monday afternoon. This action was
based upon the certificate of the Secre-
tary of State showing the election of the
Republican Electors by tn. vote of
26S,9S2, to 211,01S for Wilson and Mar
shall, the Democrats, a plurality of
1894 for the Republicans.
The United States Senate will assemble
in Washington on February II to canvass