The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1919-11-28
TRENTON EXPECTS
LIVELY SESSION
Republican Legislators AntiCi-
pate Political Contest With
Democratic Governor.
SOME FORECASTS OF EVENTS
Suffrage, Public Utility Boards Fate
and State Highways Viewed as
Three Cleavage Points Between In
coming Executive and Solons.

Trenton.-Facing a conflict of views
they feel certain will result during an
administration of a Democratic COVER
nor, the Republican members of the
next legislature will hold a conference
at which plans for legislation in the
coming session will be discussed. No
date for the meeting has yet been
set
Because of the strenuous primary
campaigns of gubernatorial candidates
In both parties and the equally stren7
uous general election campaign that
followed unusual interest has been
aroused in the legislative programs,
and there are indications that activ-
tiles in the state house this winter
will be watched closer than they have
been since the regime of Governor
q Wilson.
The Republicans have decided that
every effort must be made to guard
against the making of Democratic
capital out of the 1920 session. mas
much as Governor Edwards will be in
q position to advance his ideas in ar
gumentative messages, they realize
that they must offer equally strong de-
lenses in the event of a refusal to
meet his requests.
With a majority of the legislative
members and the governor agreeing
that there should be no ratification of
the national prohibition amendment,
interest turns to woman suffrage, the
fate of the public utilities commission,
the question of policy in handling the
state highway improvement program
and other matters.
Three Points Of Difference.
On at least three points the views
of the incoming governor and the
stand of the majority lawmakers are
at radical variance. Mr.. Edwards is
pledged to the immediate ratification
of the woman suffrage amendment to
the national constitution, while the
Republicans in their state platform ad-
vocate recourse to a referendum cleo
ton for the guidance of legislators not
already pledged on the subject.
To restore confidence in state regu-
lation of public utilities Mr.. Edwards
would GUST the present board of public
utilities commissioners and substitute
an elective body, while the Republic
cans in their state platform content
ed themselves with a recommendation
that the utility properties be indie
pendently appraised for rate-making
purposes and declaration for a re-
turn to flat trolley fare in lieu of
the present zone system on the Pub
lie Service lines.
The state highway system opens the
way for the third clash. Mr. Ed
wards favors the abolition of the pres
ent highway commission and the APP
2ointment of a single commissioner
who would be in direct charge of the
development The Republicans, back
ing the program of Governor Edge in
sist that the present commission is
long on accomplishment and that it
should be continued.
Won't Be Ratified.
Election of solid delegation of
twelve Democrats from Essex county
to the house of the 1920 legislature
has apparently removed the possibili-
ty of favorable action by the house on
resolution proposing that the pro-
hibition amendment to the federal
constitution be ratified. The senate
is ''wet'' by a substantial majority, so
that ratification in the upper house
Is out of the question.
The positively and unalterably
wet" votes in the house are twelve
Democrats from Hudson, twelve from
Essex, five "wet" Republicans from
PaSSaic and two from Atlantic. These
four counties furnish thirty-one anti
ratification votes, one more than
enough to defeat any attempt to pass
ratification resolution. Besides
these known "wet" votes in the house,
there are certainly many others, but
even if there should be no more these
thirty-one will be in a position to
check any favorable prohibition move.
In the senate it is certain that not
more than half dozen senators are
for ratification and among these
known "drys" are Bunyon, Allen,
Reeves and Bright. There may be
couple more, but even at that there
are left six "wet'' Democrats and
nine 'wet" Republicans, giving the
"wets' a senate working majority of
nine.
An effort will be made by the New
Jersey Women's Suffrage Association
to have the national suffrage amend
ment ratified in the legislature. The
lineup of members on this question
is close. There appears to be a safe
majority for ratification in the SEN
ate, and it is likely that suffragists
will have a margin of two or three
votes in the house.
Senator Case For President.
The fifteen Republicans did not lin
ger many minutes over their slate
making and the logical choice for
president went to Senator Case, of
Somerset, with Senator Mackey. of
Bergen, as majority leader. 1t is said.
New Jerseys Game Birds.