Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-07-27
STATE SENATE
SESSION TODAY
Governors Naming of New
Highway Board to be Act
ed Upon by Upper House

TRENTON, July 27-The proba-
bility of the confirmation of part, IL
not all of the eight appointees of
Governor Edwards on the new state
highway commission by the senate
stood out at noon here today as the
members of the upper branch of the
legislature gathered for their spe-
cial session. In addition to the
seven members of the commission
who have been acting, the executive
was ready to send in the name of
Colonel Albert S. Doughty, of Mount
Holly, Burlington county. to fill out
the membership. Senate President
Case. who is the mentor of the Re-
publican. majority stated this morn
ing that he favored confirmation of
at least some of the governors se-
lections in order to provide a work
ing highway board to conduct the
business of road construction. How
ever. he was not positive what
course could be. followed after the
G. o. P. senator's have been caucused
on the matter.
There is a feeling that some Of the
appointees may lean strongly to GER
tain patented paving materials and it
is likely an attempt will be made to
hold their nomination until their at
titude on this phase of railroad
building may be fully determined.
The question this morning as the
senators gathered was what action
the Republican majority would take
on the nomination expected to be
sent in. The senate stands fifteen
Republicans to six Democrats and it
on the majority side to give their
saction to Mr.. Edwards selections
for the new directors of the highway
in order for them to be-
come the incumbents of the board.
If they are confirmed today, the
new board members will meet here
tomorrow to formally take up their
new duties in earnest. While they
have already held several sessions,
the fact that the attorney general
held them to be acting only as de
facto" commissioners has somewhat
clouded their right to the places on
the board, and hence they have been
holding off until the senate disposed
of their nominations.
The men serving "de facto." the
attorney general having held the
governor could not make ad interim
appointments while the legislature
is still in session although recessing.
River; John Ferris. Jersey City;
George Paddock, Newark; Assembly
man David Young, Morris county;
William J. Kirby. Somerville; Walter
F. Whittemore. Sussex county. and
Thomas E. Collins, city engineer OF
Burton has been chosen chairman
of the new board. The chairman
and Ferris, Paddock, Kirby and Col
Inns are Democrats. Young and
are Republicans. 1t is
expected that Governor Edwards will
send in the names of the eight men
on the new board today along with
those of the seven just mentioned.
The eighth member is expected to be
a Republican, probably from South
Jersey, as none of the other ap-
pointees are from that end of the
state. He will probably be named to
fill out the unexpired term of the
late George ]. Blakeslee, who was
the governors campaign manager.
His term runs to March 1921.
The question of housing and anti
rent prof1teering bills may again
figure in the meeting of the senate
today, although the prospects of
action on this subject are regarded as
very doubtful and in fact negative.
Both senate and House are due to
end their recess September s, when
it is likely they will both come back
again to see what Mr.. Edwards is
doing on the utility board question
and determine then whether to
recess again or adjourn sine die.