Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-01-09
STATE LEGISLATURE OPENS
SESSION; PLANS IN DOUBT
CONTINUED from page u

JOob AAPiC SlSAL SOllcONuN4NC
years in that lower body. Mr.. Pier
son succeeds Mr.. Runyon, defeated
gubernatorial candidate from I'm
ion.
The entire membership of sixty,
including the three women elected
to serve in this years House of AS
sembly, took the oath of office in
that chamber. The women are Mrs.
Katherine w. Brown, Democrat, of
Hudson, reelected, Mrs. Agnes A.
Schermerhorn, and Miss Mabel G.
Narth two members of the Republi-
can delegation from Essex.
A blind man, Thomas NJ. Muir, Re-
publican, of Union, also took his seat
in the legislature. His colleagues
from that county Herbert J. Pascoe,
John w. Cliff and George Compton
led him to the bar of the House to
sign the roll of members. Union
county this year has four members
and Bergen has an equal number, an
increase of n each resulting from
the re-apportionment made by the
legislature OF 1922 In pursuant to the
increased populations Uf these coun-
ties as shown by the census. Hud-
son, however, and Morris, paid for
this in the loss of one member each.
~ L SOAio ~
and the latter to one representative
in the 1923 session and future ses-
sions until there is a new alignment.
One colored man represents his race
this year, Oliver Randolph, Republic
can, OF Essex, succeeding DR.. Walter
G.. Alexander, coiored who served in
the two previous legislatures from
the same county.
The usual display of flowers for
members, patriotic decorations and
other interesting touches incident to
the opening OF the day marked to-
days event. Immediately after the
organization was perfected, the pre-
siding officers of each branch of the
legislature appointed committees to
Governor Edwards that they
were ready to receive any messages
he might wish to send to them. The
governors third and final commuui-
cation was then received. 1t was
brief, covering about thousand
words. The contents of the message
will be found In another column.
Legislation relating to the liquor
question, the State Highway Com
mission and the road program, taxa
ton and public utilities are all alb
questions before the law
lions today. The situation as the
makers who began their delibera-
opening ceremonies began was one
which might provide many interest
ing activities before final adjourn
ment is reached.
AS an example of differences in
the ranks of the overwhelming Re-
publican majority the controlling
factors in the leadership of each
LAyca L. 49, tfaeIna%t~- CA,ox1 |
Wallworth, OF Camden, |
and Republican Leader Stevens, of
Monmouth, are in the group under
stood to be representative Of the
Baird Kean-Stoke leadership in the
party. This group con-
the senate caucus and picked |
the representatives from that body
on the Republican Joint Conference
So little did the wing
led by United States Senator Edge
think of the work of this committee
that a number of them were absent
last week when the meeting was
held to hear its report.
Mr.. Edge, however, dominates the
organization OF the assembly per-
today. Speaker Evans is
friendly to the new senior senator
and Joseph A. Corio, the new whip
for the majority, will be an Edge
in this; session undoubt-
eddy.
The Democrats are no better off.
On the one side will be governor
elect, who takes office next week,
and on the other will be the mem
bers Of his party in senate and
House representing the minority in
this legislature. In that minority
there will be twelve out of twenty
from Hudson county and the
dozen mentioned will, Of course, do
bidding Of Mayor Frank Hague,
Of Jersey City. II SilZer and Hague
work in harmony little friction may
But the story to date has
been that the Democratic lawmakers
have shown no eagerness to follow
the program OF Mr.. SilZer, particu-
with reference to tax reduc-
tons. Mayor Hague is understood
to be against this program because
It will interfere with certain designs
he has in Jersey City for improve
ments there which might be baked
an arbitrary fixing of the tax
limit in municipalities, al MI. Silzer
has been discussing as a suggested
plan of economy for the people.
Thus the Legislature which begins
today has IN it interesting possibili-
ties for complications, unusual stu
tense moments for all who
are interested in its affairs.
Honor Blind Member
" H. Is