The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-03-12
Vote Is So to 20, After Several
Hours of Oratory by Members
of the House.
MARTIN is CONFIRMED
Secretary of State viii Begin Third
Term on April 6-senate Receives
Message From Hudson Politician
but Gives 1t Abrupt Answer.

brief but exciting, by reason of the
stress to which members of the Leg
islature were subjected in connection
with it from agitators on both sides,
the bill by Assemblyman Bruno, OF
Monmouth county, to permit public
school teachers to read five verses a
day from any part of the Bible was
passed in the House.
The bill received 35 votes whilex %
were cast in opposition. Two mem
bers of the House were absent. The
vote for the bill was only four more
than the number required, 81.
The Bible bill has been the subject of
excitement ever since its introduction.
Two weeks ago it was reported by
the committee on education and then
put back in the judiciary committee.
That caused more bitterness, espe-
cially in view of the fact that the
night it was reported the galleries
had been packed by friends of the
measure, most of whom were claimed
by Ku Klux Khan leaders as mem
bers.
Denies K. X. K. Support
Br. Bruno denied the bill was
backed by the X. K. X. Mr.. Barison
of Hudson asked If Mr.. Bruno could
speak with authority to that effect
and the Monmouth man said he cousd.
Mr.. Barison, opposing the measure
as did all the Hudson county dele
cation, called on the 81 members who
put the bill in the judiciary commit
tee to retain their backbone and vote
against the bill
Which Version
Mrs. Finn and Miss Carly both
took the floor in opposition. The lat
ter went into an extended discussion
of it and inquired from Mr.. Bruno
whether the bill would require read
ing of the King J-les version of the
Bible or the Douay version. He re-
he was interested only in the whole
Bible. Miss Carly went on to declare
the Bible reading law is a waste OF
time in the schools.
Mr.. Botti denounced the demon
stration two weeks ago as an effort
to intimidate the lawmakers to vote
for the bill. Il IS
Mr.. Delaney asserted the Bible had
no place in the public schools.
Mr.. Harrison, Of Essex, declared
that if Christ were in the chamber,
Christ himself would vote against the
bill.
Mr.. Loutrell, of Essex, declared the
statement attached to the bill was a
lie
Mrs. Thompson said the Old Tesla
ment was good book but that it
should not have any preference over
the New Testament.
Mr.. Reeves suggested commission
of two ministers, two priests and two
rabbis might be named to secure an
accord on treatment of the Bible in
the schools.
| Mrs. Ebert recalled that when the
law to permit reading of the Old Tes-
lament was passed that was after dis
cussion by minister, a priest and
rabbi, so that the present law UNI
der those circumstances, did not need
alteration on the Reeves plan.
Mr.. Altman, Of Atlantic, called the
bill putrid and rotten because it ex-
cited religious animosities unneces-
sarily.
Mr.. Anderson said the bill would
be another failure, like prohibition"
Announcement of the vote was re-
ceived with applause by large NUM-
Der of its advocates in the galleries.
Besides Mr.. Bruno the hackers of
the bill were Assemblyman Hettinger.
of Cumberland, reputed to be active
in the K. X. K in South Jersey; Mr..
Read, of Cape May; Mr.. Beardsley,
of Essex; Mrs. Thompson, Of Ocean,
and Mr.. Reeves, OF Mercer.
Mr.. Hettinger asserted this is
Christian country and that the Bible
a Christian book, therefore should be
read in its entirety in the schools.
He declared that when President
Coolidge takes the oath of office We'd
nesday he will do it as Christian on
Christian book.
Martin Confirmed
The reappointment Of Thomas F.
Martin for third term as Secretary
Of state Of New Jersey was confirmed
by the senate. The action was unani-
nous.
The vote-1S for; none against;
three absent.
The confirmation came as an abb
rupt answer to the latest OF John j.,
McMahon's series Of attacks on the
Secretary of State, letter addressed
to members Of the Senate urging fur-
Their delay in order that he might send
extracts from the testimony taken IN
the certiorari proceedings.
There were three members OF the
Senate absent. They were Senator
Reeves, one Of Mr.. Martins strongest
friendr who ' as in conference IN
the House when the Senate acted on
Mr.. Martins name; Senator Whitney
who at the time was in Governor
silzsr's office: and Senator Borton,
also friend of Mr.. Martin. who had
act appeared for the evening session.