The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1925-01-22
.SILzER KEEPING
LEADERS IN DOUBT
Jersey Republicans to Watch
Governor as Legislative
Session Opens.
PROGRAM AWAITS ACTION
Highway Question to BE Center of An
other Big Fight at once-Proposed
Investigation Of Department Of
Banking and Finance.


T-enton.-Republic go into the
legislative session without definite
party program. The leaders have ex-
pressed the belief that such a program
is not at all necessary in view of the
present situation, but the presumption
is strong that the work will be guided
largely by what Governor Silzer put
in his message presented on the open
ing day. So far the conference COM
mittees have held no meetings at
which important measures have been
taken up, but the governor may force
action upon a number of live issues.
and these will be considered as they
appear.
There was some talk in certain cir
cles OF keeping the session alive all
the year for the purpose of meeting
any situation the Democrats, through
the governor, may create, but that
scheme does not appeal to many of
the members. 1t was tried during the
term of Governor Edwards because
some of the Republicans feared he
might have any number of pitfalls for
them, and, while final adjournment
was not taken until the hour prior to
the organization Of the two houses,
nothing ever was accomplished and
the members grew exceedingly weary
of the ftful sessions from time to
time. Senator Larsen, who will be
majority leader in the senate, WELD
ing much power and influence, will
not stand for the scheme, and that
would appear to settle it.
The perennial issue of roads will
bob up again soon after the session
gets into action. Assemblyman Pine
of Camden county had ready for intro
duction on the opening day his bill
adding to the state highway system
the Black Horse pike, which partly
parallels the famous White Horse pike
from Camden to the seashore and
which has been doomed by numerous
bodies in the three counties through
which it runs The measure passed
the house last winter after a long and
bitter fight on the part of those who
claimed that it was road grab" but
it lacked the necessary votes in the
senate. and there was a sensational
turn of the fight when the bill strange
ly disappeared" between sessions,
and a grave scandal was threatened.
1t turned up later and took its course.
Mr.. Pine will renew his efforts to get
it over this year, and it looks very
much as though he will win out
Senator Whitney will again attempt
to pass a bill giving the state high
way commission sole power and au-
tLority to designate routes to be taken
over for improvement. That issue
was fought out in the Republican
state convention last October when
the senator endeayored to put in the
platform a plank carrying the same
idea. He lost by large margin. as 1t
appeared that the majority of dele
gates, composed of assembly and SEN
ate candidates, then felt that it was
matter for the legislature itself to
determine.
Many of the members of both
houses have clearly demonstrated
uPOA AuOlC1Ouo OCCdSAOAH IAab lACy
look upon the prerogatiye as one of
their own to which they are as capable
of giving safe and proper care as the
highway commission and they will
not readily surrender. They say they
are elected direct by the taxpayers
and are in better position to judge
the highway needs Of their sections
of the state.
Senator Mackay of Bergen, has
ready for early introduction his draft
of the proposed investigation of the
department of banking and finance,
with especial reference to the recent
discovery of the huge deficit in the ac-
which had covered period of IA
years without discovery by the, de-
examiners. The senator
says there is no purpose or desire to
investigate the associations of the
state which are doing such splendid
work for home-buyers, but there
should be some means of quick discov-
cry Of such conditions as prevailed IN
the Hackensack organization SO that
shareholders may have the necessary
protection.
The same senator will probably
have ready his plan for the creation
Of the commission proposed to look in
10 the complicated election laws with
4 view to suggesting needed revision
and amendment to remove existing
conflicts and unsatisfactory machin-
cry. Numerous suggestions have
come forth for the action of such
commission, but nothing definite will
he outlined until 1t becomes a fact.
Senator Mackay has been urged to
arrange things so that the proposed
commission may get into action at
once and report its recommendations
At the forthcoming session SO that the
suggested changes may be made this
gear instead Of waiting whole year
70 put them through. Whether the
nsrty leaders would sanction that
ssurse, however, is doubtful In view
81 the impending campaign for Gov
trnor which might be affected. The
@nkr