The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-08-01

steam company on an iron structure
above Grade. The claim was that life
and property would both be endangered
if the grade crossing were allowed, and
that the interests of the public de-
manded a safer means of transit over
the property of the Watching line.
Here was streetcar corporation owing
its existence to the concessions of the
public. and a steam railroad company
owing its existence to the favor OF the
State. in open court before a Judge in
the service of the people. contending
over an issue which involved public
safety and public property. Could it be
possible to make up an issue for the
consideration of any court in which the
immediate interests of the people could
be more directly concerned than this
contention brought before Vice-Chancel-
lor Pitney?
The NEWS. in it's capacity as public
print. exercising its privileges guaran-
teed under the Constitution of the
United States and the Constitution of
New Jersey directed member of its
force to proceed to this open court and
to report carefully the issues involved
in this public suit between two public
corporations whose interests, and those
of the public, are so interviewer as to
be inseparable. Vice-Chancellor Pitney,
for reasons that may be understood, IN
quired concerning the presence OF the re-
porter. In manner somewhat at vari-
anee with the customs of judges in deal
| ing with representatives of the press
when desiring the omission OF Things
from public reports. he hailed the re-
porter to the bar. seized a portion of
his manuscript. automatically ordered
him from the courtroom and threatened
him with judicial displeasure if he should
dare to print line of this public case
in the paper which employed him. the
NEWS, under its rights as a puphc
print published just so much of the pro-
ceedings as it would have done had not
Vice-C Chancellor Pitney sought to give
force to a novel procedure in judicial
administration and to attempt to i'm
pose upon the public press of New Jer-
sey such conditions as are in high favor
in Russia. but which receive no consid-
Grafton in any other civilized country.
The courts are a powerful agency for
public peace and public morals and for
the maintenance of law and procedure
Not second to the courts in this essential
work is the newspaper press. In main
tanning respect for law, in upholding le-
galized procedure. in defending the pub
lie against invasions. or attempted in
vasons. of public privileges. in promot-
ing moral principles and in inculcating
ideas of individual and communal du-
ties the newspaper press stands in the
forefront. In the case of the Consoli-
dated Traction Company and the Wat
chung Railroad Company, brought to
the attention of Vice-Chancellor Pitney
Yesterday, every cOlSlueFdtloH VI pupANO
interest demanded that the widest pub
licity should be given to the issue. The
trolley cars of Essex County are patron
lied by the people of Essex County.
They have had some experience of the
dangers attendant upon grade crossings.
Only public good could be served by the
publication of the points of the argu-
ments in the issue. Recognizing this
fact. the NEWS. confident of it's privi-
leges as a public print, without preju-
dice to either side or to the Court, gave
a brief abstract of the main question in
volved. together with the comments and
interiections made by the Court as the
argument proceeded.
1t has been well established by the
highest authorities that the proceedings
of an open court are matters Of public
interest, and that save where possible
injury may be done to public morals,
or interference had with the processes of