The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-02
RAILROAD COMMISSION.
Senator Johnson of Bergen
lntrod uces a Bill Which
Will Bear Study.
STRONG CORPORATION MEASURE
With Three Griggs Selections to
Carry Out Its Provisions, 1t
Affords the People No Show.
CORPORATION MEASURE
snecial to the JERSEY Cstp Nesus.

~ " pCi 6CiI C0ullly l~QtEOQuceQ MS Dill
Tor the establishment of a Board of Rail-
road Commissioners, in the Senate, last
night. MI. Johnson has been at work
on the bill for several weeks, and 1t is
drawn to cover the recommendations
made by Governor Griggs in his annual
message, n also includes the regula-
ton of trolley roads.
The bill provides for a commission of
three members to be appointed by the
Governor. Not more than two members
OF the Board shall be Of the same DO
litical party. The term Of Office is five
years, though any member may be re-
moved from Office by the Governor for
cause. The Board shall appoint a clerk,
and shall have the power to engage such
other assistants as may be necessary.
The Board shall have power to make
such rules, orders. regulations and direc-
lions as it may decide necessary to ac-
complish the purposes for which it is Gre
ated, and shall have the power to com
pei the attendance of witnesses, and to
call for n compel the production of
books and papers,, and it may delegate
such power to any member Of the Board
authorized to investigate and report. Any
member of the Board shall have power
to administer oaths and affirmations to
any person, for the purpose Of ascertain
ing any FACTS proper for them to know,
ana 70 enable them properly to perform
the duties of their Office; they may re-
duce the statement of persons sworn to
Wrltlng, and require such persons to
subscribe thereto, and may apply for and
obtain from any Justice of the Supreme
Court an order compelling any person to
submit to examination In reference to
such matters.
The salary of the commissioners is fixed
at $500 each, and the clerk is to receive
$1.500. The annual expense of the Board,
including the salaries of the commits
sioners n clerk, and the compensation
of the other assistants, shall be borne by
the several corporations owning or oper-
ating railroads or street railways in the
State. The Board shall make an annual
report to the Legislature on the condi-
ton of affairs and conduct of all rail-
road corporations doing business in New
Jersey.
The commissioners shall keep them
selves informed as to the condition of
the several railroads and street railways
in the State, and the manner in which
they are operated, with reference to the
security and accommodation Of he pub
lie, and as to the compliance of the sew
eral corporations with their charters and
the laws of the State. Whenever in it's
judgment any corporation has violated a
law the Board shall give notice, in writ
Ing, - SUCH CDTpOFdtiOu, dl1u IL Tile VIZ
lation or neglect is continued after such
notice it shall forthwith present the facts
to the Attorney General, who shall take
such proceedings as he may deem expe-
dent. The Board, whenever 1t deems
that repairs are necessary IN any rail-
road or street railway, or an addition
to or change in its rates of fare for
transporting freight or passengers, or in
the mode of operating its road and con-
Quoting its business is reasonable and
e~xpedient in order to promote the Sc
curity, convenience and accommodation
Of the public, shall, in writing, inform
the corporation of the improvements and
changes which it considers to be prop
er, and a report of the proceedings shall
be included in the annual report of the
Board.
The board shall investigate the causes
of accidents IN a railroad or street rail-
way which result in loss of life, and the
general superintendent or manager OF
State is required to inform the board of
every accident resulting in loss of life
or serious injury to any person mmedl-
ately after its occurrence.
The question of grade crossings takes
up a large part of the bill. The more
important rules regarding this feature
No street railway shall hereafter be
constructed to cross the tracks of any
railroad at the same, grade without the
nor shall any railroad be hereafter con-
structed to cross any public highway or
the tracks of any other railroad at the
no public highway shall hereafter be laid
out or opened SO as to cross the tracks
of any railroad at the same grade without
construct a street railway to cross the
tracks of a railroad, or a railroad to cross
a public highway, or the tracks of any
the municipality desiring to lay out or
open a highway so as to cross any rail-
road at the same grade, shall have the
bosard, 70 Which, aep'y Is P aere ssy'i invested q w sha s &c
exclusive power to permit such crossings,
and thereupon such board, after notice to
shall determine whether the public con-
v~enience n safety reasonably require a
crossing on the same grade prayed for,
an The = b 30; epe shall haine p reas Rs 0p UegulatIons
for the running of trains Of one railroad
at grade crossings. over another railroad,
special FOR such particular CROSSINGS, and
In such detail as 1t may deem expedienr,
and may prescribe a system of signals,
tions operating railroads which cross each
other at the same grade.
The governing body of any munich
Ral,ey Is e croased BY : d pr railroaa Z at t Gr a hi Se
level, IT Of the opinion that It Is neees-
sary for the better security of the public
that gates should be erected, or that a
fagman be stationed at the crossing. may
request the railroad corporation to pro-
vide these safeguards, and II. It refuses or
neglects so to do, may apply to the Board
application the board may make such or
ders for the provisions of these safe
guards as they shall decide that the bet
ter security of human life or the convent
ence OF the public requires.
The governing body OF any city or town
in which a public street or highway and
q railroad cross each other at the same
grade, or the directors of n railroad
company which crosses a street or high
way at the same grade, may apply to
the board setting forth that the petifion-
ers are OF opinion that the crossing has
become unsafe, and that 1t Is necessary
Tor the security and convenience of the
public that an alteration should be made
in such crossing and praying that the
same may be ordered. Upon receiving such
petition the commissioners shall appoint
a time and place for hearing and consid-
ering the same and advertise the same.
petition, In such manner as the Board
shall direct; and shall also view the ioca-
tfon of such crossings and proposed
changes; and shall afford an opportunity
for the presentation of plans and state
ments as to the method to be adopted for
the changes and alterations necessary.
And after hearing the representatives of
the several parties interested, if it shall
appear to the Board that the said crossing
has become unsafe, shall prescribe what
alterations, If any, shall be made and by
whom made, and which, If any, of said
crossings shah be abolished or changed.
and how such changes shall be made
and what changes of grades of streets. il
any, shall be made, and what clearance
each street shall have, what streets or
parts of streets shall be altered, and what
changes OF grades or location, and within
what time such work shall be completed.
and which party shall do the work. or
how the work to be done shall be appor-
Toned hetWnap rf1has railrnaY7 nnrrp.yy -