The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-07
POLE BILL HEARING
Acting Governor Hears Ar
guments for and Against
.Crispen's Measure.
BAY0NNE OUT in FORCE
Voorhees, Claims That the Act As
Amended Does Not Apply
10 The Future.
Especial 10 ..The Jersey city News.''l

lSpSCidi TO Inc Jersey Slty NEWS
TRENTON. April Z. 1SsS.-Governor
voorhees, gave an extended hearing yes
terday on the Crlspen pole bill, which.
created such a sensation in the recent
Legislature. The fight was waged against
the measure on the ground that it gave
TO electric light and power companies au-
thority to erect poles without the consent
Of the governing body. This objection.
seems to be not well founded as an
amendment was incorporated into the bill,
which makes it only retroactive and rs
| object. the Governor says, is only 70 make
legal grants that lave already been made
by municipalities. and the legality OF
which is questionable. After the hearing
| Yesterday. the Governor said that II II
| could be shown TO him that the bill mad
other objects than the maintenance OF
such poles and wires as have been erected
under municipal authority, or took way
| any rights of municipalities or EXTENDED
| the powers or privileges OF the companies
he would not sign it..
The advocates of the bill who appeared
| ;rnnmas Il. McCarter, Chandler W. Riker.
J.. Martin Roll. Philip N. Jackson =. 1.
iii. Gilmour. all of Newark; John Nc
| Of HARRISON. Assemhiyman Allan Benny
of Bayonhe. who led the tight against the
bill in the Legislature. headed a Bayonne
delegation who were opposed to the bill.
| There were also delegations present from
| Orange, Newark, New Brunswick ana
| other cities to oppose the approval oy the
G~oyernor1of the pole bill aaaa tba
The Governor announced IN opening lne
| hearing that the bill came to HIM with the
| approval of both Houses OF the Legs
~lature. and that such being the case tnS
| burden of proving that the bill was a pad
one rested with the opposition, ana ne
| would therefore hear that side first-
| Alexander Christie, president OF the BAY
| onne Good Government Club, was the first
speaker. He objected to the signature OF
the bill on the ground that it would be an
infringement of municipal rights, and thar
the taxpayers of Bayonne objected TO
having poles planted in their streets with
out their consent. He was followed by
Mayor Nicholas Williamson of New
Brunswick. who made similar objection.
| Governor Voorhees, manifested a dispo-
sition favorable to the measure. and ar
gued the merits of the bill with the speak
ers. He assured Mayor Williamson that
so far as he knew there is nothing III the
bill that iaterferes with the rights OF
municipalities.
.srhere is an amendment to the bill, you
know remarked the Governor, which
| regulates all that"
II didn't know it, answered the Mayor.
while the other opponents of the measure
pricked up their ears. The Governor read
| the amendment thus
And provided further, that nothing
herein contained shall be construed to
limit the rights of any municipality pur-
suant. to the terms OF its charter or any
laws row existing or hereafter 10 pc
enacted, to cause such cables ana wires
to be placed underground. and thereafter
the poles wherein the same are suspend
ed are to be removed
Tine reading of the amendment caused
/ some surprise among the opponents or the
bill. The amendment does not appear
either in the original printed copy of the
bill or in the reprint.
IF that is the case" said Mayor Will
hanson, II believe that it overcomes our
objection"
George Fl. Baker of East Orange, repre-
senting the New England Society. read a
resolution adopted by that organization
| last week opposing the measure. Cover
nor VOORHEES, argued the question win
| Mr.. Baker, and asserted that if the COM
illegally they could be removed by the To-
| cal authorities. He advised Mr.. Baker to
'.stir up the East Orange authorities to
take suitable action, in the premises.
Governor Voorhees, next tussle was
with George F. Seward OF East Orange,
president Of the Fidelity ana Casually
that since the Governor seemed disposed
to argue the matter. he wanted a word or
two to say. Mr.. Seward followed up IN
the line taken by his predecessor, and af-
ter a lengthy argument with the Execu-
tive gave way to Henry Robson Of Bay
onne.. The latter was followed by Harri-
| son Van Duyne of Newark.
Commissioner Herr of Newark said that
| differences between the companies and the
municipalities should be settled by the in
terested parties. Newarki is opposed to the
| bill. he said, and the Board of Works has
unanimously opposed it. He said that
Newark is trying now to dispose of its
| T2.OO0 poles by placing them underground.
Governor Voorhees, said that he agreed
with the Newarkers that the companies
should pay for the privileges and that the
wires should be placed underground.
More than that" he said, Il believe
that the onduits should be constructed
by the municipalities and owned by the To-
cal authorities who shouid charge the
lieve that the time has yet arrived for
that, but it is coming
Dewitt Van Buskifk, of Bayonne, in
sisted that the Governor could not tell
how far-reaching the. act might be i'll its
| effects.
Neither does he and neither do we
know how this bill was pushed through
| the Legislature. said Mr.. Van Buskirk.
but we ave a strong suspicion as to
the methods used
He maintained that the bill gives the
! company tights that are offensive to
municipalities, and that it takes away
public rights
Philemon Woodruff, counsel for East
| against the signing of the bill. He de-
| clared that the bill, even with the new
proviso, does not limit the period of
| franchise. He argued, on the contrary,
! franchises which are now limited, by in
definitely authorizing the maintenance
of the lines now standing.
Judge McCarter. who was the first to
| speak in favor of the bill, denied that
such was the case.
I'm answer to that" he said. Il say
that I defy anyone to show me an or
| dinance or franchise which names one
year of time for which such franchise
! shall exist
'TI show you such an ordinance,
Judge cut in Mr.. Benny, If you'll show
me one that wasn't drawn by the att
torney of the companies.
John j.. Burleigh, of the Camden Elec-
trio Light Company, and Supt. Farrane,
of the Peoples Company. of Newark,
| lowed by Chandler w. Riker.
Mr.. VanBuskirk agreed to submit a
brief as to the constitutionality of the
proposed law.
SEVEN NEW LAWS.