Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-02-10
OUR TRENTON LETTER
Railroad Legislation the En-
gaging Subject at Present.
OPPOSED BY RAILROADINTEREsTs

gaging Subject at Present.
OPPOSED BY RAILROAD INTERESTS
New Jersey Expresses sympathy For
Cuba-The Senate Takes 8 whiri at the
Trading Stamp Question - 1t Is a Dull
Session, So Everybody Interested Agrees.
Especial Correspondence
Trenton, Feb. 9-The legislature closed
its fifth week today. Among the events
which have occupied attention during
the week one of the most important has
been the senate committee hearing on
the railroad bills, introduced by Senator
w. M. johnson. The hearing was begun
Monday night, was continued yesterday
and wound up today, So much opposi-
ton has been developed to various fea-
lures of the proposed new legislation
that it is likely Senator Johnson will.
as last year, have to bow to the inevi-
table and see his pet bills die prema-
ture death. The better known of the
two bills is the one providing for a state
commission with plenary powers in the
adjustment of all difficulties arising be-
tween municipalities and railroad COM
panies. The matter of railway crossings
and track elevation constitutes the sub
ject to which the commission would be
expected to give chief attention. The
other bill confers upon towns through
out the state the power to compel the
protection of crossings by means of
gates or fiagmen.
Monday evening was occupied chiefly
by Newark representatives in stating
their objections to the railroad commits
sion bill City Counsel Price, Commits
sioner Van Duyn and Alderman Ogden
were among those who appeared, and
the burden of their objection was, first,
that too great a share of the expense
was imposed on the cities, and, second,
that the cities had no power to right
any mistakes the commission might
make in formulating plans for track ele-
walton or depression. Senator johnson
called attention to a provision enabling
them to apply to the chancellor for al
terations.
Yesterday afternoon the railroads
turned their heavy guns on the bills,
after Senator Johnson had had an OPP
portunity to explain them. To show
that it was no new subject, he quoted
from Ex-Governor Werts' messages and
other public documents insisting on
the need of proceeding with system
of improvements to do away gradually
with all grade crossings. He insisted
that no other country in the world, ex-
cept perhaps Canada, was so careless
as the United States in protecting it's
crossings.
Opposed by the Railroads.
James B. Vredenbergh, for the Penn
Bylvania railroad, was the first speaker
in opposition. He objected because the
railroad commission bill practically
passes over to three men, who may be
quite ignorant of railroads, the opera
ton of the great Pennsylvania railroad
system, and also because half the yearly
expense was placed on this single road,
although Senator Johnson himself had
admitted that if the Pennsylvania alone
were to be dealt with no such bill would
ever be required. The Pennsylvania
had already elevated it's tracks in Jer-
sey City and Elizabeth of it's own Volt
ton, although the improvements cost
millions of dollars, and it was about to
elevate in New Brunswick, following up
the matter elsewhere as rapidly as
practicable. The bill was objected to
also as being extremely inquisitorial,
demanding exposure of business secrets.
After Mr.. Vredenbergh had spoken at
H. Corbin opposed on part of the Erie
railroad, referring more particularly to
the bill investing towns and villages
with plenary powers. He said there
were over 300 such municipalities, and
it meant that in each railroads were to
be at the mercy of three men with one
sided views and very often i'll informed.
F'lavel MCGEE of the Delaware, Lack
awanna and Western road made the
longest speech of the day and assailed
the bill under these three heads: First,
that the legislature has no power under
the constitution to take railroad prop
erty as the commission bill in effect
would do; secondly. that the bill is an
unwise one and, thirdly, that there is
no popular demand for it, He begged
the committee to remember that in at
lacking railroads the attack was against
cur own citizens, who are the stock
holders He reminded his hearers that
the railroads were supporting the state
government and relieving its citizens of
all state tax, and finally he paid fine
tribute to the liberal policy with which
New Jersey had fostered the great car
rying agencies of commerce to its own
great prosperity and the prosperity of
its people, who were richer per capita
than the people of any other state in
the Union. When he was pointing out
the great burden of expense the rail-
roads assume in protecting their grade
crossings, Senator Johnson interrupted
to ask if he took account of the value
of the lives that were lost at unprotect-
ed crossings.
This brought from Mr.. MCGEE the
declaration that as a matter of fact
more people are killed at the protected
than at the unprotected crossings.
"Out of about 300 crossings on our
road" said he, '1O3 are unprotected.
and we haven't had a single accident
on these in ten years"
''Why not do away with gates alto
gether then?" asked Senator johnson.
IL would favor it, was the reply,
''but there would be public clamor
against 1t, although the facts are as /
stated them. The reason, of course, is
that at unprotected crossings people
usually are cautious and look out for
themselves, but at protected crossings
they depend sometimes to their sorrow
on others to look out for them''
Thomas N. McCarter occupied the
committees attention today. The bill
is likely to be reported unfavorably next
week.
sympathy For Cuba.
There is a wave of sympathy for Cuba
passing over the house of assembly, and
next Monday evening has been fixed up
on for the orators of the house to give
expression to their feelings on the sub
ject. Mr.. Cole of Cape May county
brought Cuba's cause before the lower
body yesterday by proposing the adop-
ton of series of resolutions setting
forth that the people of the Tinted
States cherish their own liberty and
look with approval on the aspiration of
Dther peoples for the same inestimable
boon. that the subjugation of the strug-
Cling Cuban patriots would be a crime,
that the time has come when it is the
imperative duty of the United States to
interfere and acknowledge the indie
pendenee of the struggling people. and
finally urging our representatives in
congress to do their utmost to have
S0Radv and efficient action fa1xar n