The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-27
Ir 49, 49,
RAILROAD C0MMBSIDDl
Senator Johnsons Bill and
Its Prospects at
Trenton.
IN LINE WITH OTHER STATES
Board Of Three MEMBERSHIPS Of
Track Elevation = Grade
Crossing Precautions.

/ reaQy Dpen IOlQ III II lNSWoy 49, -
reduced his Railroad Commission Dill
! again this year. and hopes to secure It's
enactment. The bill is drafted carefully,
and follows mainly the laws OF Connecti-
| cut, Massachusetts and other states.
| Senator Johnson's bill is a very compre-
hensive measure. 1t places great powers
\ in the hands of the Commission to pc
| created. but no law could be effective un-
| less such powers were granted. Some OF
the Objectionable features of last year 5
bill are omitted, especially the sectlons
| giving the Commission authority over the
location of street railroad tracks in all
parts of the State. This provision in last
\ years bill was one cause for its defeat
In this years bill Senator Johnson aims
mainly at the abolition of grade cross
ings. and in this he should have the sup
port Of the people from all parts OF the
State.
The bill provides for the appointment
| of three commissioners by the Governor
with the advice and consent of the Sen
ate. The number to be appointed from
/ any one political party is limited to two
| commissioners, and Senator Johnson has
| altered the bill this year by inserting a
provision lnat one ol the coliiiih
shall be a lawyer, of at least ten years
| practice, and one a civil engineer One is
to be appointed for one year, one for
three and one for five, and the successor
of each, as his term expires. to be APP
| pointed for a full term of five years. A
| vacancy may be filled by the Governor
for the u~nexpired term. The Commission
is to elect one of its members each year
as chairman, and for the transaction OF
| business two shall constitute a quorum.
a,ar,, g ala na+aa a,5 tba
"9o
commission snail nave power TO employ
such other assistants as may be neceS-
| sary. The Commission is TO fix the COM
pensatlon OF such employees, subject TO the
approval of the Governor.
The hill nrovides that any commiss;onar
CLERK OF olhef employe VINO receives d
present, bonus or reward of any kind
from a railroad oornoration shall he
$50. 80 pt.SE ~
ueeHeu SuHly Oh Il instrumentation Inc
Commission is clothed with all necessary
nowers IN +ransact business nav comnal
-
tne proouetioh ol DOCKS aho papers ao-
minister the oath to witnesses for the
purpose of ascertainine facts proner for
Them 10 know The cornensation nf the
| Commission is increased from 81 0o 6xed
in last wears hill IN S5 nnA xyaorlr and Of
the clerk 50 oon ,Tbe eynensas IF tho
Commissioners ;no1,dirg saIar;as ~ 10
he assessed vearlv On tbe Taiiroads ht, fra
State Board of Assessors. each road nav
Ing in nronortjon IL tbeiy gross esrnines
INC Cammission is to mske q - annI7si
renort eivring such stetan,a n+s 81 80
as will disclose the act,laI wor1inps IF
tba rai1roads Tho y
tn kaen 4ban,sei1es infnrnnad ~. -
onaration of railrosds and - Iii
roads their oomniianca WHY +ha;r 49,
ters ~ 49, 49, eHai
nntif, tho 'r nc 1rnaas iney ~ 70
Of the laws or tbeir obar+ar ond ;f
mt correctad notif,, AZ A+tnrnaT onnn
who shall nroceed ,,ndar tha Low yVhan
avay ranairs ~. ~, NE laM. l
ed change Of stations nc IF rn+a 80 81 ~
Conuission is antborized 70 $50 tho
raiIrnad o4ioisIs Of S,ab dasirad ~ ~
The Somn,ission sbenu ins ssns tlanses-
dants and rannrt an ~ e.,noan a. =.
reo,,ired- tbat ,nar;n+andnn 81 aau 4
sbaII immadiatafw 1919 = y "a u
Gnrnn,issinn 81 snu q +epp III = Tue
naiss;nn &c 70 f,rh IGn' CoHi
roaSs and dasor;ha +ha go, ora
ret,,rns 'Ae Aoa - nioa
The Hill nrovidas +ba+ NO s+roat ra;1ra.a
shall beraafter nnnstr,,ot ~ saase' aaa d :
abroad Of erade nitbor+ ~ on $3.50 q
tha nrara;ssinnar 49, uh,n ne sssnselS ~
LA oannan ldilioau pe
or a n,,hlio higbu,oI nnSst. a saaaue,
49, nt5mMaS rs uceeo acIoss
Of tba Somnoissinn AnnIin.inn colst 4
Tnmnsion 20 ~ ne
,nnda h, na e uo eonsehe nluse. pc
nns n. oonoannoa 49, aS pS mae oy
i = par'y So1nsiua ~ tne Soini1ission
anosnm peinlt sutn
$500 800 Si4Saninae, ~ ~ eaHno. ac. unti
hhosiSe - siSen ~ "a paItlss anu a punhc
t ,leal ~ nay. Colalaission may I'M
POSE any coluItioLs, iestfiGtioIls OF regu-
lasioiIs = ueeils plopel. HlgnWdys con-
stIucteu must naEe d perpenulcular Clear
ance OF at leasI t1lfteen Ieet, ana or rail-
roaus d perpehdicuiar Gearing OF eighteen
leel uniess the commission deem other-
WISE.
Ihe COMMISSION shaH prescribe regula-
tons for the running OF trains at grade
crossings with any other railroad, and es-
the Court OF Chancery to enforce such
regulations, or grant an injunction to
prevent the running of trains without
proper regulations. The Commission may
order the erection of gates at a crossing
and the employment of a fagman, if it is
deemed necessary for the proper protec-
ton of the public, but a public hearing
alter any arrangement already existing if
it is considered better. and may specify
when gates shall be opened or closed and
when fagmen shall be on dTtv
one section provides that a railroad
company or any ten citizens of 4 COM
m1Inifv may ~nefjtion fhe Cnnnission IN
have The h,ssbes or treas fhat Hide = rail.
u;s;on 'is ,1sda FOR a haar;ng end nc
Camnaissior ~, +.ta nanassa ~ aann
snd datarrni nc ~ anea = ;f - a w
sto1 IL III - a. 20 H.. ny mnsn
35iiaeLlil = pau ps ~ .n "a coilipany.
Eiliie! pai.y ND appe1i ~ lng coults
AfUm Tue uecislon u ~ COMMISSION:
Ihe governing ooaru or pody OF any
mQn1ClDalIV n1dV DeJlllO0 the BOaTu OF