The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-17
TIE ERIE LEASE.
Fair Compromise Bill Reported
--Mr. Budd's Fresh
ness.
rsnecial to ..The Jersey city News."l


TRENTON March II, 1S9S.-Senator
Braun and Senator DAILY measured swords
again this morning over the amendment
to the bill merging the New York, Sus-
auehanna and Western Railroad with the
Erie Railroad Both think they won
victory, but most people think Mr.. DAILY
is a little ahead. AS has been stated in
1.-THE Jersey City News before, the merg-
ing of these two roads gives the Erie
monopoly of the traffic in Passaic and
Bergen counties. When the bill came up
on second reading day before yesterday,
Braun offered an amendment that
clause should be inserted in the lease pro-
yiding that hereafter neither road should
raise its freight and passenger rates.
This is the amendment Mr.. Daily opposed
so strenuously, claiming that it was not
fair TO so hamper the companies for
time and he succeeded in having the bill
sent back to the committee. This morn
ing the committee made it's report. 1t
struck out all that portion which referred
to the lease, and simply provided that
hereafter neither road should raise its
rates within the State. This at its best
is a compromise Had Mr.. Braun's or
lginal amendment stood, it would have
lease existed, because being part of
the lease. it became a contract, and by
paragraph 8, section 7, article of the
Federal constitution, the Legislature is
forbidden to pass any law impairing the
obligation of contracts. AS the amend
,nent now stands, however, it is simply a
section of an act of the Legislature which
can be repealed, amended or altered the
same as any other law.
Much criticism has been heaped upon
Senator DAILY for his espousal of the cause
of the Erie Railroad in this matter. but
he was working with the best interests
of his constituents in sight. He says his
course was due to desire to facilitate
the elevation of the Erie Railroad tracks
throughout Jersey City.
The Rev. P. w. Bilderback, of Column
bus, N j., who opened the session of the
Senate this morning, raised quite breeze
with his prayer. He made a very fervent
prayer to Almighty God to bless the
LEGISLATURE of the State and to uphold the
hands of President Mckinley, whom he
called another Lincoln
The judiciary Committee made separ-
ate report on the Budd Johnson contro-
versy.
Mr.. Budd, the report says, appeared
before the committee and said that per-
haps he should not have written the let
ter, but still he had made promises to
people interested in road building that he
would keep them fully informed as to the
course of legislation on the subject at
this session. When he saw that the bill
calling for an appropriation was in dam
ger of defeat he felt it to be his duty to
write the letter which was the cause of
complaint He had mailed copies of it to
leading citizens who are anxious for the
construction of good roads, and in doing
SO he had simply kept his promise. He
regretted that Senator Johnson felt Of
Tended. No one but himself knows what
pressure is being brought to bear upon
him every day to watch legislation affect
ing road building. Most people who are
interested in the matter hold him
responsible when there is any unfriend-
ly legislation. Consequently, he felt
it his duty to be active and Jealous
in trying to bring about the enactment of
law which would encourage the con-
struction of good roads. Owing to what
occurred in the Senate and House rela-
tive to his action, he said he would not
take any further interest in the matter,
being willing to leave it entirely to the
Legislature. He said the bill does not
call for an absolute appropriat ton OF $780,
600. but only limits it to that figure, and
leaves it discretionary as to whether such
an amount shall be expended. The pres
ent law limits the appropriation to $780,
900. and that is insufficient. He said the
Good Roads Association has prepared q
new bill, however, which calls for not
more than $150,000.
The committee did not feel that any
further action should be taken in the
matter, but added general rebuke for
any attempt to use an official position to
influence legislation except in the ordi-
nary way whatever that may mean.
In the House, the Commissioners codi-
fication OF sthe acts relating to District
Courts was brought up for consideration,
when the rules were suspended and the
act was placed on third reading and
passed, without being engrossed. The
same course was taken in regard to House
ia, which repeals all former acts relative
to District Courts. The rules were again
suspended and the bills were sent at once
to the Governor. On motion of Mr. Porter
vote of thanks was extended to the
Commissioners who prepared the acts
without pay.