New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-11
AS TO COAL COMBINATION.


1t IS Just seven years since the New-Jersey
Legislature was called upon before to discuss
coal combination. Then, as now, the Legislature
was in session when rumors Of the combina-
ton appeared in the newspapers. The Demo
cratic statesmen Of those days were curious TO
know where they came in on the deal, and the
Legislature appointed an Investigating Com
mittee. The combine" as ii was called. was
effected by the lease OF several COal-carrylng
railroads TO a little New-IerSey corporation but
1t was perfectly well known that the Phila-
delphia and Reading and the Lchlgh Valley
companies were the powers behind the whole
concern. The organizers soon learned that in
order to legaze the lease legislative approval
would be necessary and when the financial in
ducements were forthcoming the lawmakers
not only squelched the investigation but pro-
ceeded TO consider the bill asked for by the
combination. Besides the pecuniary attractions
held out TO the individual legislators open TO
such arguments it was represented that the
bill was a Democratic measure. and all true
Democrats must vote for 1t under pain Of po-
litical ostracsm. If the bill passed. the COM
bination was to contribute annually handsome
sums to the campaign funds
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company had been
left ont in the formation of the combination,
and it threw its whole force against the legs-
latOn asked for. In spite OF all that could be
done however, both Senate and House gave
their approval and the bin went to Governor
Albeit. 1t was stated by number of Sen
ators and Assemblymcn that the Governor had
taken an active part In persuading them to
vote for the bill. However that may be. he
was quick to see the gathering storm Of public
Indignation, and after much hesitation he put
quictus on the bill by his veto The Gov
ernor followed that up by having Attorney
General Stockton invoke the power of the Court
of Chancery to demolish the combination. and
Chancellor McGill subsequently declared it
! Illegal.
That was the beginning Of the end Of the
Democratic party in Ncw-Jersey. by turning
down most of the legislators who had voted
for the combination bill. by the lavish use Of
money. by the influence of the Presidential
election and by rampant fraud at the polls the
Democrats managed to carry NewJcrsey in
November 1892 but the handwriting on the
wall was plain. and it required only one more
act Of political folly to revovtionlze the State
That act was cheerfully committed in 1893. and
then came the deiuge.
To-day the Democratic statesmen are sitting
up nights considering ways and means by
which they can utilize the alleged coal COM
bination of 1899 TO sail back into power. AS
sembyman Albeit son OF the Governor who
vetoed the other bill and thereby lost seat
In the United States Senate. presented res0lu-
tons In the House of Assembly this week ask
Ing the opinion OF Attorncy-General Grey as to
whether the existing laws are ample 10 protect
tho neonlc of Npw-Jerspy. and If not, request
ing him to prepare the necessary bills Perhaps
Mr. Albeit was surprised 10 get unanimous
vote on his resolutions. Al any rate. they were
passed without n dissenting vote, and are now
being considered by the Attorney-General II
is doubtful II he Will find much to guide him
in the legislative and Chancery Court pro-
ceedings Of 1892 The point on which the hos
tile action then taken rested was the Illegal
lty Of the lease of a domestic railroad 10
foreign corporation without the express con-