The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-12-05
He Declares He Will Not
Accept Robbins As a
Speaker of the House.
REFORMS WOULD SUFFER
SENATOR ELECT ISSUES A
STATEMENT SETTING FORTH
THE REASON OF HIS oPPosI-
TIoN TO THE PROPOSED ALLI-
ANCE.
Special to "rhe Jersey city News"

NEW ANN, Lee. y, 1ooo.-focAdtVI-
elect Colby has declared his intention Of
taking hand in the Speakership fight
in defiance of custom and tradition.
Mr.. Colby is opposed to the selection
by the Republican Assembly caucus of
Samuel X. Robbins. of Burlington
County, for Speaker, although Robbins
is the most prominent figure in race
in which his competitors are Louis N.
Miller. of Cumberland; Thomas G. Ell
vans, of Atlantic, and George e. Wright.
of Passaic. The Essex reformer believes
that with the South Jerseyman in the
chair the fight for equal taxation, the
limitation of public utilities, franchises
and for other reforms for which the
Colby movement stands will be seriously
handicapped.
Mr.. Colby's statement is as follows
''While I am not a memscr OF the
House, I am intensely interested in
what are known as equal taxation IDEAS
or principles. I made my canvass for
nomination and subsequently, for elec-
tion upon a pledge to the people to do
everything in my power to secure the
enactment of laws to carry out those
ideas. feel that my pledges to the
people require that should use what
ever influence the Endorsement Of my
candidacy by the people has given me
for the advancement Of these principles
in any way that honorably can.
THAT the passage of such laws viii
be desperately resisted by the railroad
and public service corporations of our
State. through the political bosses who
represent them, goes without saying.
The first contest will come over the
eletcion of Speaker of the House,
who will have power, by the appoint
ment of committees. to materially as
sist or obstruct the passage of these
laws.
II am, therefore. strongly of the opin-
ion that no member Of the Assembly,
who has pledged himself to the enact
ment of these principles into laws. or
favors the same. should vote in the Re-
publican caucus for any candidate for
Speaker who will not declare himself
clearly and unequivocally in favor OF
the enactment of the following laws
"a State law and an amendment to
the Constitution of the State, prohibit
ing municipalities from granting fran
chises to public utility corporations for
a longer period than twenty-five years
in cities Of the first and second class,
with provision permitting the grant
ing of franchises for periods not longer
than thirty-fve years in localities other
than cities Of the first and second class.
if so decided by vote of the people
in the locality affected.
"A law providing for the annual as
sessment of the value of the franchises
Of the public utility corporations in the
streets, and the taxation of the same at
local rates.
8 A law taxing all railroad real estate,
including the main stem, at local rates.
"A law affording the members Of each
party the opportunity, at the general
election, Of expressing their choice for
the party candidates for United States
Senator, until such time as the Constitu-
tion of the United States shall provide
for the election of United States Sena-
tors by direct vote Of the people.
II am opposed to the election of Mr..
Robbins for two reasons. First, he has
declined, I am informed, to commit him
self clearly to the support. of these prin-
ciples. Second, he is receiving, and
seems ready to adopt, the support of GER
tain Influences which have found by
experience at Trenton, are bitterly op-
posed to all the equal taxation measures
for which we are fighting. Behind him
are the political bosses and the men who
speak for and represent the railroads
and public utility companies in matters
OF legislation.
while I believe Mr.. Robbins is per-
sonally an incorruptible man, / cannot
think these men would be so active in
his support if they did not have reason
to know that his election as Speaker
would help to prevent the fun success
Of our measures.
Those, therefore, ii favor Of equal
taxation and limited franchises must
stand together and support some man