The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-06-28

vain Mr.. cplby iried ID secure tile prison
ers release The nla jesty of the law pre-
vented any action
n contradiction. he said that i was
charged thar influential corporations
bribed legislatures and common conneils
and when called 70 account. the ''iaaje stg
Of the law became a secondary consider
alton. These corporations play practical
politics. secure their ends. aud the result
is that there is one law for the prisoner,
and another for Il certain class Of cor
porations. These bodies are striving to
get something for nothing, and violate
public rights. under the naine Of the law.
Mr.. Colby then discussed the reasons
for public unrest in New Jersey. stat
ing that the voters of the state had be-
come distrustful and were seeking relief.
At this point he declared directly the
platform upon which he stands. a plat
form Of four planks. and which, it is I'M
necessary to say. il giving the Republi-
can leaders in East Jersey no little an
noyance.
The first Of Mr.. CoIby's planks dealt
with the question of limited franchises.
He advocates the enactment of state
law and an amendment to the constitu-
ton Of the State prohibiting municipal-
ties from granting franchises TO public
utility corporations for longer period
Of time than % years in cities Of the
first and second class. He fayors. how
ever, a provision permitting the granting
Of franchises for a period not longer than
35 years in localities other than cities
Of the first and second class. if 50 decided
by a vote of the people in the locality af-
fected.
In support Of this view the speaker
presented list Of states having preyi-
sions in their constitutions and statutes
limiting franchises, the maximum period
by years being presented by figures:
Alabama, 80; Arizona. 50; California,
so; Florida. 80; Idaho, 30; Illinois. 30;
Iowa dn cities under special charter,
%; Kentucky. 20; Louisiana (in par
ishes), 80; Montana. 20; Nevada, 20;
New York lin cities of second elass),
80; Ohio %; South Dakota. 20; yir-
ginia. 80; Wyoming, 10. Massachu-
setts grants charters only during good
behavior" on the part Of the corpora
tions.
Upon the question Of Equal Taxation
and he declared the following 10 be his
view: The passage Of a law providing
for the annual assessment of the value
Of the franchises Of the public utility.
companies in the streets, and the taxa
tion of the same at the local rates, to
which was added, as third proposition
the enacting of legislation taxing all rail-
road real estate, including the main
stem, at local rates, and until that IS
done opposition to the fixing of maxi
mum tax rate and a support Of the sus-
pension of the HiElery tax act.
The fourth plank may be stated con-
cretely, as follows: Until the consti-
tuition of the United States provides for
the election of the United States Sem
ators by direct vote of the people, he
favors 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.
In enlarging upon the matter of the
United States Senatorship Mr.. Colby de-
clared that money was the essential quail
ification for selection of federal Sena-
tor The United States Senatorshlps go
by auction. the purchase being made by
loyal friends, who adjust matters by
sending in a bin for expenses
The address to the voters closed by n
description Of the chariot race between
Ben Hnr and Messiah. in which the vot-
ers Of Essex County were depicted as
Ben Hur- the four horses as the four pro-
posed remedies, and MESSIAH as the oppo-
sition which would be made to the sue.
cess of the movement
Following Mr. colby's brilliant pero-
ration came addresses by Mayor Marx
I. Pagan and CORPORATION Counsel
George Record. Of Jersey CT These
addresses heartily Sustained Nj. CoIby's
position.
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