Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1906-08-31
COLBY SCORED
THE LOBBYISTS
In Debate With Senator HiIIery
at BOOntOn He Fired Heavy
Guns at the Machine.

man j. Hillery, republican leader il
the higher body, that a few bosse.
control the legislature of the state il
favor of corporations. Before he had
finished the three hour session he
held, the organization man declined
to answer as to any other legislator
but himself. 81 will not discuss the
action of any other man. was Hill
lery's sole answer. 81 have no right
to give any opinion in their case"
This was his reply when asked
about the influences that defeated
temporarily or permanently the linn
tied franchise bills, favored the Nor.
ris canal amendment bill, the pro
moters' liability bill, the Jersey City
water bills, the twenty per cent. cor.
poration suit bill and many others
In the discussion the Pennsylvania
railroad, the Delaware, Lackawanna
q Western, and the Lehigh Valley
were mentioned as maintaining
strong lobbies, while the great power
Of the McCarter brothers and the
Prudential Life Insurance Company
was asserted. The organization, with
Hillery for leader, was accused OF
killing the bill for legislative in
vestigation of the insurance compa-
nies and substituting Hillery's reso-
luton to Investigate the report OF
the New York inquiry.
Charged With Party Ruin.
In reply, as last night, Senator Col
by was accused of an attempt to ruin
the republican party, while it was as
serted that the insurance investiga-
ton measure was simply for the pur-
pose of killing Senator Dryden s
chances for reelection to the United
States senate.
you belong to the third class of
legislators, who will vote for bad
measure because party eXpediency
demands it," said Colby to Hillery,
you are personally honest, and so
long as your skirts are clear you will
stand by, needless of the conduct of
Others"
There was large audience pres
ent and many well known leaders
came from a distance. Although it
was Hillery's home town, the ap-
plause was again equally divided.
Senator Hillery had the floor at
the opening of the session and began
with the assertion that If New Jersey
were boss ridden as asserted it had
been passing measures steadily to
strip the bosses of power. He in
stanced the direct primary law, which
does away with conventions and ask
ed if that did not show lack of
bossism.
did not every county platform in
the state demand it?" asked Colby.
Yes" was the answer.
That's the reason" replied the
leader of reform. 'The bosses will
do anything to save themselves"
Hillery declared that he was a re-
former before Colby.
Senator Hillery has confessed
that once he obeyed orders"
81 never did," he declared. 81 be-
lieve the fact hurt me-"
Senator Colby was on his feet in
an instant "Thats just the point" "
he exclaimed at costs something in
this state to do right-to refuse to
obey orders"
Mention a case"
my stand on the Morris canal
bill" said the Boonton man.
>"What did it cost your"
Cost Him Leadership.
81 believe it cost me the republican
leadership of the assembly. They
thought / was too radical"
do you believe undue influence is
used in legislation?" asked Colby.
Il can only speak for myself" was
the answer. ut has never been used
with me. 1t is not fair to say what l
think without proof
"Carl Lentz was trying to get me
to support bad BILL" said Colby.
David Baird, the South Jersey boss,
comes down the corridor. Hello,
Dave said Lentz, I'm getting Colby
to bring that bill out. You get your
men in line Now what did LEM
mean by that If the bosses do not
control?"
1T means that David hires some
men," was the answer, and that was
all the Morris county man would say.
why didn't you pass my bill for
bidding political contributions from
corporations?" asked Colby.
Hillery answered that it was use
less, and II corporation did contrib
ute it would never tell
Colby said Uzal McCarter admitted
that the Fidelity Company had given
$4,000 or $4,000 to the county cam
paign. E"There is case" said he;
''what do you think of that?"
Senator Colby then told of the
mysterious change of heart among
Legislators. He had introduced bill
to repeal the promoters liability law,
which shuts off certain suits against
the United Gas Improvement and the
General Electric companies.