The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-02-28
Merits Of the Colby and Hill
lery Bills for the Selection
Of Candidates for q. S.
Senator by the People
Threshed Out
WHAT THE STATE WOULD GAIN
PRESENT METHOD RESULTS IN
THE ELECTION OF UNWORTHY
REPRESENTATIVES, TROLLEY
FREIGHT BILL ADVOCATED.
Especial to "The Jersey city News.,')

Especial to 1.-THE Jersey City News. y
TRENTON, Feb. %, 1906 Contrary
to expectations the Senate devoted most
of its time yesterday to committee work
in granting public hearings on two inn
portant bills which are of general inter-
est throughout the State. One provided
for the expression Of public opinion re-
garding the election of a candidate for
United States Senator by the people, so
that the Legislature electing such a Sem
asor could be guided by the result in ~
termining which candidate the people
favored.
The second hearing was given on the
biii introduced by Senator Wakeless, Of
Bergen, to permit the trolley roads to
curry freight.
Both hearings were largely attended
and seemed to convince the dignified SEN
ators that the people demanded the
adoption of such legislation.
Senators Colby, Corporation Counsel
George L. Record, Corporation Attor-
ney Robert Carey, of Jersey City, Ma
than Anderson, of Newark. and several
other Colby followers presented their rea-
sons to the Committee on Elections in as
strong language rs they knew why the
Legislature should be governed by the
voice of the people in eleeting candidate
for the United States Senate.
There are now two bills before the
Senate having this object IN view. One
introduced BY Senator Colby provides
that any number of legal voters, not less
than 800, may have their preference for
United States Senator indicated upon the
official ballot at the general election in
November and in the east shall be count
ed so as to afford the members Of the
Legislature information as to whom the
majority favors..
The second bill was introduced by
Leader Hillery and provides for the Sc
lection Of candidates for United States
Senate by vote of the people of each
county instead of the people of the State
at large, as Mr.. Colby's bill provides.
At the hearing yesterday the speakers
1;usatol +ha;,. ar<~,,, IN sJ,a x;,,sy how
absurd it was to provide that each coun-
ty should decide the issue. 1t was con-
tended that the United States Senator
ship was State and not county is
sue and therefore the people of the State
at large should decide the question.
Corporation Attorney Robert Carey, of
Jersey City, presented a forcible argu-
ment showing why the Colby bill should
be adopted. He declared that neither
Of the two present United States Sena
tors from New Jersey would have been
elected if it had been left TO popular
vote. He showed how impossible it was
70 amend the United States Constitution
providing for the election Of Senator's by
direct vote Of the people, because the
United States Senate was now composed
of mon who were elected by the same
principle aS New Jerseys two Senator's.
He asked If anybody believed that these
support of the ajority of the people ii
they werc compelled, to seek election by
such means instead Of the Legislature
Mr.. Carey called attention to the fact
that two United States Sena tors in. New
York were UNIV arthy of representing the
Empire State and would have never been
elected II ii had been left to the people
Of the State 10 decide.
Senator Colby stated that he WAS will
ing 10 adopt Senator Hilsery's sugges
fioI as proposed in his bill that the
choice for United States Senator should
be decided at the primary election, in
stead Of the general election, because it
would remove one of the greatest evils
now complained of IN primary elections.
1t would interest the people in such cleo
floas. whereas now eight Der cent. of the
total vote was polled and II such an inn
portant issue was at stake it would bring
ou. more voters.
Corporation Counsel Record brought
the hearing to close by criticizing the
Hillery bill. He said thnt the probabl
;tf of obtaining q popular expression of
the choice of the people Of the State by
means Of each county voting for its
choice Was entirely too remote to be con-
sidered seriously.
Mr.. Record contended that the para
mount object was not to get people TO
vote at the primary, but to get their ex-
preston of opinion regarding Il choice
for United States Senator and this could
only be successfully accomplished at q
general election.
The committee listened attentively to
The arguments advanced. but gave no in
timation as to which bill it favored
No sooner was. this hearing concluded
when the Committee on Railroads and
Canals took mp Senator Wakelee's { troll
ley bill and gave its advocates Il hearing
/ The opponents of the measlire-thc rail-
roads through their Representatives.
early announced that they desired to be
hoard IN opposition 10 It at later date.
The Gotnrnittee granted their request BY
ars