Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-12-20
COLBY WILL
NOT Be BOudD
Colby Saws He Is III the legisla.
lure to 1Ork for the Good
Of the People.

lowing interview with Senator Ev
erett Colby, Of Essex county, thi
morning:
Everett Colby, the originator O
n New Idea movement, purposes t.
Keep company and act with the re
publican members of the legislature
at the coming session, so long as the,
go his way and keep step to the music
OF reform-and no farther. Meetin,
MIN In the state house, the Herald
correspondent asked him point blanl
whether he considered himself a re
publican and would act with that par
W In the legislature this winter. A!
usual the senator was perfectly frank
In answering. There is nothing oil
the sly and calculating politieiah
about Mr. Colby. He is the very SOU
Of candor, and carries his heart upon
his sleeve, so far as his political deal
ings with the public are concerned.
Yes" he replied, ~ am a repub-
llcan, both as TO national and state
affairs. But, as everybody knows. we
are now facing peculiar conditions In
this state, and | regard the prineis
pies and policies for which the New
IDEA movement stands as far more
important than a political 6fganiza-
ton. In other words, l would not
surrender the principles which 1 ad-
Vocated at the .comamnd of . parti-
san MAGAZINE, SO far as the regular
, %ganization, or the republican ma
1ority in the senate. sustains those
principles | am with it, but when
everSit repudiates and opposes them,
we part company right there
How about the caucus?" | asked
him. Il will not be bound by any
caucus" he said, that commands me
to oppose what | believe to BIO right,
or to support what l believe 10 be
wrong. l. will unhesitatingly bolt
the aucus every time that stamps
the seal of its condemnation upon
measures that | regard as fuiidamen-
tai in the reform movement, ~ that
o KS those which l cannot c0lsfien.
tiously support. | have ceased to
look to the caucus as a guide in th3
performance of my duty to the geo
pie, except in so far as ii supports
the principles | have expressed.
What do you regard, specifically,
as the fundamental reform principles
of the New Idea movement to which
you allude?" | asked the senator.
First" he replied, ito give the
people of the state an opportunity to
indicate by vote their choice of a
United States senator.
Second, the assessment and taxa
ton of public service franchises at
their full value, at the full local rate.
Third, a rule in both houses of
the Legislature requiring the report
ing by committees of all bills re-
ferred to them, SO as TO bring them
under the review and judgment OF
the entire house.
Fourth, a civil service law that
will protect trained, experienced and
capable officials from removal for
partisan reasons.
Fifth, the direct primary, by
which the voter will record his choice
of candidates without the interven-
ton of conventions.
"These I regard as important re-
forms which the people want. They
are progressive and in line with the
best political thought of Il time.
No sound argument can be urged
against any of them, and their adop-
ton by the Legislature at the APP
preaching session would crown that
body with honor and with the plaud-
its of an approving people"
There is another possible reform
which l am not committed to and do
not yet know that I would support,
but which I would Hike to see Off
cially Investigated. | mean the in
witiative and referendum. The initia-
tive means the, right of the people on
the petition of a certain number of
voters to~have a measure introduced
in the legislature. The referendum
means the submission of the bill to
a vote, of the people for approval or
rejection after it has passed both
houses. l shall try to have a COM
mittee of the senate appointed TO in
vestigate this subject and report
upon the desirability of the adop-
ton of the principle"
1 asked the senator what he
thought of the movement to bring
about harmony between the "regu-
lars'' and the new idea people on a
platform all could support.
my experience and study of such
movements" Mr.. Colby replied, lis
that harmony is generally achieved
at the secrifice of principle. Har.
mony is, of course, an excellent thing
but it would be purchased at toe
dear a price If obtained at the ex-
pense of a surrender of principle. In
the formation or reorganization OF
county committees, for example, there
seems no logical standing grond for
harmony based on a compromise. The
committee and it's chairman mus
either be for the principles of the