The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-09-04

the Public Service Corporation, the
Prudential Life Insurance Company.
the Fidelity Trust Company and cer-
tain water companies do. The latter
have a strong lobby, but the Senator
declared that be had been unable to-
trace out the affair The majority Of
bills are unopposed. but when special
privilege comes up the power can be
pushed to the point Of political ruin.
He declared that he did not want to
sacrifice Senator Hillery's friendship,
but lie is lending a fine name and un-
usual abilities to a rotton cause. All
his tastes and inclinations draw him
toward the basis the new momement
stands for.
He then entered upon an explana-
tion Of practical politics stating that
| in 1902 Lentz and Voorhees, named
Hillery and Colby far the Assembly.
Senator Hillery objected saying
that in that campaign he went to the
convention and secured the nomina-
tion with the help Of friends.
Mr.. Colby asked II Mr.. Voorhees,
had somebody else in mind.
Mr.. Hillery said let me explain.
Mr.. Voorhees, is a member Of the State
committee and leader, but he did
not write the names of the delegates
from Boonton. Anyway Senator Col
by said that his colleague was named
and became part Of the machine, and
voted for every bin he was told to
vote for except the promoters liabili-
| ty, and against all he was told to OPP
| pose except the primary act. 1t was
not pleasant, but the only way. He
also reviewed some Of the Hudson
county legislation asked for, stating
that McCarter came down and told
him it was very bad.
Then he reviewed the Steel COM
pany bill during the two years. 1t
was committed to the committee of
which Mr.. Hillery was the chairman
and the latter had said the pressure
was awful. He had been told by the
leader that to refuse 20 pass it would
ruin the party and drive the corpora
tions out Of the State. Both Of them
were called Puritans. 1t proves the
charge Of pressure behind closed doors.
Then in the case Of the Pagan tax
bill, he was sent for by leaders and
told that nothing was to be done, so a
resolution was adopted calling for an
Investigation.
| Then came the story of the Morris
mans election to the Senatorship in
which the latter declared that his nom
nation was decided upon at confer
ence attended by five or six of his
friends. Mr.. Voorhees, was present
but said nothing SO presumably was
with him.
| Mr.. Colby then reviewed his third
year in the Assembly. When the
matter OF limited franchise came up
which he declared was killed because
he would not accept amendments pro-
posed by the Public Service, and real
ly caused the start OF the new move
ment for equal tax, limited franchises,
franchise taxation and the election of
United States Senator as indicated by
the votes Of the people. He reviewed
taxation at SOME length, Mr.. Hill
lesy and he discussing the old question
of what is true value. He was leader
of the House that year fighting for
the leadership from vanity, and all
following him because they knew
where the orders came from. Then
came his change of view and his cam
paign in Essex with magic lantern.
! The two Senators then went at it
ON the Hillery maximum tax law.
Senator Colby asserting that it was
introduced at the last day of the ses-
sion to help the railroads with the
second class property. He was will
ing however to support such bill if
the railroad first-claSs main stem
property is put on the same basis as
the other property.
Senator Hillery denied that the bill
came from the railroads or was in
their interest, saying that he became
interested ia the matter through the
! Governors inaugural address. He had
taken up the matter with the Cover
nor and they prepared the bill. The
referendum was attached in the House
and accepted by the Senate. There
was considerable sparring as to the
position Of Charles G. Black in the
matter and what was the fundamental
principle. Mr.. Hillery declared that
the work of the county tax boards is
proving that the bill is practicable.
The trouble was that it was passed at
a time when it could be charged that
it was done for purpose.
| Senator Colby asked his colleague If
he would agree to vote for taxing
main stem railroad property locally.
Mr.. Hillery replied that 1t is a large
question. At the last session he said
he voted to tax it by the other plan,
believing that it was better for our
county and others where there is lit
tie railroad property. The position Of
other Senator was discussed, also the
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