The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-02-10
Railroads aud Public Service
Disclaim All Connection
With the Black Horse.
Cavalry
THEY WIN WITHOUT THEM
SO, OF COURSE, THEY HAVE NO
NEED OF MERCENARY TROOPS
TO CUT A WAY TO LEGIsLA-
TIoN.
Special to s'The Jersey city News. .

Special to 1.-THE Jersey City News.")
TRENTON. Feb 10, 1906. What the
governors of many States think of lob
byists, what has been done to curb the
third house" influence in a few States,
what has been attempted in the latter di-
rection in others and the apparently pos
itiye declarations of some Of the rail-
roads operating in this State and of the
Public Service Corporation, that lobby
lists have never been engaged by them,
are among the Interesting features Of the
committee report which the Legislature
has ordered printed in full.
The majority report. which is signed
by Senator Colby, who was chairman Of
the committee appointed by resolution Of
the Assembly last year, and former AS
semblyman Alexander, contains about
10000 words, and the minority report,
submitted by Speaker Robbins, will add
about 2,000 additional words. and make
the report complete by including both
sides of the question.
Aside from the recommendations. in
cluding bill for the suppression of the
evil, which is partially indorsed in the
minority report, the bulk of the report
consists of copies of personal letters to
the chairman of the committee, copies
of existing laws in some States and let
ters from a few corporations which re-
piled to the request of the cammittee for
Information.
According to letter from Thomas N.
McCarter, president of the Public Ser
vice Corporation, that concern has no
legislative agent
Like the Public Service, two of the
railroads.&c. Erie and the Delaware,
Laekawana and Western declare posi-
lively that they have no lobbyists at
Trenton. but admit being informed in
reference TO what is doing"
The New Jersey Central and the Le-
high Valley railroads, while equally en-
phatic in denying the employment of sslob-
byists" directly or indirectly, admit the
Engagement of Dick Reading by the
former and John Hood by the latter.
John Hood is the oldest recognized
railroad representative in the State, hay-
ing been known to be engaged in that
capacity for more than 40 years. His
first appearance in Trenton dates back
to the early sixties and recalls an attempt
made in the Legislature of 1865 to ex-
clude lobbyists from the capitol, where
the old Camden and Amboy influence
was regarded as being about ais pernic-
ious as the Influence which called for
the Colby resolution last year.
Mr.. Hood. as resourceful then as in
later years. was determined that he
should not be excluded, and he promptly
sought nomination and was e.ected As
semblyman from Camden county in 1865.
He served one term only, and since thea
has been an annual visitor to the state
house, where, as former member. he is
entitled to all the courtesies usually ex-
tended in such cases.
Richard B. Reading of Raven Rock,
or Dick Reading, as he is more famii-
iarly known, is looked upon as being in
terested in every legislative deal Of i'm
portance requiring the services Of an
agent, from a fish or game bill to the
election of United States Senators and
state treasurers, ever since he served as
secretary of the Senate from 1886 to
1888.
Dick" was the special protege of the
late William Bettle. who for many years
was regarded as the resident agent of the
Pennsylvania Railroad and the chief leu
tenant Of the late William J. Seweil.
Dick was supposed to look after de
tails, and it is assumed he occupies sim
liar relations with Henry J. -Rumsilie,
The present proclaimed Pennsylvania
Railroad representative.