New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-05
RAILWAYS UNDER FIRE
JERSEY BILLS HEARD.
Roads Oppose Commission = Erie
Commuters Wau Wroth.
u relegrapa % 90 TrIbpne. ]


or railroad bills now before the Legislature
Several railroad lawyers opposed the meas
ures. declaring that there was no need OF such
legislation and that a railroad commission
would be a useless extravaganza.
An array Of speakers. headed by William
Mayo Atkinson, OF Elizabeth and Newark. who
Is called Dublicist. strongly advocated favor
able action by the committee on the bills
Henry r. Bowman, Of Essex County. repre-
senting the commuters Of Northern New Jersey,
made an earnest appeal for a railroad commits
sion in this state. lie declared that he had
come 10 Trenton to speak these railroad bills
without fee or favor. He described the condi-
Hons which confronted tho commuters in North
ern New Jersey. particularly along the Erie
Railroad. and said that something should be
done and at ence by the state TO give them re-
hef He declared that the circle beginning at
the Newark City Hall and reaching for thirty
miles, was one Of the most important and NEST
populous in the United States Therefore this
subject Of railroad regulation was p matter OF
great importance
The service we receiving from the Erie
Railroad" he said. IS depressing real estate
and discouraging commuters who earn ;heir
money in New York and spend Il in New Jersey
These measures win affect thousands OF per-
sons If this poor service continues they viii
al be compelled 10 abandon their homes in New
Jersey and seek employment elsewhere.
4 have waited thirty minutes. forty-fve MIN
utes and even an hour sometimes for a train
these conditions are not Within the last
Jew months thirty passenger trains have been
taken of the road
CALLS CARS UNsANITARY.
THE best passenger cars have been used as
smoking cars and on the next trip used as
general eonveyances for the public. The con-
dition OF these cars are most unsanitary.
The Erie station in Jersey City IS totally in
adequate. The public is compelled 10 crowd into
the uncovered trainsheds and wait sometimes
Tor hours for their trains.
The excuse Of the Erie Railroad IS that it
cannot afford to give better passenger service.
The long hauls Of freight more profitable
than short hauls
The RAILROAD not only discriminates against
passengers, but it discriminates against short
hauls. The management is giving more atten-
ton TO that class OF business which paws the
best. The argument is used that the railroads
VIII correct their own evils. but this is not
sound Fhe railroads are the masters. They
get their power from the state and should he
made public servants No public responsible
body to-day can give the time and attention
necessary 10 correct these evils. but railroad
commission such as proposed would be we'll able
10 handle the situation
Mr.. Bowman said il was safer 20 go war
than to ride On the railroads within the last
few years.
These appalling facts. he declared. would |
arouse the people and sweep politics aside
Walter c. CabaH. of Passse County. spoke
for the shippers and receivers of freight. He as
serted that rot long ago a prosperous little
oommunity aleng the Erie Railroad was wiped |
out by the arbitrary removal of a station" He
charged that there was discrimination all
railroads TO soHaa manufacturers in the laying |
OF private switches.
I'VE are not reads 70 ta6e away the property |
Of the railroad companies" he said but viii
give them chance 20 improve conditions. These |
railroad bills gige them that chance. Their |
greatest advantages lie IN the prevention of dis
elimination, aad giving proper connections, safe !
transportation. prompt service and a quick |
transfer Of passengers"
CHANCES SUGGESTED
Richard 7. Dana associated rith the New /
York Railroad Commission made several sug-
gestions regarding tks Railrcad Commission |!
bill he objected 20 The povislon that a man en- |
Enged n another business should not be ap-
pointed to ;he board. He declared that there !
were many lines OF business which would not in |
terfere with the duties OF the commission. He /
suggested continuing the present rates until |
such = time Il found advisable 20 change
them. He believed the commission should have !!
the right 70 raise aud lower passenger rates.
Afber several speakers haG been heard in favor
81 the railroad measures. including ex-Judge !!
Taylor OF South Grange and Mr.. Farrell. Of As {
bury Park. the railroad lawyers went on with /
their argument against the proposed legislation /
Ex-Judge Gilbert Collins, representing the Erie i
Railroad, defended that company the charges !
made by Afr. Bowman. He said the roads sub I
urban traffic greater than any other railroad
fn that section. and taxed the company's facili- /
Ties 70 the utmost He spent half an hour In /
arguing against the necessity for a railroad COM
mission. and declared these commissions I'm other
states had not prevented accidents
The railroads did not desire fatalities Judge /
Collins declared, but tried to avoid them. as |
they are very costly. He said the general rail- |
read law OF the state covered many OF the pro /
visions o. this series OF railroad bills. He also /
asserted further that the bills. IN some in 1
law. Assemblyman Wright suggested that the /
railroads prepare commission bin IL they did /
not Ike the one now under consideration. Mr. /
Wright said that the railroads would not do /
that because they are afraid Of such commits |
sion.
FEARFUL OF EXPENSE
Judge Collins then went into the great er-
rense OF the proposed commission. and Mfr. /
Wright replied by saying that the expenditure /
would be kept down because other state COM
missions now in existence would be abolished.
The Judge attacked the section OF the bill pro-
viding for a separate counsel for the railroad |
commission. and Assemblyman Tumulty at this
point took occasion TO prod the Attorney Gem
eral. He said that the peoples interests could L
not be served by a lawyer who was working /
for the state and for the corporations at the i
same time. Judge Collins insisted that the legal /
business OF the commission would be within |
the Attorney Generals department
jackson =. ReynOlds. OF the New York Cen L
trail objected TO many provisions OF the bin.
and declared that Il would be found uncOnstitu-
ffoual. He said that "a the bill became a law /