The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-12

parts of the State. The Oregon plan, with
slight changes, is provided for in govern
ing the member of the Legislature elected
in a wear when a Senator is 10 be CHOSEN
The legislator. under the committee Dill
must vote, first, for the man of his party
receiving the largest number of votes a.
the primary in his Assembly or Senatorial
district. and then must cast his vote toi
the man with n majority n the whoie
State. whether it be his candidate or not
The conference committee appointed to
deal with the bill calling for the pay
ment of State expenses on warrant by the
Comptroller did not take long to agree.
Some of the House amendments TO senate
bill 37S were not agreed to by the Senate
For instance. the House amendment pro-
vided that $500 be appropriated to the
State Treasurer and Comptroller to carry
out the provisions of the act. The Senate
bill had $1,000 for both the Treasurer ana
Comptroller. The word respectively,
which permitted these officers getting
5000 each was struck out at the instance
of Mr.. Sullivan, as had been done by the
House amendment.
Another House amendment compelled
such State Boards. the existence of which
Is supported by the fees they receive, to
turn over the fees to the State. The Sena-
tors objected to this amendment on the
ground that the boards would nave no
means of support If the fees were not used
The House members OF the committee
agreed to cut out this amendment The
path was then clear for its journey 10
Governor Stokes.
Senator Hillery said that the Democratic
candidate for Governor had declared
against giving the commission over to
regulate public utilities corporations. Mr..
Gebhardt said he didn't believe that any
such statement had been made, but that IL
it had. he repudiated it. IF he said that,
he went back on the platform of our par
ty," said he.
Let me say that l admire the course Of
the Republican candidate for Governor.
He came out fairly and ~squarely yester-
day for giving the commission some power
10 regulate corporations. He did not mince
words. He is trying TO be honest with the
people. Yes, l suppose l win vote for the
Democratic candidate because he is Of our
side of the House"
President Minch, when appealed to by
Senator Wakelee, said that he did not
think any amendment could legitimately
be offered TO a conference committee bill.
Mr.. Wakeley said, that being so, he would
not discuss the question of rate regulation,
but he was soon involved In a discussion
of that subject. He said there were a lot
of good things in the bill that were being
lost sight OF in the argument. With
Messrs. Silzer. Hillery. Colby, Wakelee and
Gebhardt doing the talking, the fight went
on till midnight without IN agreement.
AT 1910 the public utilities commission
conference committee reached an agree
ment and left the room, where the six men
had been considering the measure for more
than three hours. Four member of the
committee, Senators Hillery, Robbins and
Price and Assemblyman Barber. signed
fha recommendation of the p0mmiffpp as
represented in an amended copy of Hill
lery's Senate bill 419. Assemblymen Alex
handler and Wright, Democrats, reserved the
right to state on the floor of the House
that they believed there should be rate
making power conferred on the proposed
commission. The committee compromised
in the demands of both parties and made
changes providing for the abolition of the
Railroad Commission, created under the act
passed last spring, and the transfer of that
| body's power to the new commission: for
terms of one, two and three years. respec-
| lively, for the first three commissioners
to be named, and a stated term of office
of three years instead of two, four and
six years, and a stated term of six, pro-
| viding that the commission should have
full authority to abolish grade crossings
of railroads, and that 1t should have super
vision over rights of way, terminals,
steam and trolley railroads, etc., the oom-
missioners to be appointed by the Gov
ernor.
The provision for salaries of the com
missioners was changed SO that the conf
pensation was fixed at 5000 instead of
$5.O00. and a maximum of $45, 900 was fixed
as a years expenditures, instead of three
years. No reference is made in the bill
TO the political complexion of the mem
bers. 1t is provided that there shall be
safe" and adequate service by public
utilities companies. A new proviso makes
it a misdemeanor for corporations or IN
dividuals to disregard the orders of the
proposed commission.
Senator Wakelee, in the conference conf
mittee to draft n bill governing State ex-
penditures, secured approval for amend
ments TO Senate 37S to be presented as the
unanimous choice of the six members.
II was almost II o'clock when the Sen
ate finally r~econvened. In quick success
sion Senators Wakelee, Colby and Hillery
presented their respective committee bills.
The public utilities bill was the first taken
up. It was quickly placed on second read
ing Mt the suggestion of Senator Hillery'
With explained the changes made, and. IN
reply 70 Senator Colby, said that Messrs.
wright and Alexander had insisted on
rate regulation owe
with every member OF the Senate in his
seat. and every one evincing interest ir
the war of words, Senator Hhlery made an
impassiored appeal for fairness to corpora
tons. Ete held that the people Of the
state were more interested in the question
of adequate and safe service than in the
question OF rate regulation.
A~ssemblynan Alexander entered the Sen
ate chamber while Senator Hillery was
speaking and conferred with Senator Geb-
hardt. The latter arose In his place and
dramatically pointing his finger at Senate
Hillery, said:
IF you don't incorporate this amend
ment, the House will not pass this bill
This is up to you, gentlemen. as to whetrei
we have a public utilities commission. You
vote on this kills or passes the BILL"
Mr.. Gebhardt in reply to declaration;
that the rate regulation power was revo
l%utionary. declared that the Court of Char
Gerry had held. through Vice-Chancello
Bergen, that the courts of the State ha,
the right TO regulate rates, and that tn,
amendment offered a direct and simple wa,
Of exercising such right.
ASSEMRI Y