The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-11-15
RAILROAD
Regulation Likely to Be-
come Epidemic During
Coming Winter
THE LAW. OF NEW YORK

|
formation received here II is evident
that there will be an epidemic OF
railway regulation throughout the
United States during the coming win
ter. Last winter there was an epi-
demic of 2-cent- mile fare laws.
The New York public utilities law,
for whicn Governor Hughes is respon-
sible, and which is very sweeping
in It's provisions, Is likely to be used
as a model. The officials of the New
York public service commission tell
me that they have been deluged witn
inquiries for information and appIica
tions for copies OF law from every cor
ner OF the country, and the fact that
the railway managers in New York
have accepted the extreme forms OF
regulations provided In that law will
be used as an unanswerable argument
against any opposition that may be
raised elsewhere,
An attempt was made to pass a
public utilities law for New Jersey
during the recent session OF the leg
islature of that state, which indicates
In striking manner the prevailing
tendency to government regulation OF
corporations and the readiness with
which the corporatios and the public
are accepting the inevitable. II is as
sumed by the managers of the great
haN he W,
law, which. have told you before,
was written and put through the leg |
islature by Governor Hughes, will be |
duplicated by all the states OF the |
Union within the next few years.
State regulation Is accepted as a cer-
tainty and also as the most rational
method OF solving the transportation
problem.
New Jersey, the home OF the trusts,
has been considered corporation
ridden state. It's limited area Is pret-
ty well occupied by railway tracks;
It's limited population has long been
very largely employed by the railways
and by large industrial corporations;
It's laws have been so liberal that a
OF the great trusts have
been organized under them, and a
arge ofiice building In Jersey City
s occupied as the headquarters OF
numerous big corporations which are
operating across the river in New
York City and in other parts OF the
The laws regulating acts
1f incorporation require that an ONCE
shall be maintained In the State OF
New Jersey, and In obedience to this
requirement this building Is filled
with them. Some companies have a
room to themselves. but in many
,ases the same room is occupied by
iozen or more companies, and they
ire all represented by one man. who
holds down the Office furniture and
Seeps the room swept and busted for
he annual meetings OF stockholders,
which must be held there. In the
over hall OF this building is a direc-
ory of the occupants containing the
iames OF hundreds OF corporations,
including some OF the most important
n the country.
Both political parties In New Jer-
10y made a public utilities law ror the
'egulation Of corporations the most
conspicuous feature OF their platforms
n the recent campaign and the mem
,ers OF both parties in the legislature I
we're pledged to vote for II. with
ut exception they obeyed instruc-
Ions. and the bill passed both houses,
'ut II failed in conference because
u differences concerning details. Tho
hief point Of dispute was the man
Ter in which the commissioners
hould be appointed. The house in
listed upon their direct election by
he people; the senate insisted that
hey should be appointed by the gov
rnor and confirmed by that body.
he house bill contained a provision
the commission to f,x
II rates for passenger and freight
rafflc upon railways within the state
New Jersey. The senate refused
0 go so far and limited the author
ty OF the commissions TO cases OF I
against patrons and
ocalitles and gave II power to bring 1
efore the courts all common car
lers charging unreasonable" rates.
Neither the house nor the senate
'ould yield on these points. but both !,
arties were responsible. Both Dem
Gratis and Republicans were inyolv-
in the deadlock. )