The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-06
A UTILITIES BILL In JERSEY
ASSEMBLYMAN INTRODUCES ONE
BEFORE HE READS ET,

saying ~ n's sssoJ Enough for o Hughes
SIS Good Enough for Anybody "A Lot
1 Reform Legislation II Rushed
through for sake Of Political Erect.
TRENTON. N. j., July 6.-The LOUISE Of
Assembly r~econvened to-day after q two
weeks recess and made = fairly successful
effort to outdo the Senate In b passage
" reform legislation. The result is that
Ia two days the combined houses have
passed nearly az many important bills az
they did during thirteen weeks Of the regu-
lar session.
A striking difference between the session
Of TIE House to-day and that Of tho Ssnats
two weeks ago Ia that the Senators indig-
nantly denied on the floor that In rushing
through reform Legislation they were play
ing politics, while the House members
to-day not only admitted the charge but
seemed proud Of the fact.
An example Of this was given whom As
semblyman Wright Of Essex introduced
a modified duplicate Of the New York public
utilities bill. and under suspended rules
had the measure advanced to third reading
within a few minutes. The minority
leaders protested SO vigorously against
being compelled to vote on an important
bill that they had not even seen that final
consideration Of the measure was at last
laid over until Monday.
When asked to explain the bill Mr.. Wright
said that il needed NO explanation. II 1t
Was good enough for Gov. Hughes. he said.
it was good enough for anybody. and II
the members did not wish to vote for it
they might vote against 1t. This explana-
ton was not accepted as sufficient and As
semblyman Perkins inquired 10 to the
amendments which had been made in the
New York law to make 1t conform with the
judicial system In New Jersey.
MIR. Wright could not tell whether appeals
we're to be taken to the Supreme Cou or
the Court Of Chanoery. and confessed
ignorance ss to whether the bill applied only
10 transportation and lighting companies
or included telephone, telegraph n water
companies. Finally. when cornered, he
which he was the i~ntroduoer. but said he
had been away for ten days and therefore
had not kept In touch with legislative anal rs.
II developed that h bill had been handed to
him and he introduced 1t and that was all
he knew about il.
The Senate bill providing for a popular
expression in the election Of United States
Senators was amends and passed by the
substitution OF the Oregon system, which
requires a candidate for the Assembly TO
to sign an agreement hat IL elected he
will vote for the candidate receiving the
highest number Of votes, regardless Of his
personal choice. Oh virtually to run upon
the understanding that he will not be so
guided In his choice. A~ssemblyman Barber
Of the minority attacked the bill as an
effort to oubvert The Federal Constitution,
empowering the Legislature instead OF
the people by direct choice to elect United
Statesi Senators. ~Assemblyman Brady. who
introduced the amendment, said the people
OF New Jersey wished to select their own
Senators. and he would consult their wishes
first and the Constitution Of the United
States afterward.
The House passed bills abolishing the
State Board OF Arbitration, making il a
misde meanor to sell liquor to minors or
permit them to gamble without the written
consent OF their parents; a~ppropriating
$1,000 for the expenses OF the House lnvesti-
eating Committee; abolishinR the state
Voting Machine Commission, amending the
National Guard law to conform with the
requirements Of the Dick law md pro-
hibiting railroads from laying water pipes
along their tracks.
The last mentioned bill was passed by
the Senate for Jersey City. 10 was main
tanned by Assemblyman Sullivan that the
present plan Of the railroads to purchase
and supply water direct from the East
Jersey Water Company instead Of buying IL
from Jersey City would mean an annual
loss 10 Jersey City OF about SlOO, 600.