Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1907-10-12
After Passing a
Public Utility Bill
WithSenator Col
by Opposing It
legislati We Ad-
journed Sine Die

TRENTON, Oct. 12:-Both
houses of the legislature adjourned
sine die at 3 o'clock this morning.
After passing the Public Utilities
Commission bill as reported by the
conference committee, the senate
early this morning also put through
on final passage the direct primary
bill and the measure for popular ex-
preston of choice for United States
senator as reported by the conference
of which Senator Colby is chairman.
The only senator voting against the
Public Utilities bill was the Essex
member. He said: II cannot sup
port any public utilities measure
which does not confer the rate-mak-
ing power.
I'VE have in the Republican party
some white-livered men, who are
afraid that If this is passed with reg
ulating power they will get no money
for campaign purposes. That is an
other reason why l am going to vote
against the BILL as it stands
Senators Robbins and Hillery had
declared that they would vote for
regulation next year if the commits
sion were created and decided that
such power were needed.
On the roll call on the amendment
Senators Colby. Silzer, Gebhardt and
Hinchliffe voted in the affirmative and
eleven republicans and Senator Price,
democrat voted to beat it.
The roll was then ordered called on
final passage Of the bill, listed as Sem
ate 42S.
Senator Colby said that there were
brief reasonsew he would not vote
for the bill. Three arguments. he said,
had been offered: that the rate maxim
power was bad Legislation: that the
passage of bill providing for the
passage of bill was inexpedient, and
that the plan was not sound in princi-
pie.
These he took up and combated, de-
claring that the rate-making amend
ment offered was modelled after laws
that We're good. Under the head ex-
pediency, he spoke as quoted above.
After arguing that the supreme court
of the United States had held that the
principle involved was sound. Mr.. Colby
reiterated that he couldn't support a
bill without a rate regulation proviso.
The democrats voted for the bill on
the ground that they accepted it be-
cause they could get nothing better.
Mr.. Colby was the only negative and
the public utilities bill was declared to
have finally passed. 1t was hurried to
the waiting assembly.
Senate bill 429, formerly S7S. provid-
ing the reforms sought by the Hahn in
vestigating committee in the matter of
state expenditures, was quickly passed
under suspended rules. Then, in quick
succession. the senate put through No.
430, providing for expression of popular
choice for United States senators. and
the substitute for the two direct pri-
mary bills Presented by Senator Avis
Senator Frelingnuysen opposed the di-
rect primary law on the ground that
he had always opposed direct primaries.
After consideration of the senate bill
providing for the appropriation of s1O,-
600 to carry out the provision of the
law enacted last year making death by
instead of death by hang
ing the penalty for murder, Senator
Gebhardt wanted the amount cut to
$4,000. but was told that it would cost
more than that to take care of the
murderers who We're awaiting attention
now.
Senator Robbins secured the passage
of the bill, senate All, making it mis-
demeanor for any official of the state
or state board to buy supplies or ex-
pend state money for specific work at
cost of $500 or over without contract
The next matter considered was House
521, the supplement- to the appropria-
tion bill. 1t had been amended in COM
mittee to clean up $637SO in bills due
from the riparian and insurance inves-
tigation of the senate last year. 1t was
passed under suspended rules as
Senator Hutchinson didn't
vote on the measure because he said
he didn't believe the committees were
Despite the fact that
they had done good work, he was
forced, he said, to state that in his opin-
ion neither house had a right to inves-
tigate through committee without the
consent of the other.