The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-16
Governor Is Taken to Task for
Urging an EARLY Final
Adjournment.
NO PROMISES REDEEMED,
SAYS EXECUTIVE BOARD
Political Bosses and Profess
siOnal Lobbyists Severely Ar
raigned in Public Letter.

49, " N.Y. . ACRoH hitNsC PAtbAit ~
day a letter sent to Governor Fort ar
faigning him severely for advocating
an early closing of the Legislature.
pointing out that a number of i'm
portant subjects are to be handled be
lore the Legislature can adjourn. and
that a number of campaign pledges
still remain unfulflled.
Following is the letter, made public
by the executive committee of the
lobby today:
Hon. John Franklin Fort, Governor of
New Jersey, Trenton, n. J.
Dear Sir-It is reported in the public
prints that you have privately ex-
pressed the opinion and recommended
10 the leaders of the two u of the
Legislature that 1t would be desirable
il a final adjournment of the legislative
session be taken on April g..
This organization respectfully de-
sires to register with you its protest
against any consideration at this time
OF a date for such adjournment. h
agitation for a quick ending of the ses-
sion is receiving encouragement and
seems likely to have been inspired from
the usual sources of opposition to the
popular interest. The condition of the
public business is such-the failure to
properly and i~nteligently advance
remedial legislation to which both
political parties in their platforms, and
YOU in your campaign u%tterances, stand
pledged, Is so ~1agrant-that we do not
believe tina you have been correctly
reported.
~"UnfuIaIIed Promises"
I'VE respectfully call your attention
to the fact that no campaign pledge OF
either party has as yet been enacted
into law. We desire to specifically refer
to the following important subjects In
which the people of the state are
deeply interested:
"~First-Public utilities regulation,
The Influences at work to defeat. or
make ineffective. legislation to which
both great political parties and all the
candidates for Governor were pledged,
are well known to you n to every
man c%ognizant of the vents of the
past week.
1.-THE tactics of officials of the Public
Service Corporation, bosses of both po-
1itical parties and professional lobbyists
on last Monday night in opposition to
effective regulation, including the re-
porting In the Senate of n bill whicn
has been condemned by public sentf-
ment throughout the State, constitute
4 scandal equaling, if it does not ex-
coed. that of the last night of the last
session, In which, through the control
of the same influences, effective utiH-
ties regulation was done to death. We
submit that in view of the promises
on this subject made by you and your
opponent. in public addresses through
out the entire campaign preceding your
election, and YOU and his repeated
declarations in favor of comforting on
the proposed commission the rate
making power, are proof that such leg
i~slation is demanded by the people of
the State, regardless of party alfilia-
tions, and created an obligation for the
fulhlment of which they have a right
to expect the exertion OF every influ-
ence possessed by the executive.
Primary Bill.
"Second-National delegate primary
hill. The influences opposed to a fair
and orderly expression of the popular
will succeeded on Monday evening last
in recommitting, for the ostensible pur-
pose of a public hearing. House bill 24f,
The passage OF which you urge in your
special message OIL tranSlllltai'
"The influences which succeeded in
securing this action, the effect of which
was TO delay and endanger the passage
OF any legislation on this subject, were
patent and of common knowledge to
every man present. Every argument
both of persuasion and threat, known
to the bene6ciaries of boss rule and
special privilege was used to secure
this result. and was presented and
made openly on the floor of the House
by the bosses and their sub-bosses OF
both parties in person.
"That such means should be success
full in defeating a measure of rehel
from the scandals and outrages con
rected with the selection of delegates
70 national conventions in the past Is
= disgrace to the State of New Jersey
TO avert which we also feel Justified II
asking The exercise of every influence
OF the executive.
CiviI Service Bill.
tThird-Ctvil service bill. The public
press Of the State expresses the belle
that the amendments made by tn
Honse TO Senate bill No. 6 Indicate al
understanding between the organiza
lions of both parties to defeat TINS
proposed legislation. notwithstanding
platform pledges by both parties lo
its enactment. In the Judgment o
this committee, insistence by You ON
redemption of these promises to tn
people will result in securing this re
form,
MANY other measures of Importance
Including the public opinion. Massa
chusetts ballot and the employers liza
bility bills, have yet failed to receiv
consideration
I'VE respectfully ask that o ex
press to the Legislature, in such wa,
as may seem to you most effeetual
the necessity of acting upon n en-
actment of legislation on the foregoing
subjects, and that o keep the Legis
lature in session until the pledges
the people of the State shall have pee
redeemed.
"By order of the executive committee
dR. HENRY DEPEW, President,
"WALTER c. LINBARGER, Seere
tary Pro Tenn"