The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-02
FIXING IS
OPPOSED BY
R. R.BOARD
econtinhed from First Paee.o

be an enormous burden for n board,
but no suggestions are made that a
Public UTILITIES Commission be APP
pointed. Recommendations are made
that the commission be given power TO
regulate lighting. heating, purity of
drinking water, sanitary conditions, the
use of soft coal. and it is also sug-
gested that the board be permitted to
examine the financial conditions of the
roads. If the suggestions made by the
report be granted the scope of its work
would be greatly increased.
The report discusses an adequate
scheme for abolishing grade crossings,
and the commissioners believe that the
Legislature should determine whether
the cSst Should be bore entirely by the
railroads or should be shared by the
municipalities benefited by the elm
nation. The first meeting of the COM
mission was held on June 20 last, and
up (until this time the work has been
largely of an organization character.
Eafh point in question with which the
board has had 10 deal has been minute
ly Rdiseussed in the 361 pages of the re-
pyrt.
fThe report says in part:
THE question of the boards power is
naturally one Of great interest and inn
bortance to the people of the State, and to
the railroad companies over which its
jurisdiction extends. At the request OF
the board two opinions have been rem
dered by the Attorney-General defining
IFS powers, one having gulrect reference
Il 10 Srade-crosslngs, the otner 10 the gem
eral powers ana dules OF tue board.
"1he latter opinion ADVISED the board
thai the acl creating 1t gives 1t "a general
supervision over ali railroads. operatlnS
wlGnin me State, wilhouI dlsuncton as IL
the character or source OF their charter
supervision extends to Tue equipment,
DIluge3. terminals, tunnels, tracAs, DOCKS
and WnarVeS OF sucn railroads. In the
course of. the exercise Oh TINS supervisory
power You are required TO Keep informed
ot the conuluons ana operations OF all
SUCH RAILROADS., 10 investigate accidents,
~ near anu examine complaints loucnlng
railroad service, rates., DETERMINATIONS,
car service, terminal facilities ana APP
pncatlonS Tor switch connections with a
private slalng, cnanses or stations, cross
. e0AAAAt VA Aao1-AA D2AiA6 dAA0 al
otner matters Oh rallroad operation.
Upon the ABOVE matters Inc BOARD is
authorized 10 make Recommendations,
poIn to the railroads and TO the LeglSla-
ture,,' ana Is required before the nfsl DAY
Of january in each year, to make u re-
port 10 the Goyernorf when report shan
include such recommendations us your
BOARD may ueem proper.
Inc DOafd is also given the right
TO hear complaints and TO examine the
safety OF trackage, Ioaopeds, tunnels,
4 Dll1HHa- and Anlill1lfTF az AHy ntAn.,L
ana 10 make orders concerning the same,
as well rs requiring any railroad to rur-
llsa proper ana adequate transportation
taclliLies ana stations for the proper
1T Will be seen, therefore, that the
Doafu mas not only ADVISORY powers, but
that II is also Invested with powers when
are dernlte and tar-reacDIng. "A compaIl-
son win statutes OF otner states creating
similar commissions, ana u study or the
WORK OIL SUCH COMMISSIONS, VIII snow that
many are performing userul services under
laws much more limited IN scope tnan that
which defines the powers or this board.
1T Is evident that there is imposed upon
the board the duty Oh becoming familiar
with the physical condition OF the rail-
roads OF the state as a basis for Intelligent
action, either Ill the making of
cations or giving orders. TO aid in the
performance OF this duty the board is re-
CURED 10 employ Inspectors who shall be
competent to examine and inbelligently crit
lclse railroad properties. As soon as prac-
49, - ~ y AAS OhA ~
pointed such inspectors and caused an ex-
animation OF the railroads to be begun.
mo investigations of the character con-
Quoted under the direction OF the board
have ever been made before ON behalf OF
the State, and while the general condition
OF the trackage, bridges, etc, Is good and
undoubtedly superior to that OF many
States. enough defects have been disclosed
and corrected to fully justify the expense
of the inspections. The fact that the rail-
road companies have in general accepted
the boards findings and corrected defects
without the Issuance Of formal orders, leads
to the belief that annual inspections on be-
half of the State will be preventive as well
as corrective. 1t does NOT seem unreason-
able to expect chat the railroad companies,
knowing that experts are employed by the
State to critically examine and report upon
their properties, Will exercise greater vigil
lance III the maintenance of a high stand
ard, so that the reports made upon their
lines may contain a of criticism.
reference might properly be made here
to the prompt attention and courteous con-
sideration given by all the railroad officials
of the State, SO far as, to date, they have
been requested by this board to attend con-
situations to conform with requirements
as to accidents, reports, etc, and to pro-
vide certain additional protection for public
safety, as well as TO answer complaints or
many and various kinds. The considerable
number OF requests and requirements made
by this. board have been very generally
complied with. willingly and promptly.
Your board realizes the magnitude of
its duties and responsibilities. Probably
In no State of the Union are problems
greater, situations more complex or ex-
igoneies more vivid, in the relations ex-
.sting between a railroad commission and
the railroads OF the State. New Jersey,
With Its 1920 miles of steam railroads, has
more miles In propoI ton to its total area
than any other State in the Union, AMI
four times as many miles of electric lines
as the rest of the whole country in pro-
portion TO her population; and this sitlas
lion will be magniied, because trolley
lines Will be largely increased III extern
ffNd automobiles have apparently come 10
seNy and will probably multiply in num-
Der,
Another consideration that will aug
ment and make more complex the dulles
Of such q board in the near future is the
prospectiyely exceptionally rapid growth in
the population of this State. This Increase
was IA per cent. between the years 1905
and 1905 and greater than il any other
Eastern State. Surely with such increas-
ing population in numb ers and density, |
the problems of railroad management and
legal railroad supervision in this State are
going TO be heavily magnffied. The ina |
icrity of the members of the board do no.
feel 1t upon them to express
an opinion as to whether IL would be the
wisest course to continue to invest the
supervision of steam railroads in such 4 /
commission as the existing board. with
necessarily enlarged powers. or to combine
the control Of electric and trolley lines
Herewith. or to establish n commission
having the general control of all passenger
and freight transportation, all electrical
power and lighting, gas and water serV-
ice, etc, combined under the management