Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-03-16

Right and left credit Is being given
to the EVENING STAR for its vic
tory. The Republican party pledged it.
self to give the people public utili-
ties commission, ,but the leaders would
not have sanctioned the measure had
it not been for the EVENING STARS
fight against the excessive and dis
rates of the telephone
trust. The proof was SO positive, hc=s
ever, that something had to be DONE
Republicans Change Front
The Republican State leaders week
ago declared that there would be no
investigation of telephone abuses by the
Legislature. and that no public utilities
law would be passed. They have felt
the public temper since then. They
have seen the force of the argument
and statistics that the EVENING
STAR has day after day for more than
two months presented to its thousands
of readers.
The utilities bill introduced yester
day extends to telephone, telegraph,
electric light. gas, trolley and water
companies the authority of the State
Railroad Commission, of which Frank
H. Sommer is president. and gives that
body power to investigate discrimina-
ton or excessive rates.
While the bill is not drawn on the
lines of the New York law 1t goes
farther in covering telephone compa-
nies. Heretofore it has been impossible
to get the Bell System under State
control. In New York State and in
Pennsylvania legislative investigations
are now in progress to establish basis
for the passage of laws to regulate
telephone companies.
Mr.. Wakelee has heard the voice of
his constituents directly addressed to
him. He said in conversation several
days ago that the EVENING STARS
demand for a telephone investigation
would result in a public utilities law.
adding his voice to the rest who give
this newspaper credit for the change of
attitude of the Legislatures guides.
Mr.. Wakelee's stand for a public
utilities law as sponsor for the bill in
the Senate is in sharp contrast with
his personal views and his legislative
record. Assemblyman Carlton B.
Pierce. of Union, as introducer of the
bill in the House. was selected because
he has stood sponsor for some sort of
ullillitS Olli 1pi lLIco ycdIc.
Governor Praises STAR.
Governor Fort, in speaking of the bill
today, said:
Il consider that the EVENING
STARS demand for an investigation
of telephone charges in this State has
done more than any one thing to make
possible a public utilities commission
Senator Ernest R. Ackerman. of
Union county. leader of the Republican
Senate majority and chairman of the
Judiciary committee. said:
1T viii not be necessary to report
the Gebhardt resolution calling for an
investigation of telephone rates in this
State, The Legislature is going to pass
a public utilities law, and the bill which
was presented yesterday specifically
covers the question of telephone rates.
The public utilities commission can.
under the bill, investigate the telephone
charges and make the investigation just
as thorough as it sees fit. / consider
that the bill settles my stand on the
question raised at the hearings on the
Gebhardt resolution"
Assemblyman Walter E. Edge OF At
lantic City, leader of the Republican
majority in the House, said:
Il am in sympathy with the EVE
MING STARS fight for lettering tefe-
phone conditions. as I showed by my
Introduction of a resolution calling for
a report on the subject by the commits
tee on municipal corporations. have
given the question a good deal Of
thought, and, like my associates, have
reached the conclusion that the public
utilities bill introduced in both Houses
yesterday places the authority to inves-
tigate alleged telephone abuses in the
right body. The bill gives ample
power"
Assemblyman Henry r. Tatem, Of
Camden, chairman of the House conn.
mittee on municipal corporations. said
Il and my associates on the House
committee on municipal corporations
long ago decided that there should be
an investigation Of the telephone conn
pany's discrimination and oyercharges'
which had been exposed BY the EVE