Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-07-07
COMMUTERS WILL
FIGHT TO BITTER
END FOR JUSTICE


represent, and the qualification of your
answer by the words, If necessary
carries with 1t no element of helpful
ness in the present situation. but, on
the contrary, 1t would appear to indi-
cate your unwillingness to express
o vi own individual Judgment as to the
expediency of the Governor calling d
special session, and reflects a marked
preference on your part to transfer to
the Governor the entire responsibility
of thought on the subject.
you may regard this as entirely
proper, but we may IA to you it is IL
distinct disappointment to your con-
stituency. We believe the people of
our county have a right to look to
you for some evidence of interest in
the problems which face them, II a
solution of these problems Is to be
There can be nc question in the mind
of any reasonable man who Is suffi-
GENTLY well informed to have any
knowledge of the present situation as
to the necessity for immediate legisla-
ton in the State in reference to the
regulation of passenger railroad trans
~portation rates. and the qualification of
your answer by the use of the words
II necessary we therefore deem unfor-
tunate.
we have not overlooked, as you
suggest. the fact hat the proposed in
creased rates affect only the counties in
the northern part of the State, nor have
we overlooked the very important fact
that in these counties that are affected
is represented a very large part of the
entire population of the State, and we
respectfully submit that your duty in
the premises should prompt you first to
consider the burdens of your own peo-
pie. whom you are elected to represent,
and whose burdens are not made the
less oppressive becaus some of the
railroads in the southern part of the
State have not as yet followed the lead
of those whose arbitrary methods
towards the travelling public in our part
of the State have induced the organized
protest which this Commuters League
represents.
THE second question vas II q
special session of the Legislature Is
called, will you vote In favor of con-
ferring a rate-making power upon the
Public Utilities Commission. with ade-
quate power of enforcement? You
answer No on the ground that the
Legislature, in your judgment, has no
constitutional right to convey such O
power upon any commission; but you
TAKE refuge, in reaching your opinion.
behind a judicial decision which has
really little bearing upon the situation
as 1t exists In New Jersey, where the
conditions of trayel are entirely in a
class by themselves, and distinct and
different from those prevailing in any
other part of the United States. Even
If this\were not the fact, there are
many able minds who do not concur in
your legal view of the proposition.
"The railroad companies have no
legal rights which are not given to
them by the people, subject to proper
constitutional limitations. You cam
not convince intelligent people that 1t
Is hopeless to enact legislation that will
prove constitutional. to meet the emer
gency that is upon us.
1.-THE people of this day and genera
tion have a right to demand an inter-
mediary between the railroad company
and the purchaser of transportation,
clothed with proper power of rate regu-
lation, and 1t will not do to d~epreciate
the power and sincerity of this de-
mand, by approaching a discussion Of
the proposition In a mind already de-
termined, and perhaps to some extent
prejudiced in favor of the railroads; for
we have observed, from an examina-
ton of chapter 100 of the laws of 1910,
approved April 7, 1910, that most of
the public officials of the State.
whether elected to office by the people,
or appointed by executive authority,
from the Governor down, including the
various commissions, the members of
the Legislature, and the Public Utili-
ties Commission as well, are permitted
to pass and repass free of charge on
all railroads 10Y or hereafter operated
IN this State. during their various re-
spective terms of office.
1.-THE State Is thereby put under such
an obligation to the railroads that II
is perhaps futile to hope for immediate
relief from the injustice Of the present
increased fares ON the part of those
who have to pay their way. While your
letter intends to express your wish to
be helpful, yet you have nothing II
suggest, and there Is no escape from
the conclusion that you have made
no very active effort to accomplish
anything In the interest of your con
stituents.
I'm the closing paragraph of you,
letter you express the wish to put
your selves ''squarely on record as fa'
voring any feasible, Legitimate ant
effective plan to prevent these proposed
increases In the railroad rates" buI
you suggest M new plan, and you op.
pose the plan suggested by the gen
eral public. You have waited until the
last wave has washed the ship in tn,
process Of sinI ing before you have
spoken, n uyr. without a word o
4