Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-03-29
ACKERMAN
BILL is HIT
At HEARING
Many Cities Represented
Testeaday--Grads Cross
ing Measure Considered.
PERTHAMb0Y DELEGATION
ON HAND EARLY

Perth Amboy was well repre-
sented at the hearing on the Acker-
man grade crossing bill at Trenton
yesterday afternoon. So were many
other cities throughout the state.
The hearing was one of the most inn
portant, and perhaps one of the hot
test, held at the state house this
year. There were few defenders OF
the measure. Former Senator Hill
lery, now a member OF the state
railroad commission, declared that
the commission favored the bill and
he assumed for on behalf of that
commission the responsibility for It's
Introduction. For this he was
roundly scored by one of the speak
ers. The idea that a member of the
state railroad commission being paid
by the people to look after their In
terests should stand for such a bill
appeared almost unbelievable to the
speaker, and Mr.. Hillery was made
to feel quite uncomfortable.
The Perth Amboy Delegation.
The committee from Perth Amboy
was composed of Alderman-at-Large
w. d. Voorhees,, City Attorney G. g.
Hommann, City Engineer s. j. Me-
son, Joseph E Stricken and d. p.
Olmstead. After the hot shot that
was fired into the measure yesterday
the opinion of the local delegation
was that 1t would never be passed.
The hearing was before the senate
committee on Judiciary Mr.. Hill
lery stated that there are hundreds
of grade crossings in the state which
are not abolished because neither
the railroad companies nor the u.u-
inequalities are willing 10 beer the
entire expense.
Assemblyman Kissam opposed the
bill, claiming that it's provisions
would necessitate an expense Of
100000 for East Orange, to pro-
vide a right Of way for the Delaware
C Lackawanna railroad.
Railway Alderman Opposed.
Alderman Woodruff, of Railway, op-
posed the bill, holding that the Uni
ted States supreme court has repeat
edly decided that the railroads are
responsible for the whole cost of
abolishing grade crossings by -efeva-
ton or depression of tracts He de-
sired to know who wss responsible
for the bill. :
Mr.. Hillery explained that the
state Railroad Commission had ap-
proved the bill and recommended It,
believing that such feasible plan
would be very advantageous to all
! concerned.
Mr.. Woodruff asserted:
Il understand that you are sup
posed to be looking after the peo-
pies interests, as paid to do, and yet
II you advocate this measure you are
clearly favoring the railroad compa-
nies at the peoples expense. I
would like to know who was the real
author of this bill
Mr. Hillery stated.
Il do not know. / do not know
who drafted 1t or what young woman
made the typewriter copies, and I
do not think it of any Importance.
/ only know that the commission
| considers this bill an expedient
measure for remedying a crying
| evil"
In Interest of Railroads.
Mr.. Woodruff observed:
This bill is in the interests OF the
railroads, and ! fail to see why such
a measure should be fathered by the
republican leader of the senate"
| Mr.. Ackerman, sponsor for the
bill. and chairman of the COMMITTEES
| on judiciary, looked severe, and
| raped for order. Mr.. Wakelee, also
/ of the committee conducting the
hearing, said that he did not think
| the time should be wasted by such
trivial considerations, but that it
| should be confined TO the merits OF
1 the bill
Mr.. Hillery asked why the city OF
Railway had not already required
/ the abolition Of grade crossings il
it had authority to do so at the ex-
pense of the railroad companies.
Mr.. Woodruff explained:
Because, unfortunately. the ma
jority of our common council menu
bers have been employees of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company"
/ DR.. Mravlag, mayor of Elizabeth,
said:
Then Mr. Wakelee commented:
Il have been severely criticised by
many people for my public utility
law, because they say 1t does not
give the commission power enough.
/ / am certainly gratifed and refresh
ed to hear an opinion to the effect
that the people should have the priv
/ 1l6St Vi Nul bttAE lAAlS R0WNi DCNdUS6
1t is so great"
Why People should Pay.
Mr. Hillery. in response TO a query
from Mr.. Woodruff, of Railway,
as TO why the people of any munici-
pality should bear any part of the
cost of abolishing a grade crossing,
held that the people, having given
consent to the laying of tracks in a
manner dangerous TO life, were
Jointly responsible with the eompa-
nies.
John D. Everett. president of the
CONTINUED on mage 81