Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-06-03

reflected in his opening sentence. to
the effect that a statement that the
party has kept its pledge to enact a
public utilities law would be amusing
If 1t were not pathetic
To bring out the force of this
criticism a reference to dry facts is
unavoidable.
recalls Party Pledges.
The party pledge in question is in the
Republican State platform of 1907, and
is in this language:
1.-THE party has already undertaken
the question of supervision of public
utility corporations, with the view OF
increasing the efficiency, safety and
economy of service in the interest of
the public. We pledge ourselves to
a a law providing for a commits
sion with ample jurisdiction and
powers to regulate such corporations
effectively and authoritatively."
| assume the expression to regulate
effectively and authoritatively'' means
to regulate by order.
Since the adoption of the platform
(the Railroad Commission was created
just b~efore), Republican legislatures
have authorized the commission to
make orders covering the following
points:
By chapter 1859, laws of 1909, the
power to compel testimony. oral and
documentary; observance by railroads
of existing laws; safety of railroad
track, bridges n equipment: proper
n adequate transportation facilities
and stations.
BY Chapter 1S9, laws of 1909, pre-
venting the abandonment of stations,
protection of grade crossings, prevent
ing future grade crossings without the
consent of the commission, uniform
accounts, timetable connections,
switch connections.
And by the utilities bill passed last
winter, applying to all utility corpora
tons in the State, enforcing com
pliance with existing laws, safe and
adequate service. uniform accounts by
classes, prevention of rebates and dis
ordinations in rates, investigation of
rates, with power to recommend; pre-
venting stock watering and improper
leases and mergers. and requiring the
approval by the commission of all
future franchises.
Here are some seventeen separate
departments or subjects of utilities
legislation, regulated effectively and
authoritatively, and representing, to-
gether, so far as / am advised, every
phase of utilities legislation thus far
thought of.
Mr.. Martins single objection to this
mass of legislation. with which he is
fully familiar, Is, as / understand it,
that In the point of rate-making the
authority given the commission Is to
investigate and recommend, rather
than Investigate and fix by order. But
even this objection, trivial as 1t seems
in comparison with the general field of
legislation covered, is in itself tech
meal. and not real, for / am informed
by the secretary of the Railroad Com
mission, that in practise, it has been
the experience of the commission, while
possessing only advisory powers that
recommendations following investiga-
tions have been followed with the same
force and effect as orders
It is a fair statement to make ac-
cordingly that the substance of
rate-making itself Is, in fact, accom-
plished in the specific authority given
the commission to investigate rates and
make recommendations.
And 1t is a plain proposition from the
extended list of subjects enumerated
above that the general field of legisla-
and the Republican platform pledge
not substantially but overwhelmingly
met and kept.
CARLTON B. PIERCE.
Crawford, tune 8, 1910.