Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-01-25
PUBLIC UTILITIES
BILL. INTRODUCED
IN LOWER HOUSE
Assemblyman Pierce, of Union,
Sponsor for Measure Which
May Become Law.
rfrom a STAFF correspondent.l

Carlton Il. Pierce, of Union, today i'll
trodueed the public utilities bill that
will become law if any bill at all Is
passed at this session. In effect it con-
tnues the present State Railroad Com
mission in office. with increased au-
thority. The measure abolishes the
Railroad Commission and repeals the
act describing its powers, but all the
present law Is incorporated in the new
bill. and it is specifically provided that
the present railroad commissioners
shall serve as public utility commits
sioners until the expiration of their re-
spective terms.
MY BILL" said Mr.. Pierce in an in
terview while it abolishes the present
Railroad Commission, creates a new
commission, to be made up of the
present Railroad Board members, who
will serve for the balance of their
terms. The new public utilities COM
mission will have all the present Rail
road Commission's powers and duties.
and in addition its jurisdiction will be
extended to all public utility corpora
tions in this State. l believe it a COM
prehensive measure of simple text. and
expect to Sc it become a law"
The Pierce bill limits the annual ex-
pense of the commission to $35, ,000, an
increase over the railroad commissions
limit OF only $1,000. The salary of each
commissioner is to be $1,000 per year,
| thes same as railroad commissioners
now receive.
The bill contains a so-caled rate
making clause providing for court re-
view of all acts of the commission in
| relation TO rates. The provision as to
rate-making is copied from the Rob
bins bill of last year.
The bill provides that all public utili-
ty corporatio must secure the per-
! mission of the commission before any
bond issue will be legal. The commits
sion must give approval TO such issues
if there is no breach of law. This is
intended ostensibly to prevent water
ing of corporation paper, but is guar
anteed' by it's hackers not to frighten
any one.
The measure calls for Just and rea-
sonable" rates, and gives the commits
sion authority to require ''iust and rea-
sonable' service from telephone, tele-
graph. railroad. trolley and other
I public utilities corporations
! The provisions for enforcement of or
sders are by no means drastic and pen
alties can only be exacted after th
commissions decisions have been triet
in the courts and decided against de
fendant corporations. Mr.. Pierce say
he has not submitted his bilr to Gov
ernor Fort, and that he does not wan
! II to go forth that the measure is de
/ sired by the State executive. Never
theless the bill conforms TO Governo
Forts views on the question more near
ly than any other so far presented.
House Minority Leader sullivan, afte
glancing over the Pierce bill, denounceC
II as a miserable apology
"The title is all that shows it to be ;
public utilities BILL declared Mr.
Sullivan. 'It is weak conglomeratioi
of the Robbins bill of last year and th
railroad commission law which wa
forced through as weak compromis
| in 1907
Opinions differ as to the fate of tn
! Pierce bill The Regular Republican
State leaders say no bill can pass tina
contains rate-making provision. w
Holt Apgar, of Trenton, a lawyer, mad
the following analysis of the bill thi
afternoon:
What RiII Embraces.
THE public utilities commission bill
provides for the appointment of thre
| commissioners, gives the Governo
power to remove in case of inefiicienc,
or neglect of duty, and says the boar,
| shall have supervision over all railroad
street railway, traction, canal, express
| IS pipe line, oil pipe line, electric
! light, heat. power, water. sewer. sub
way. telephone and telegraph corpora
tions operating within the State.
THE commission is given power t
compel attendance of witnesses; ais
to issue orders, compel the furnishin.
of proper, safe and adequate service
prohibit rate discrimination, regulate
| fares and charges, prohibit granting o
rebates, compel railroads to maxi
reasonable connections at junction
points. power to compel railroad com
| panies to make switch connections be
! tween competing lines, compel railroad
companies to furnish timetables to th
commission, also changes in timetable
before they become effective; makes
provision that in case any sections o
! the bill are unconstitutional that it shall
not invalidate the whole act; repeal
the act relating to the issuing and sell
ing of stock securities approved Angus
| A. 1906; also repeals the present rail
road commission law"
The bill went to Mr.. Pierce's commit
tee on municipal corporations.
g