Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-11-07
LEGISLATIVE RECORD OF
@. O. p. IS ARGUMENT FOR
DEMOCRATIC VICTORY
Bills Killed at Last Annual Session, as Well as Measures Passed
and General Tactics of Majority, Give Best of Reasons Why
Woodrow Wilson Should Be Elected and Why Both
Houses Should Be of His Political Faith.

Hudson county, has prepared the ac-
complaining list of bills, killed by the
last Republican Legislature, to show
a good reason for electing Woodrow
Wilson and a Democratic Legislature.
Mr. kenny's communication follows: +
On the opening day of the session
one of the selected leaders of the ma
jority in the House announced trium-
phantly and defiantIy: ''This is a Re-
publican Legislature, and we intend to
run things, Throughout the session
that was the keynote of the ak and
the guiding spirit of the majority.
Frequently the speaker ignored mem
bers of the minority and cut their
speeches short, while he gave those of
the majority the widest latitude, even
on non-political bills; and the majority
leader was ever ready to lead the ma
j~ority~to table any motion made by a
member of the minority. 1t was really
a Republican Legislature" so far as
the speaker and the leader of the ma
jority could make it so. and the respon-
sibility for the results of the session
1nuCl ldll NHClt Lie ltSpOiiSlDlllIN WAS
invited.
Corporation Power Manifested.
A striking instance of the corporation
power over the Legislature was on the
passage of the Lee bill, a bill that re-
versed the policy of the State on cor
porate franchises. On March 8 the bill
beaten. after a thorough discussion,
nv a yota Of IT in foxsor md 90 anafnCt
the bill (Minard changing his vote for
reconsideration. On the 18th the bill
was reconsidered and passed by a vote
of 81 TO "a. In one week fifteen men 90
changed their minds and changed their
votes, and could give no reason pub
1icly for the change.
Another bill wanted by the p. S. c.,
which went through as if the ways
were creased was the Military Park
tunnel bill. That bin would give rail-
roads the right to go under or through
public parks or, other public property
and establish stations thereon, without
the public authorities having anything
to say, and entirely without compensa-
ton. The bill was passed.
The Railroad Retaliation Commission
that had done such good work for the
State during the past year, and which
gave promise of doing better work in
the future, was disliked by the cor
poretions, and word was sem forth
that the commission should be abol-
ished. The votes were ready, the board
was abolished, and it's unfinished work
turned over to the State Board of AS
SCISSORS which board for the last TWEEN
ty-seven years has refused to do the
work. The child the unnatural mother
had abandoned was turned back to be
starved and neglected, with 800, 900 for
the purpose, to do nothing, as hereto
fore. Think of it-s100, 900 to investi-
gate themselves!
A good public utilities bill was pro-
posed by Mr.. Sullivan, the same as
that heretofore proposed by Mr. Mar
tin, the Same as that which had given
good results and had passed through
the fire Of the courts in New York.
The Public Service, Corporation didn't
like Mr.. Sullivan's bill, and Mr.. Sulli-
vans bill was killed, and a bill said
to have been prepared in the Office of
the Public Service Corporation and
said to be satisfactory to the Public
Service Corporation was passed. h
ninth section provides that the Public
Utilities Commission may, on the APP
peal of any public service company, re-
woke any ordinance, resolution or order
of the governing body of any munic-
ipality in the State in reference to the
operation or the management of any
street railroad. any gas company, any
electric light company, or any other
public service company. Wonder how
the people like that? If it were
reciprocal, so that governing bodies
Of municipalities could appeal from
rules or regulations of public service
companies, it might not be so bad; but,
of course, the public service companies
would not permit that; of course, their
plant tools would not permit it.
In relation to the public utilities law,
here is the pledge of the Republican
party in State convention assembled,
September 10, 1907: Owe pledge our
selves to enact a law providing for a
public utilities commission with ample
jurisdiction and powers to enable it to
regulate such corporations effectively
and authoritatiyely,"
The Record TO Date.
In 1908 the two branches of the Re-
publican Legislature disagreed as Ito
the kind of a utility bill that ought to
passed and no legislation resulted.
In 1909 the Assembly passed the Mar
tin utility bill and it was "crucified" in
the Senate. Result, no legislation.
In 1910 the Legislature rejected the
Sullivan bill, complying with the
and Republican platform
of 1907, n passed the bill putting
the municipalities of the State under
the control of the public service cor
p~orations.
Here is what Governor Fort said to
the Legislature January II, 1910, in re-
lation to the Sullivan-Martin public
bill 1t is pertinent to refer
to it now in view of the pledge made
by the Republican party in 1907 and
the same pledge made by the same
party now. The pledge made then was
violated. The same pledge is made
to be broken again. 1T would
seem that a law so advantageous to
the people would be easy of enact
ment, yet it is discouraging to under
take to accomplish anything in this di-
The whole power of these cor
their officials and lobbyists
are arrayed against the proposed legis-
lation. and the use of their money got
ten from the people is felt in the cleo