Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-06-14

Company respectively, IL is
that the constant expenses of each Of
said companies should be a~scertained,
and whereas the tax paid by said com'
panies respectively to the several NUM-
cipalittes and taxing districts of the
State on property not used for rail-
road purposes forms part of such con-
slant expenses
"Moxed, That each of said companies
be requested by the board to prepare
and submit to it statements or sched-
ules setting forth the taxes levied
against and paid annually by them re-
s%pectively to the several municipalities
and taxing districts of the State upon
such property during the period of ten
years last past, or for such longer
period as they desire, and that In the
event of the inability or refusal OF said
companies, or any or one of them, to
prepare and submit such statements or
| schedules the secretary of the board be
and he is hereby directed to obtain the
sam from the several municipalities and
taxing districts of the State, and that
such statements when submitted be
received, incorporated into and form
part of the records of such investiga-
ton
One hundred thousand people, inter-
ested in the proposed increase of rail-
road rates, are registering their
mighty protest at Trenton today.
Governor Fort urged the people to
| enter their protest good and hard
and they are doing it with a ven
geance.
All sections of New Jersey are ap-
pealing to the Governor to call a spe-
cial session of the Legislature to solve
the railroad rate controversy.
Public sentiment is organizing so
form'dably that there is nothing for
the chief executive to do except to re-
convene the Legislature.
The State Railroad Commission,
which is Investigating the subject to-
day, can only make recommendations.
The railroad companies, having moth
ing to fear from a powerless commits
sion, that goes out of official existence
on July 4. will certainly not abandon
their proposed increase Of passenger
tariffs.
The Governor, seeing the helplessness
of the commission and h hopeless
ness of the commuters situation, car
do nothing more than to a a special
session of the lawmakers and recon-
mend the enactment of adequate laws
Legislature Only Relief.
Summing up the entire situation
there Is no relief for the public except
from the Legislature.
There is no official or body of officials
in the State that has the power to act
save the Legislature.
The question, therefore, is: "WiI
the Legislature enact remedial legisla-
tion?" The same body of lawmakers
refused, while in regular session, te
enact laws thai would have prevented
the present controversy.
VIII public sentiment, that Is ryan
izing so perfectly, be effective enough
to coerce the unwilling lawmakers into
doing their duty?
All agree that the only sure way tc
prevent the railroads from executing
their burdensome rates is to amend
the public utilities law with a rate
making clause.
There Is no doubt but hat the Gov
ernor will give the Legislature an op'
portunity to show whether the Republi-
can majority is protecting the rail
roads or the peoples interests.
The evidence that is being gathered
today at the railroad commissioner
hearing will be Of much help to ths
State at some future date.
1t will obviate the necessity of thu
Legislature appointing an investigation
committee to inquire into the subjec
and the voters will anxiously wait Il
see how the issue can be furthe