Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-28
legislators Loyalty TO
People Will Be Shown
by Vote on Inquiry.
TELEPHONE EXECUTIVE HAS
ADMITTED ABUSES CHARGED
Proofs Presented by STAR
Leave Only One FAIR Course
for Joint Committee.

That the telephone trust Is cxtort-
ing unreasonable and excessive rates
In Newark, Jersey city and other cities
throughout New Jersey has been clear
1y established in the EVENING STARS
telephone inquiry.
That the joint legislative investiga-
lion has revealed the fact that the
telephone trust Is discriminating in it's
rates to the detriment of the business
men of the state of New Jersey has
also been proven.
That complete monopoly in the
northern and southern sections of
New Jersey exists was established
beyond question of doubt at
the hearing, and finally, Union N.
Betheil, president of the New York
Telephone Company, confessed before
the joint inquiry to the guilt of the
trust, in reference to tho above aIIega-
fsons and practically admitted the need
of legislative action.
Facing all the evidence that has been
adduced, documentary and oral, coupled
with the admissions made by the tele-
phone officials themselves, there is
nothing left for the. members of the
joint legislative committee TO do to-
night except to recommend to the
Legislature that thorough investga-
ton be made and that the telephone
evils be corrected before the adjourn
ment of the present session. The ne
cessity for immediate action was made
very plain to the joint committee at
the hearings, and it is understood that
a ma jority-of the members favor q
deeper probe.
Powerful influence is being Brought
to bear, however, by the telephone
trust to prevent a further insertion
of the telephone probe. The scratching
Of the surface has plainly indicated
enough telephone sores to warrant
complete investigation, that, for OBJ
vious reasons, the telephone trust is
trying to sidetracl1. Investigations are
being made in New York, Pennsylvania
and other States, and If one was
started in New Jersey it would un-
questionably provide the link to the
chain of Investigations that might be
the death blow to the billion dollar
trust. Rapidly the telephone problem
is nearing the point where it will
surely come before the Interstate Com
merce Commission for regulation, such
as the railroads are now subjected to.
Anything to block that course will be
done by the gigantic trust, whose
power has increased tenfold since j. Z.
Morgan became interested.
Fear Federal Legislation.
Promiscuous legislative inquiries. like
those in progress at the present time
and probably to be- ordered in Trenton
tonight, all form links in the big chain !
that will eventually lead to the Inter
state Commerce Commission. For the
present, though, each of the States
must correct the telephone evils in its !
respective commonwealth, and apply its
own remedies by legislative enactment. |
Jersey lawmakers have been shown
the necessity for immediate action by
the EVENING STAR, and neglect to |
give the public the relief sought means |
nothing else but a closer relationship |
between the legislators and the tele- |
phone trust than there is between the |
legislators and the public. 1t means a |
wilful disregard of the sworn duty of |
the legislator. There are five Republic |
cans and two Democrats on the joint !
committee. and their verdict is anx-
iously awaited.
The Senate judiciary committee, Of |
which Majority Leader Ernest r. yAck- |
erman is chairman. will meet late this |
afternoon to consider its part in the
telephone verdict Besides Mr.. Acker- |
man, there is upon the committee Sem |
ator Edmund w. Wakelee, of Bergen |
county, and Senator James F. Fielder, |
of Hudson county. Mr.. Wakelee. it is
alleged is exerting his every influence
N0lIo
charge that Wakelee acted as "go-be- i
tween in a telephone deal. it was
thought that the Bergen county Sena-
tor could not act as an unbiased and
unprejudiced Judge in the telephone in
ouiry. State Railroad Commissioner
Frank H. Sommer, who led the EVE
MING STARS fight for the people, de-
cided not to challenge. the right of
Wakelee to sit an the investigating
committee, and the Senator did not vol
unteer to resign. Mr.. Sornmer believes
that Wakelee will vote the peoples
way but rumor has it that he is a
more sl1illful hacker Of the telephone
interests than President Bethel him
self
wnkeiee on Record.
Nakelee publicly has stated that
enough facts have been proved by the
EVENING STAR. Nobody will con-
tradict that. The Indictment has beenI
secured and the trusti must now be
tried. Realizing that a majority of the
joint committee is in favor of deeper
probe, by which all the suppressed
telephone evils could be brought to the
surface. Wakelee took the position of
agreeing that the rates were unreason-
able and that relief was needed He
tabooed further investigation, however.
and Is today, so it is charged, trying to
convince his associates on the com
mittee that there is no need for the
attorney general to continue the inves- |
tigation, as there are facts enough al. I
fC&uffuuoa nm mIssrd RaUcl