Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-06-10


railroads will put their increased rate
schedules in effect, and the Governor
knows that the only way to cope with
the situation is to call ans extra session
of the Legislature and enact into the
public utilities law an amendment that
will give the commission adequate
power.
Many of the railroads rsupporterssare
expressing the belief that the Legisla-
ture will not be calledstinRspecfafss
sion.
They claim that the5 Governorehas
publicly and privately placed himself
on record as being opposed to- rate
making regulation.
The Governors friends, ,showever,. .as-
Expect Special Session.
sert that view was held by theschief
executive before public. clanor de-
manded more drastic laws on theSsub-
ject, and that he will change his
mind on the question andBexercise his
power of calling the speciak session for
that purpose.
The question now is how long will
the Governor wait before doing what
is obviously his duty. Not later than
next Tuesday, say his friends.
The Governor held a. three-hour con-
Wilson.
While neither Mr. Wilson orr the, Gov
ernor was inclined to discuss the situa-
ton. it was learned that the attorney
general advised that there was no pos
sible misunderstanding of the statute
describing the powers of the railroad
commission.
He told Governor Fort that the.com-
mission was without authority to make
an order affecting railroad rates, and
that there could be no construction
placed either on the railroad commits
sion law of 1907 or upon any general
statutes to give rise to the belief that
such power was vestedsin the Scommis-
sion.
Mr. Wilson holds that the clearly
defined power of the Railroad Commits
sion in this rate controversy is to cite
the officials of the roads to appear and
submit their records to investigation
as to the reasonableness of the in
creased tariffs.
The commission is acting infaccord-
ance with that opinion, to which Gov
ernor Fort subscribes. and in which
the three commissioners, all lawyers,
concur.
The Governor believes thatsthe, effect
VI d ny lAo CUIllIlto-
sion will be as potent .asgan,order, be-
cause of the crystalliZed public senti-
ment behind it, but he is mot prepared
to say that the session of next Tues
day will result in a victory for the
people against the oppressionfof~p pro-
hibitive increases in'fares.
"I am not going to take Fanys action
today" said the Governor after his
long conference with the attorney-gen-
eral IT will wait until after Tuesdays
meeting of thesRailroad-Comn be-
fore discussing the question further
The Governor stated privately that
he was by no means sure that special
session of the Legislature to strengthen
the authority of the Railroad Commits
sion would not be called. Much de-
pends upon what the general passen-
ger agents and their counsel have to
say next Tuesday.
Mr.. Wilson spent this afternoon in
preparation for the Railroad Commits
sion meeting. Anticipating that the
railroads would take the position that
the commission is without power, he
is fortifying himself to combat them
on such a ground. He is watching the
Washington conferences and railroad
developments, too, because he considers
(Confsuued ON Sixth p1Re.l