Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-03
WILLIAM ?. MARI|N
ASSA|LS PUBLIC
UTILITIES BILLS
Attacks Scharff and Pierce
Measures and Says His
Own Is Proper One.

Former Assemblyman William P.
Martin, New Idea candidate for the
Republican nomination for Governor,
issued a statenIeqt last night in which
he assailed the Scharff and the Pierce
public utilities bills. He added that the
bill that HI himself drafted and stood
sponsor for in 1898 and 1903, and which
is now being fathered by Minority
Leader Mark sullivan, was the only one
that should be enacted.
Mr. Martins Statement.
lii pa1e tne std.rIiltnt 1oIIoMs.
The Martin lSuiligan) bill, Assembly
No. sc, in general provides for a public
service commission empowering 1t,
upon complaint or OF its own notion,
TO nX UNIFORM, just and reasonable
rates, including an appropriation for
the valuation of all physical property
devoted to public services; to enforce
adequate service and to secure publicity
of the affairs of public utility compan-
les, including steam and trolley rail-
roads, electric lights, pipe line, gas,
water, telegraph and telephone compa-
MES. regulation of capital stock and
securities, issuance of same, control of
the method of bookkeeping, together
with adequate means for the enforce
ment of the orders of such commission
and the imposition of penalties in the
form of fines for the corporations vio-
lating the law and Imprisonment for
officials or other individuals who vio-
late the provisions of the act. This bill
was drawn in conformity with the pro-
visions of the Hughes Public Service
Commissions law of the State of New
York, which in turn was largely based
upon the interstate m act
The bill provides. too, that the COM
mission shall ascertain and fix the
value of all property devoted to the
public use. and be used in the making
of just and reasonable rates and the
reputation OF capital and securities.
Provides for Commission.
THE Martin bill provides Tor a new
commission of five members. The
Pierce bill provides that the Railroad
Commission shall be the Public Util-
tiles Commission. There is no reason
why the Governor should not appoint
any member of the Railroad Commits
81 l on the Public Utilities Commits
sion that he desires, except that the
term of Senator Hillery, to which he
was elected, has not yet expired and
he could not technically be appointed
on the new commission during such
term because of the constitutional pro-
hibition. This would not be a great
loss. as Senator Hillery has consist
emily opposed the regulation of all pub
lie utilities throughout his entire pub
lie career.
'In the Martin bill an Investigation
SHAH take place at once in regard to
the cause of an accident. In the Pierce
bill a delay must be had for five days,
during which time witnesses may die,
become disabled or be spirited away.
I'm the Martin bill, rates are made
just and reasonable with the power to
make physical valuation. In the Pierce
bill the existing law must be enforced.
which is to say that the board of di-
rectors OF a street railway company
may charge anything they see fit, ex-
cept in cities of the first class, where
flve-cent-fare only n be charged.
which should be greatly reduced. The
existing law in reference to railroads
is to carry a passenger at the rate of
three or three and one-half cents per
mile, and freight at ten cents per mile.
which is greatly in excess OF a reason
able rate. Railroad Law, Chapter 4S.
Laws 1903. p. 66S."