Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-03-17
STATE TR|UMPHS
OVER N0NOPOL|ES
: IN UTILITIES BILL
Measure just Passed Is First
Step Toward Corporate
Regulation.
GOV. FORT MAY AFFIX NAME
BEFORE SESSION RESUMES
Future Amendments Expected to
Make Victory for People
More Complete.
[From a STAFF Correspondence

TRENTON, March ia public
utilities act is to be played on the New
Jersey stage. The Senate, by a vote of
16 to 4, so decided last night. The
House., by a vote of 80 to II. did like
wise. and Governor John Franklin
Fort has committed himself to fndorse
the bill. The Governor will probably
~afix his signature to the measure be-
fore the Legislature next
Monday. The political sponsors of the
bill-the Republican leaders-will be
held responsible for its potency.
It was a bitter pill for the Repub-
lican lawmakers to swallow. The pub
lie. through the EVENING STAR, in
demanding a telephone investigation,
brought such overwhelming proof of
the necessity for action that the reluc-
tant Republicans were forced to act,
and the rapidity with which they
rushed the bill through was, to say the
least, amusing.
The bill lacks many of the essentials
to which both of the political parties
had pledged themselves. Nevertheless,
1t win no doubt work to the benefit of
the people:
En&IOSStu upOh IN 0OOSt -
will at least serve Is the nucleus, or
beginning, of future progress in the
relationship of the State and the public
utility corporations. Amendments can
and will be made to the law, which will
probably never be repealed, once upon
the books. BY working into the law
wear after year amendments which
were designedly omitted in the first
instance, the public may yet see a first
cla SIS. up-to-date public utilities com
mission in this State. Party promises
10 the public can be fulfilled on that
installment plan.
The Democrats in the Senate and the
House fought desperately, but In vain,
ia win amendments to give the COM
mission greater power. That. however,
will come in time.
o pipe Lines Regulated.
The Wakelee bill, as passed, is not
exactly like the Pierce bill, which was
snpposed to be its duplicate. 1t de-
veloped today upon a comparison OF
tho two bills that the Wakelee measu
provides for regulation of pipe line
CORPORATIONS while the Pierce bill does
not.
raid ina Tic UlP1 AtAC
kaan stricken out on Tuesday, said to-
sav when asked about it:
,;Vhen the bill was submitted to me
hefore introduction. the pipe. line pro-
,,,sion had been stricken out in ink
! was unfair to me to say that it was
done in my office, because that was
not the fact. I made certain that it
,ras in the bill, as it was finally in
"a Il, the Senate.
Tbe Wakelee bill was passed IN the
senate and the Pierce bill in the House
.nder suspended rules. They We're in
dnnlicate. except as stated, and by
peening them separate it was possible
~ have the debate in House and Senate
spontaneously instead of keeping n
srsnch waiting while the other con-
sidered the bill, ,a ,aaa
tate last night the, Republican lead
- conferred and decided to put the
U.atelee bill through the House TO
aatanlete the necessary formaiities.
c rnnrs was no debate, the measure be-
IN sixth paKs-l