Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-04-01
People Stirred by Talk
Of Moneys Use at
State House.
SENATE OVERRIDING
RIGHTS OF PUBLIC
Military Park Grab and Water.
Snake but Two Of Many
Offensive Measures.

Legislative graft exposures in Al
bany and the Pittsburg scandal cause
the people Of New Jersey to reflect and
wonder il there is anything irregular
IN the state House at Trenton
Ugly rumo-s Of the dlsa1bution Of
corporation money at the State capitol
are in the air The high-handed way
that the Senate is overriding the
rights of the people in the Lee Ill.
otherwise known as the Military Park
grab bill. the passage OF the subway
and union sub-surface terminal sta
ton and the water-snake deal that
leaked out yesterday. add to the ser1-
business of the situation at Trenton.
The Lee bill came up for secend read
ing in the Senate last night. and that
body again showed it's utter disregard
OF the rights OF the people. The SEN
ate. so far in its treatment OF the Lea
bill. which deprfves the people OF any
voice in the franchise grant, IS not only
overriding the traction act OF 1881 but.
is showing such indifference to the wA<b
Of the people. If not contempt for fheiD
appeals. as to cause many to wonder
what powerful influence is at work
upon the minds Of the leaders Of the
Senate who are so grossly misrepre-
sentfng their constituents.
In the light OF the ugly rumors viii
the Senate dare pass this bill. which IS
everywhere condemned except IN the
Legislative han, or viii It pause nonG
enough To give consideration a <hs'
peculiar aspect which their conduct
now presents. and by an Investigation
or otherwise set at rest the rumors or
special influence which is bringing
Trenton within the questionable circle
now occupied BY Pittsburg and Albany
1t is believed that the Senate win not
dare pass the Lee bill in its present
form.
There were nine amendments hurled
at the measure which permits the Pub
lie Service Corporation to run trolley
loop around the park without first secur-
ing the consent of the property owners
Six of the amendments emanated from
Senator Osborne. of Essex. two from
from Senator Wakelee. OF Bergen.
Six Of the amendments were adopted
but the most important-that OF Sena-
tor Silzer. requiring the consent OF so
per cent of the property -owners--was
defeated. The bill provides that when
the extension sought is not more than
half a mile in length no consent OF the
abutting property owners shall be nee
<.~lr -
less than half a mile no consent OF the
property-owners is required The Sill
ger amendment would not cover this
specific case. even il it had been
adopted. for the city. OWING the park.
so desired.
Therefore, 1t can be seen that none II
the nine amendments seek to protect
the rights Of the people II an amend
ment that was intended to properly
protect the peoples right was to be
tackled on to the bill it would provide
that consent, of a majority of the prop
erty-owners fronting on the park must
be secured before the franchise is
granted. Ever since the trolleys first
made their appearance In this city the
trolley people have desired to run q
loop around the park. They tried to
get consent from the property owners
and failed. Now they are trying 70 got
the grant regardless of the property
owners.
Two of Osborne's and both of Siizer's
were beaten. Mr.. Osborne endeayorezi.
after the amendments had all been
acted upon, TO have the bill advanced
to third reading. but he withdrew his
motion when Mr.. Silzer put in an OBJ
lection.
Osborne Amendments.
The first two amendments offered BY
Mr.. Osborne were lost One sought to
require q. two thirds vote of the Board
of Works to give consent. and the
other had as its object a reduction OF
the franchise period from fifty to
thirty five years
One of Osborne's amendments adopt
ed requires the connecting links are
to be laid between tracks already in ex-
istence Another makes the bill be-
come effective on July 4 instead of inn
mediately The purpose OF the latter
is to have the grant come under the
supervision of the Public Utilities
Commission
The other two amendments Of os-
borne's that were adopted merely make
changes so as to have the title and
body of the act correspond
Mr. Siizer lost both Of his amend
ments. One purposed to have the act
apply to first-ciass cities only, The
other sought to compel the consent of
50 per cent. Of the property owners
along the route Of the proposed extea-
sion or connection.
At this point Mr. wakelee asked Mr..
Osborne to withdraw his amendment.
passed a few days ago, requiring the
making Of the grant by ordinance if,~
stead Of resolution. The latter agreed.
and then Mr. Wakelee offered an
amendment covering the same point,
accompanied by stipulation THAI The