Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-01-18
PUBLIC UTILITIES
BILLS IN HANDS
OF BOTH HOUSES
Gebhardt Measure Put Up to
Senate, While Assembly
Has Two.
NONE OF THEM BEAR
GOVERNORS ENDORSEMENT
Chief Executive, However, Is Ex-
pected to Approve Public Sery-
ice Commission Act.
[F'rom a stan Correspondent


TRENTON, Jan. 1S-Public utilities
bllls-three in all-were presented at
the business opening of the 1910 Legls-
lature last night. And none of the trio
came with the Endorsement of Governor
John Franklin Fort, whose recent mes
sage contained demand for that kind
of legislation. Neither did the Gov
ernor stand sponsor for any of the
three. The Governor was hobnobbIng
with statesmen at Washington. d. q.
Where he will remain until next Friday.
Assemblynan Pierce, of Union. II In
understood, is laboring with q public
service commission bill which will he
indorsed by the Governor and prk-
sented in the Assembly next Mondav
night
The Gebhardt Utilities Bill.
b The Senate had a utilities bill. It was
offered by Senator Gebhardt. and its
provisions briefly are as follows. An
act to regulate, police control and
supervise public utilities in, or conduct
ing business within, this state. and
creating for the more perfect attainl
ment OF the business and purpose OF
this act State board OF commissioners
of public utilities, and comforting upon
and investing in said board of commits
sioners full power, authority and juris-:
diction over public utilities, and making
more specific certain other provisions
that may be necessary to make more
efficient the work and operation Of said
board, and the accomplishment of the
purposes of this act. Provides for the
appointment of q board of FIVE term Of
five years each. salary of coinnlis-
sloners to be $1,000 per anuuin, and that
of not more than two engineers. $4,000
per annum, and such clerks as they
may need at not more than sl,2QO each-..
The, act repeaIs the commission act and
Ia somewhat similar TO the Gebharct
bin Of last year.
Mr. scharff,s Measure.
The Assembly has two. Mr.. Scharn.
of Bergen, introduced the first, which
adds to the present Board of Railroad
Commissioners two additional members
to be appointed by the Governor, which
shall make board OF f1ye members,
who shall be known as board of rail.
road and general public utilities COM
missioners. Compensation. $4,000 each
No member of the board TO have any
official relations with or hold any stock
in any company subject to the jursdis-
ton of such board. The total expense
OF the hoard each year limited 10
$4,000. Board 10 have general superyi
sion of all public utilities corporations.
Shall receive and hear complaints in ali
cases relating to service, rates. discrini.
nation, ,carelcssness,p property and equip.
ment of any public utilities corpoy.a
alton: shall see that the laws of the
State are obeyed by such corporations
and may. cause actions to be brought
for the Violation of the law THE attor-
ney-general to be the legal adviser OF
The board. Shall investigate all acri-
dents and shall recommend improved
service, property or equipment May
direct any corporation subject to tho
act to make rates, fares or charges rea-
sonable and uniform. Orders directing
railroads 10 continue service shaii be
become effective thirty days after scry-
ice of such order upon the corporation,
Appeal may be taken from the order to
the Supreme Court. Appeal shall nor
stay operation Of the order appealed.
but court may grant stay in It's dis
cretion. Failure to comply with order
shall subject corporation OFFENDING to y
fine not exceeding 500 per day
Tho third i,i1 ,ot,a+;ti,,,,
Martin utilities bill.which caused no end
OF furry at the last session. The Mar
tin bills We're introduced by Mark SUI
hvan, the minority leader. who has
agreed to to the chaperoning of the
Martin measures in the House during
the session. The former assemblynaan,
William Parmenter Martin, was. con-
spicuous in the House. and, upoh mos
ton of Assemblyman Terhune, of Essex.
the privilege of the floor was extended
to him He has already been characters
lied BY the regulars as the reform
watchdog of the House"
Look for Special Message.
A special message relative to the I'M
come tax is looked for from Governor
Fort next Monday night.
The rules of 1907 were adopted by the
House. So much attention was paid
to the fact that the twenty rule" was
thereby eliminated that the majority
forgot to carefully peruse the rules.
Assemblyman John Matthews renaind-t
ed Colonel Edge. the majority leader,
that ne forgot to insert the word
highways along with commerce and
navigation The young leader thanked
the "old war horse as the Hunterdon
assemblyman is called.