Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-06-21
MARTIN ISSUES
SECOND DEFIANCE
TO VIVIAN LEWIS
Regular Republican Candidate
for Governor Is Again Chal-
Ienged to Debate.
LETTER QUESTIONS
MOTIVE OF SECRECY
Progressive Wants Voters to
Know Just Where His OPP
ponent Stands on Platform.


william p Martin, the Progressives
candidate for Governor. today issued
another challenge to Vivian M. Lewis.
the Regular Republican, gubernatoriai
choice. Mr. Lewis turned down Mr.
Martins first challenge. and he will
probably do the same with the second
one. Mr.. Martin is aching for debat-
ing tour of the State with Mr.. Lewis
as the following letter shows:
The Second Challenge.
Honorable Vivian M. Lewis. State
House, Trenton:
my Dear Sir-I have the honor to
acknowledge receipt of your answer
to my letter, in which you decline to
cooperate in joint public request to
( the Governor to convene the Legis-
lature in extraordinary session for the
ypurpose of considering the enactment
: of remedial legislation in pursuance OF
the will of the people and OF the
solemn pledge of the party in the last
State platform upon the ground that
YOU, as an appointee of the Governor
have become a part of his administra-
tion and that it. would be improper
or indelicate for you publicly to advise
the Governor concerning the adoption
of rate-malSing power, matter OF
tremendous importance not only to the
commuters directly affected, but to all
of the citizens and residents OF new
Jersey, to whom the Legislature owes
a duty, by providing for the enforce
ment of the law by establishing an
adequate remedy requiring from the
public utility companies services at JUST
and reasonable rates. 1t is also OF the
greatest Importance to the Republican
party that this be done because the
party Is in power and its solemn
pledges should be fulfilled.
"You write that, as part Of this adj
ministration, you ought not advise the
Governor publicly, but the Governor
as q candidate, construed his partys 3
pledge to include the bestowal OF the
rate king power on the commission
and in go far as he has been able to do
SO his administration has stood pub
Iicly for giving this power to the com
mission. II would seem that one who Is
so peculiarly loyal to this administra-
ton could perform no greater service
than to assist in the crystallization OF
public sentiment favorable to carrying
out the pledge of the party and pnr-
pose Of the administration.
Demands Open stand.
"Do you now think, i'll view of the
public position taken by the Governor
in his East Orange speech, that 1t is
your duty as a part of.his administra-
ton to stand by the Governor? VIII
Won reconsider your determination not
to ioin in the effort to secure an ex-
traordnary session of the Legislature in
view Of the statement of the Governor
at East Orange that he desires the
movement for vesting rate-maKlng
mower in the public utility commission
to continue?
"In view of the position taken by the
Governor in the East Orange speech, do
YOU still believe that the Legislature
is not controlled by special interestsF
You state that In my public criti-
cisms of the Wakelee bill that l de-
sired the commission to have arpitrary
power to fix rates. / do not desire the
commission to have arbitrary power I
desire the commission to have power To
fix Just and reasonable rates.
"I note your statement approving the
present public utility act of 1910 for the
reasons given by Assemblyman Pierce.
He stated on the floor of the House In
1908. when the question was on the
substitution for my public utility bill.
a weak and maudlin act much like the
Wakelee bill:
"'The meaning of both platforms, in
my Judgment, is the same, but taking
the language of the Republican plat
form as the basis OF discussion the
question arises, what is an effective
commission? A commission with ample
jurisdiction and powers to enable it to
regulate such corporations effectively
and authoritatively.
"'Clearly an effective commission is
comission with power to put into
effect whatever the commission shall
deem just and fair. There is no limi-
tation whatever. You will seek in vain
for a suggestion that in this or that
or any other branch the powers shall be
simply advisory. The pledge of power
is in the broadcast form-it must be
ample to enable the commission to regu-
late effectively and authoritatively'
"'Mr. Speaker. in my Judgment you
cannot construe that platform as per-
mitting the exclusion of the rate-mak-
ing feature. And in nv Judgment we
stand firmly pledged 10 include that
power in any measure we may adopt
The final question that arises
assuming the party pledges are to be
kept, assuming that the final word OF
authority In disputed matters is to be
with the people, assuming that we are
TO have genuine effective legislation,
the final question is whether we shall
pass the strongest measure or the
weakest The answer to this seems to
me to rest In common experience.
On the same principle in the
subject before us. in my judgment, the
passage of the strongest measure will
give the best results
"He thereby approved the Martin bill
as amended.
'.Do you agree with Mr. Pierce's senti-
ment as above expressed, when he
seems to have been militantly inde-
pendent, or with his recent expressions.