Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-04-20
AGREE ON
UTILITIES
MEASURE
Conference Committee in
Session Until
800 A. N.
SUMMONS ATTORNEY
GASKILL AT MIDNIGHT
Senator Osborne Takes Meas
ure to Governor, Who Ap.
proves It's Provisions.
From a stan Correspondent. ]

lriOii d stan CDfIeSp
TRENTON, April 20.-At the end Of
sitting. lasting from o'clock last
night until $3.50 o'clock this morning,
the joint conference committee on the
public utilities bills came to an agree
ment
The preparation of the bill upon the
basis of the agreement reached by the
committee was placed in the hands of
the attorneygeneral. It will unless
some unforeseen circumstance should
occur, be in possession of the Legis a.
ture today and probably will be passed
before the end of the days session. In
that event there will be nothing to de-
morrow night.
Many knotty Problems.
The story CAME out this morning
that the joint conference committee,
after struggling until after II o'cloe,.
this morning in endeavoring to un-
tangle the knotty problems before
them, sent for Assistant Attorney Cen
eral Gaskill to assist them The fact
seemed to be that the committee did
not feel that they were equal 10 the
legal requirements which the proper
preparation of constitutional public
utilities bill had entailed upon them,
and that, in word and in the ex-
pressive vernacular. they did not
know where they were at.
The assistant attorney-general re-
sponded promptly to the request for his
assistance, and through it the coml.it-
tee at $3.50 this morning arrived at an
| agreement.
This morning at 10:15 o'clock Senator
Osborne, in accordance with the re-
quest of the joint committee, presented
the features of the committee substi-
tute to Governor Wilson. The Gov
ernor expressed his entire approval of
the bill agreed upon by the conference
committee.
In the preparation of the bill by the
joint committee the Osborne -Egan bills
were used.
Rate-Making Clause Retained.
The rate-making clause, including
Communication and other special rates,
was retained intact together with the
power of the board to make a full
and complete valuation of public utili-
ties when necessary. These features
were retained on the insistence of the
Democratic members of the committee.
The principal objection raised to the
Osborne-Egan bills was the penal
clause, but this was finally retained,
as it was contended that their elimi-
nation and emasculation would have
the effect of making the bill practi-
cally worthless.
The bill as finally agreed upon has
been approved by the Governor. who
feels that its final passage will insure
to the State of New Jersey an effective
and adequate public utilities commits
sion. The passage of this bill will
complete the main program planned by
the Governor for this session and will
mean the carrying out by the Demo-
cratic party of every important pre-
election pledge made to the people Of
this State.
Objections Are Overcome.
1t is not anticipated that there will
be any further serious objection on the
part of the Republican members to the
final passage of the bill as reported by
the conference committee. The con-
ference committee consisted of Sem
ators Bradley, Gaunt and Osborne and
Assemblymen Egan. Lamonte and
Jackson. Owing to the pressure of
work devolving upon the appropria-
tion committee. Senator Bradley found
it necessary to retire from the COM
mittee and his place was taken by
Senator Prince.
Prince introduced the committee
substitute at l O'Clock this afternoon.
The bill will be passed Immediately
after the noon day recess today.