Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-02-21
Jersey Senators
Face Serious Charges


later by h Senate will depend whetn-
er Fitzherbert will retsin his seat in
the upper house.
The Senate is absolute master OF its
own makeup and has the power TO ex-
pei any of it's members.
The lines of the investigation, as far
as procedure is concerned, Will be the
same as in the Lorimer case in the
United States Senate.
The charges against Fitzherbert were
made by Oscar #. Ostby, manager or
the Commercial Acetylene Company,
and NJ. K. Wishart, a reporter for the
New York Evening Sun. They de-
cIared tina Fitzherbert agreed to Kill
Senate bills 70 and 10, which would
prohibit the use of acety1ene gas on
railroads and prohibit the mannfac-
tlre of such gas within 1000 feet of
any building in New Jersey. This
would put the Commercial Acetylene
Company. which has a plant in East
Newark. which supplies the railroads,
practically out Of business.
DR.. r.. s. Ridner, of S~uccasunna, but
who has an office in Hoboken, was the
! first ma to make advances to him con-
cerning the measures, and agreed to
stop their introduction for $1,000, 1t
! was Fitzherbert, according to Ostby,
who agreed to accept $4,000 TO kill them
in the Senate.
Fitaherbert ~ Go-Betwsen
Fitzherbert admitted that he agreed
TO aot as go-between and see the
"person responsible for the bill and
tell him of the Offer
The price of $1,000 was mentioned.
Oskby alleges that he said it was too
much and that the price had jumped
from $500 rather suddenly. Ostby also
said that Fftzherbert said it could be
done for that amount without diff
guilty. 81.
F1tzherbert denied having said that
he would edo the job" and expressed
4 wish to help the committee and the
company sift the matter thoroughly.
When he denied having promised to
Ikill the bill for $4,000 Wisl1art, the re-
porter, arose and contradicted him.
The accused senator declared that he
Ishad introduced the bills by request
and that It was customary to do this
even though not approving of them.
He would not tell at whose request the
bill was introduced and was very vague
.,about just what would result from the
passage Of the bills.
Senator Edge asked him if he knew
DIR. Ridner and II It was he who vas
responsible for the bill. Fitzherhert
admitted knowing the doctor, but would
mot say that Ridner was responsible
for them.
The impression among the senators
is that Fitzherbert is 'fn bad" AL
ready there is talk of his impeachment
or expulsion. 1t was intimated that
Fitzherbert's lawyers may advise him
to resign.
When Senator Edge was asked to
make a statement he declared that he
had put the matter up to the attorney
general and he, as chairman of the
committee on judiciary, had nothing
more to do with it until the legal adj
vice was submitted.
Senator Read asked Fitzherbert IL he
Thought that it was fitting for a enc
-tn- evet~as a-go-between end II he
did not think that it was an unusual
step to take.
Fitzherbert said that he was an lin
nocent party and, although he may
have been indiscreet, he was free from
all guilt.
Ostby Tells story.
The story as told by Oscar f. Ostby
TO the committee is as follows:
al "Dr. Ridner first called on December
f27, 1911, and stated that someone in
Jersey City had suggested that he had
better see me about a bill which was
ito be introduced at the coming session