Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-01-28
BILL
To BE FOUGHT
Railroad Representatives Ap-
pear at Hearing Yesterday
(From the NEWS correspondenf.J

Trenton, Jan. 28.-That the rail-
roads intend to make q determined
fight against the passage OF a grade
crossing bill by the legislature this
winter, was evidenced yesterday af-
ternoon when the railroad repre-
sentatives appeared before the Com
mittee OF Railroad and Canals at the
hearing given Senate Bills 2 and 81,
and asked fer a postponement of the
hearing Of their side of the question
until next Monday afternoon. AS a
result of the request the committee
listened only to the presentation or
the side for the bills.
President Fielder who introduced
Senate Bill No. Q. the Governors
measure was present to point out the
merits Of his bill while Senator
Pierce was also on hand to look af-
ter the interests OF Senate Bill No.
81 which he introduced. Mr.. Fielder
spoke briefly pointing out the fact
that his bill provided a method OF
eliminating grade crossings and also
a means Of selecting which crossings
we're to be done away with. He ex-
pressed his belief that the matter
should be left entirely to the Public
Utilities Commission to say whether
travel is impeded or ENDANGERED sur
f~iciently to warrant the elimination
OF a crossing. He pointed out the
fact also that his bill also given the
Commission the power to hx the time
at which the elimination shall COM
mence and also a date upon which
the work much be completed. He
stated that according to his meas
ure none OF the cost Of the work OF
elimination should fall upon the
municipality or state. MI. Fielder
stated that he would consent to an
amendment which would give the
Public Utility Commission the right
to say whether the grade crossing
should be eliminated by the elevation
of the highway or by the elevation OF
the railroad tracks.
Mr.. Pierce spoke at some length
upon the merits OF his bill and also
took occasion to point out what he
thinks are some of the failings of
the Fielder measure. Mr.. Pierce
| stated that the Fielder bill opens the
way for every municipality in the
| state to apply for the elimination OF
some crossing. making 1t Incumbent
| upon the Board of Public Utilities to
order the doing away Of the Offend
! inc crossing. This he claimed would
inf1ict a physical impossibility upon
the railroad compantes, who no
doubt would be obliged to eliminate
all crossings at the same time. He
claimed that there should be a sche-
dule Of elimination upon which the
Board could work. In speaking for
his own bill Mr.. Pierce stated that in
addition to providing for the elimina-
ton OF dangerous crossings, 1t ais
provided for the correction OF dan
tT.ts6us approaches and for the re-
mOval Of chs.Tuctions. His bill also
provided for the elimination of grade
crossings here one railroad crosses
another. Mr.. Pierce stated that on
his ratio of the elimination Of one
crossing to every thirty miles OF
tracks each year and assuming that
one-ffth Of the present grade cross.
ing are dangerous. from 4 to IL
years would be required to eliminate
| all dangerous spots.
Borden D. Whiting, who was ap'
pointed a member of the railroad
commission by Governor Stokes
urged tne Placing OF Il gTduo CrosSiHs
bill upon the statute books. He
gave a most comprehensive talk dur
ing which he made several valuable
suggestions.
Mayor Frederick w. Donnelly, OF
] Trenton, representing the MAYORS
/ Society of the state. and William
Foster, also Of Trenton. representing
the Manufacturers Association Of
New Jersey, spoke for the measure.