Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-10
BILLS PROTESTED
BY TROLLEY MEN
Blame the Public, Not the Rail-
roads, for Crowding,
They Say.

TRENTON, Feb. 0.-Representa-
tives of the Public Service Railway
Company, as we'll as of eighteen
other traction companies operating In
New Jersey, appeared before the rail-
road. and canals committee OF the
House of Assembly last night to
oppose a favorable report by that
committee on two bills now In Its
hands affecting the operation of troll
ley cars. One is q bill introduced by
Assemblyman George j. Bracken, re-
quiring that trolley companies fur-
nish a seat for every passenger, or,
| falling that, to give a rebate check
| to every unseated passenger. This Is
Assembly bill No. IS. The other bill
| is Assembly No 80, introduced by
Assemblyman Clinton e. Fisk, of
Hudson. It requires that all opera
tors of street railway lines furnish
adequate service, defines what is ade-
quate service and provides penalties
of fines and even the forfeiture OF
rights and franchises for failure to
furnish adequate service.
John J. Burleigh. of Camden, vice.
president of the Public Service Cor
poration, vigorously opposed the bill
in opening the discussion. He was
followed by John L. OToole, of New
ark, publicity man OF the Public Ser
vice Corporation. Mr.. Burleigh said;
bills 10 and SO are kindred bills,
both proposing to regulate by statute
public utility companies, changing
the policy of the State as fixed In
1911. Both political parties at that
time made 1t a part of their plat
forms and oampaign addresses that
public utilities should not be SO regu-
lated. II elected they proposed to
remedy 1t. They were determined to
create a utility commission with full
powers over rates and service
Mr.. Wilson was elected, together
with a Democratic House. The pledge
was kept and Public Utilities Com
mission appointed with plenary pow
ers. From that day to this not q
single bill has been enacted which
had for its object the regulation OF
utilities.
Under those circumstances, while
I do not want to question the motives
back of these bills, / do say that
while they may be honest do not
know that they are and have
right to look on them with suspicion.
1.-THE bills are drastic and Alto
gether impracticable. 1 hope the
committee will do as all committees
since 1911 have done and refer all
questions of rates and service to the
Public Utilities Commission"
Mr.. O'Toole said that the provisions
of the bills were impossible of carry
ing out by street railway companies,
physically, practically and financially.
1.-THE keynote of the transportation
problem today is speed. People will
not let cars go by, filled or empty.
The conditions at Broad and Market
streets, Newark; the Lackawanna
terminal, Hoboken; the Exchange
place terminal and tube stations In
Jersey City and the ferry at Camden
are not to be controlled in this free
hand manner.
"I could show twenty-five places in
this State where nothing can keep
passengers from crowding into cars
In the rush hours. The inconsistency
of seeking to punish the street rail-
way companies for conditions the
passengers bring about must be ap-
parent to the committee"