The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-23
JERSEY HIGHWAYS
AGAIN DISCUSSED
Testimony Given Before Hen.
messy Investigating Com
mittcc Recalled.
COMPARISON OF PRICES

TRENTON. y. J.. July 22-Twenty-tro
| years ago New Jersey adopted the
, state aid policy for building good roads.
AT first the cost was evenly divided be-
tween the state aud tho counties. town.
ships and property owners along the line
Of the road to he improved. Several
years ago the property owners were
eliminated as contributors. N the
townships nearly so. Now this state
and the counties bear the greater part
Of the burden.
For twenty-five years the material
men, contractors and politicians have
been gradually building up combinations
until at present the taxpayers seem 10
be bound and helpless. Notwithstand-
IN. tn. reforms that have been adopted
in other directions. little has been done
toward breaking up the paving trust.
Tn 10 last November, according TO the
Official report of State Road Commits
sioner stevens. i.935.0S7 miles of road
had been built in New Jersey under the
state aid laws, ranging from "A little
more than five and one-half miles IN
Hudson to 221 miles In Burlington. ON
this work the contractors have pros
pcred.
Last winter the Hennessy committee.
which invss tigated road conditions in
the state. reported that circumstances
relating to contracts for bituminous con-
crete pavements point plainly to a con-
spiracy against the public interest
whereby excessive prices w-re exacted
for patented pavements both by the
Essex county authorities and the OFF,
Gals Of the city of Newark"
II appeared, according to the report.
that bitulithic was specified In Newark
and w%arrenite in Essex county. The
committee found evidence that the two
companies owning these materials were
50 related that all competition in the
contracts had been eliminated.
Many competent witnesses testified
that "au unpatented pavement of the
bituminuus concrete type two inches
thick. which was the thickness of the
warrenite pavement laid in the county.
could be and had been frequently laid
elsewhere at a price not exceeding 90
cents a square yard. The price paid by
Essex county for w%arrenite on the
Pomp,on Turnpik was sl.3l. which APP
Piled to about 10000 yards OF material"
Under open specifications about $50. 900
would have been saved to the county on
this one job.
Conditions In Essex are typical OF
those existing In most OF the other
counties. Her, in Mercer. for instance.
members Of the Board OF Frceholders
admit that they are paying 90 cents a
ton for stone from the same quarry
that IL furnishing IL to contractors at
10 cents. and In some instances as low
* 80 cents a ton and they excuse
themselves by saying that they cannot
buy II for less.
Mayor Smalley of North Plainield,
who Is interested in a stone quarry. tes-
titled before the Heunessy committee
that there is "A combination of traprock
quarrtes to maintain prices Of stone for
road building and other prices that he
was in the combination. and that I'VE
formed a combination together and regu-
i. lated prices for IL and put II on "A busi-
/. ness level. and We have been doing II
ever since. and we are going to keep IL
up as long as we can"
The testimony was given nearly two
d, years after the seven sisters" acts were
=. passed. one OF the Sisters the first.
was IAN act to define trusts and to pro-
vide for criminal penalties and punish
ment of corporations. firms and persons
and to promote free competition in com
merce and all classes of business"
A trust is defined as "A combination OF
agreement between corporations. firms
or persons, any two or more Of them. for
. certain purposes, among which We're fix.
ing lat any standard or figure whereby
the price to the public or consumer shall
in any manner Ice controlled on any ar.
: tiCle or commodity OF merchandise. prod
ice or commerce intended for sale. us.
! or consumption in this State or else.
? where"
Other purposes declared to be illegal
l and iudictable were making any agree
mcnt by which was precluded a free and
? unrestricted competition agong them.
: selves or any purchasers or consumers
= and making any secret oral agreement
: or arriving at an understanding withou,
express agreement. by Which unre.
stricted competition among themselve.
was preCludcd and any article or COM
modify sold at IA fixed price. Violation
Of this lister act IS made "A mlsde-
meanor.
The second sister makes Il a mlsde.
meanor for any person, firm, corporation
or association engaged in the production
4 or manufacture OF ANY commodity OF
general use, or rendering any service &c
I the public, to discriminate between DIFF
fcrent persons, firms, associations or cor
= rorations, or different sections, com,
= munities or cities Of the state. by selling
such commodity or rendering such ser
vice at "A lower rate In one section, com
. munity or city than another .
{ Z the effect or intent thereof is to estah
I l'Sh or maintain a virtual monopoly
htnderlng competition or restriction o.
trade"