Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-03-11
City Officials Make Charges Of
Wide Open Lobbying in
Senate Chambers.
ON SENATE MEASURE 232
Plan State Wide Campaign to
Have the Bill Killed When
1t is Taken Up in the
Assembly for Action.
ON SENATE MEASURE 23z

heard in the senate chamber at
Trenton yesterday afternoon con-
ming the passage of senate bill
NO. 1872, Mayor Ferd Garretson,
members of the Board of Aldermen
and City Attorney Andrew ]. Wight
are today preparing for state wide
campaign against the measure. AS
announced, it was passed by the
close vote of eleven to ten in the SEN
ate yesterday and then only after it
had been amended to include cities
of the first class So-called lobbying
was done openly on the senate floor
by Senator Read. He endeavored to
persuade senators, as their names
were called for votes, city officials
say. In one instance senator's
name was called six times, he having
refused to vote at first. According
to one alderman of this city, parlia-
mentary laws were violated more
openly than he had ever seen done
before at meeting of public repre-
sentatives.
Think Bill Will Die in Assembly.
While there have come assurances
from Senator William E. Ramsay,
Assemblyman Arthur A. Quinn, other
legislators and authorities, that the
bill will be killed in the assembly be-
cause of the amendment city officials
are not SO sure. Actuated by the
treatment they have been accorded
the past few days, they state, they
are going ahead with more vigilance
than ever to fight the bill in the as
sembly. Under this move they as
efsa sea hfed f this morning and arranged
to send letter and newspaper. clip
pings to assemblymen, mayors gen.
orally about the state and to leading
newspapers.
They contend that the measure is
vicious In that it would place the
complete control Of public utilities
throughout the state In the hands of
the Board Of Public Utility Commits
sfoners. Mr.. Read denied this to Mr.
Wight and others yesterday He de-
clared that the bill had not been In
troduced by him at the request of
Public Service interests and he in
formed Mr.. Wight that 1t was not as
vicious as he, Mr.. Wight, thought II
was. The latter said others thought
otherwise and the city was greatly
opposed to it. Mr.. Read is quoted by
Mr.. Wight and aldermen as stating
that the bill was intended only to en-
able the utility commissioners to
govern the price that Camden should
charge adjoining municipalities for
water supplied.
Misunderstanding, Says Re nsay.
According to DR.. Ramsay there
seemed to have been a misunder-
standing between City Attorney
Wight and Senator Read relative to
the number of the bill opposed by
the city and the time when Mr..
Wight. should appear at Trenton. The
Middlesex senator states that Mr.. |
Read understood it was bill No. 233I
that the city officials wanted a hear
Ing on. That will probably be given |
a hearing next week, when Wood |
bridge township will be represented. |
Both Mr.. Wight and Assemblyman |
Quinn are emphatic that Mr.. Read |
was given to understand that 1t was
bill No. 232 in which the city was
most vitally interested. Mr.. Wight |
saw him write the number on his, |
Wfght's. card. DR.. Ramsay said he
understood that Mr.. Read had asked |
Mr.. Wight to be on hand at Trenton
yesterday morning and after wait
of some time, when he was not seen.
action on the bill was started. Mr..
Wight denies that he had any such
understanding. He was to have been
Informed by Senator Ramsay when
he was wanted. He called up DR..
Ramsay yesterday morning to ascer-
tain conditions. Another call from
Or. Ramsay followed and in response
to this the city's delegation hurried
to the legislative chambers.
When the Perth Amboy represent
atives, Mayor Garretson. Aldermen
John j. Clark, William c. Wilson and
+. William Hilker. together with
Engineer Runyon, of Runyon G.
Carey, arrived at Trenton, the sena-
tors were acting on the bill In ques-
ton. City Attorney Wight had start
ed out from New Brunswick, whereas
The others left Metuchen by train.
upon arriving at Tren-
ton, Mr. Wight hurried out on the
senate floor to confer with Senator
Read. He said to Mr.. Read that he
thought he, Read. was going to give |,
he city hearing. Mr. Read said 1t ,
vas not necessary, for he contended /
hat the bill was not as vicious as $
Continued on page A. II
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