Omaha daily bee., 1915-03-08
BLAME BERGE AND
BRYAN FOR DEFEAT
Hall Railway Measures Falling by
Wayside Attributed in Part
to These Two Men.
THEY CALL IT PERN1C1oUs
CFrom a star Correspondentl


LINCOLN, March Especial. -
The defeat by the house Of II. r
207, known as the bill fathered and
sponsored by Thomas L. Hall. rail
way commissioner, is laid at the
door OF many, but none more so than
those sturdy followers Of President
Wilson and his policies, Charles w.
Bryan and George W. Berge.
Probably no two men in Liaeoln, and
in the state, for that matter, have ad-
vocated holding up the hands Of the
president" more than have Mr.. Bryan
and Mr.. BerEe. They fought the bin
fathered by Mr.. Hail. because II was
placing in the hands Of the state Rail-
way commission power that they should
not have.
Points Ont Hall.
In fact, Mr. BerRe, in a public address
in Lincoln a week ago with Mr. Hall
sitting in the audience. pointed his fin
ger at that official and charged him with
trying TO bring about legislation that
was ''pernicious." and lot of other
things, which could not be found in
express what Mr. Berge desired TO say.
Mr. Bryan likewise made an attack
on the bill and was frequently In consul
tattio with democratic leaders in the
house. urging the defeat Of II. r. 2O7, be-
cause OF its pernicious tendencies.
While strong In their denunciation OF
any democrat. who will not follow in the
path prepared by President Wilson, II
might be well for these men TO look
hack little ways and see how President
Wilson stood on the same proposition
which they are charging In ''pernicious
and giving power 20 a commission which
II should not have
Provisions of bill.
The bill known as II. r. 2O7, which
Mr.. Berge and Mr.. Bryan say is per
nicious," provided that
NO person. firm, partnership. associa-
ton or corporation shall zegin thu con-
struction or contract. or put in opera
tion any plant system. etc etc. without
Sirst securing permission Of the Ne
braska state Railway commission"
when President Wilson was candi-
date for the presidency one of the strong
points made in his campaign was the
ope regarding his great public utility law
which he had passed when he was gov
ernor Of New Jersey. BY referring 20 the
laws OF New Jersey and that portion COW
ering the powers OF its commission hav-
ing In charge the same duties as tho Ne
braska commission. the law reads;
"The board shall have general super
vision and regulation OF. jurisdiction and
control over. all public utilities, and also
over their property, property rights.
equipment. facilities and franchises so far
as may be necessary for the purpose OF
carrying out the provisions OF this act.
Definition os Term.
The term public utility n hereby de-
fined to include every Individual. oopart-
nerahip. association. corporation or joint
stock company. their lesees. trlhstees or
receivers appointed by any court whatso-
ever that now or may hereafter own,
operate. manage or control within the
state OF New Jersey any steam railroad.
street railway, traction railway. canal,
express. subway. pipe line. gas, electric
light. heat. power. water. oil. sewer. telo-
phone and telegraph SYSTEM plant or
equipment for public use. under PRIVILEGES
granted or hereafter to be granted by the
state of New Jersey or any political sub
division thereof"
The above section will be found on
page ST6 Of the session laws OF New Jer-
sey for the year 1911.
At another place in the same laws will
be found in chapter lsS. page SsA section
"A. the following;
Must Ne Approved.
sFNya r,rtxyiia0a or feannhfaa haraa ffar
granted to any public utility az herein de-
fined. by any political subdivision OF this
state. shall be valid until approved by
said board. such approval to be given
when. after hearing. said board deter
mines that such privilege or franchise is
necessary and proper for the public con-
veniece and properly conserves the pub
lie interests, and the board shall have
power in so approving 10 impose such
conditions as to construction. equipment.
maintenance. service or operation as the
public convenience and interests may
reasonably require"
II the To mHali bill was "pernicious
and gave greater powers to a commits
sion than Il should have" In Nebraska,
what kind OF a word would define the
powers given 10 like commission In New
Jersey under the above law written and
fathered by President Wilson when gov
ernor OF that state2
The law as proposed IN the deceased e0i
and the one authorized by President VIII.
son are nearly alike. but differ only in
one regard. that the powers given the
New Jersey commission are more PERM
oious' than 2OT dared to give,