Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-12-31
DISMISS CASE
AGAINST STATE
UTILITY BOARD
At Same Time Governor Runyon
Makes Some Direct Comments
CALIBRE OF men HINTED AT
Also Size of Commission En-
ters in Runyon's Discussion
of The Situation

I
TRENTON, Dec. 31.-Although dis
missing the charges against the Board
of Public Utility Commissioners to-
day, charges which had been pre-
ferred by the Town of Montclair, sew
eral months back, Governor William
N. Runyon took occasion to make
some very direct comments anent the
Utility Board, with especial respect to
the calibre of some of its personnel
and also the size of the commission.
While declaring the entire board is
absolved apparently of any wrong IN
ordering the zone system of fares put
into effect upon the lines of the Pub
lie Service Railway Company last fall,
the matter which caused Montclair
to ask Mr.. Runyon to remove the
members of the board, and while
stating his belief in the honesty of all
the members, he makes 1t very plain
In his decision that he considers some
of them unfit for their positions.
81 am. therefore. free to say" says
the Governor in his decision, that if
the absolute power of removal were
mine, / should exercise that power
at least to the extent OF removing
from said board those whom / con
sidered unfit, and replacing them with
men whose honesty would be coupled
with notable ability; to the end that
the public should know that their
hands"
The decision mentions no names in
this connection.
The next intersecting declaration
of Mr.. Runyon is his intention, as
member of the next State Senate, to
introduce a bill restoring the commits
sion to its former membership of
three.
THE legislature has the power to
protect the public interest by abol-
ishing the existing commission and
creating a news one" Mr.. Runyon
states. while / voted in the Senate
for the bill which added two mem
bers to the original board of three
members. / did so in the belief that
the public interest and volume of
business demanded such additional
members. 1 no longer believe that
to be the case. but am convinced that
three members are amply sufficient
for the proper transaction of the bust
ness of the board.
while / am thus constrained by
the considerations herein set forth TO
dismiss the charges against the Com
miSSioners filed by the town officials
of Montclair, / do not hesitate to re-
affirm my opinion that the public has
lost confidence in this Commission and
l hereby state that as member OF
the State Senate at the coming ses-
duce q bill abolishing the existing
commission of five men and substitut-
ing new commission OF three"
The foregoing was made after the
decision said the present board had
lost public confidence, which took
away its usefulness. 1t is unfortunate
in day Of rising prices and where
any move or decision which the public
conceives to be unjust rendered by
hn6V which Of
adds to the general discomfort.
For some of tho members of the
board ] have great respect" then con-
tinued Mr.. Runyon. II believe thor
oughly In their honesty and know
them to be possessed of large ability;
ability commensurate with the import
ance Of their high office. That they
have given OF their best 1 am Ger
tain. Equally am 1 certain that if all
members of the board were of like
calibre and reputation for learning
and ability the public would have
been more inclined to accept their
findings philosophically and give
them q fair trial. But unfortunately
certain members of the Board have
place in their office. / will grant that
they are honest and sincere. but their
unf1tness is so marked, that every
member of the board. able and in
competent alike, has been made to
suffer. And with the present mem
bership of the board maintained
without a break, conditions will not
improve"
The five members of the Utility
Board whom Mr.. Runyon today ex-
onerated of the Montclair charges
are: John w. Slocum. Long Branch,
president: Alfred 8. March, New
Brunswick; George F. Wright, Pater-
son; Andrew J. Gaul, Jr., Englewood, |
Bergen County, and Harry L. Knight. |
of Medford, Burlington county. The |
last two named were appointed by
Governor Edge last spring, sometime |
after the commissions membership |
had been increased to five. All the |
members are Republicans except Mr.. |
Slocum, who was appointed by Gov
ernor Fielder.
CONTINUED On page 81