Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-10-20
UTILITY BOARD I
ACTION IS OFF
UNTIL NOV. 8
State Senate Adjourns With
cut Taking Action One Way
or the Other on Governors
Move.
CALL ATTORNEY GENERAL
viii Commence Quo Warranto
Proceedings to Show Why
Old Board Should Function
BODY ADOPTS RESOLUTION
Legality of Edwards Move
Will be Investigated City
Has 2 or No Utility Boards
CALL ATTORNEY GENERAL
BODY ADOPTS RESOLUTION

BY Special Correspondent.
TRENTON, Oct. Ex-Governor
Edwards issued the following state.
ment today:
THE Republican senate acted yes
terday quite as was expected.
Contrary to custom prevailing for
ninety years past the legislature of
1920 did net adjourn when it had
the business before it in the spring
OF the year. 1t was kept alive meet.
ing from time to time for the pur-
pose of being on hand to protect the
Republican party and its beneficial
ries from what might be construed
unfavorable action by a Democratic
governor"
One of the chief beneficiaries of
mat party Is the traction interests of
this state and yesterday the senate
gave ample proof of the spirit of
partisanship and desire to protect
corporate interests which have actu-
ated it by refusing to confirm the
nominations made by the governor
TO I'LL the vacancy in the utility board
caused by the removal of the, for
mer members of that board for neg.
lect OF duty. That partisan spirit
was carried so far as to prevent the
nomination of member of that
board to fill a vacancy which had
been caused by the resignation of a
former member of the board That
appointment was not connected with
the removal of the other members in
any way. No objection was made to
the personnel of the appointee.
For the first time in my experi-
ence the senate has failed to act
Immediately on the confirmation OF
former member of that body.
ut is not my purpose, however.
to sit calmly by and await the pleas.
ure of the senate in the premises.
| propose having. an application
made the attorney general for
leave to file an information In his
name against the former members of
the utility board and to request the
attorney general to allow the cour,-
sci who prosecuted charges before
me to act in the name of the state
in the quo warranto suit. / am sure
the attorney general will do every
thing to expedite the settlement Of
the question and l hope it Will be
possible to obtain a special session
OF the supreme court for the pur-
pose fhaving the matter immedi-
ately determined"
The counsel who prosecuted the
trial for Jersey City were George L.
Record and Marshall Van Wrinkle,
both of Jersey City.
By Special Correspondent.
TRENTON, Oct. 20-Action upon
the governors appointments to the
new Public Utility Commission is off
| until Nov. 8, so far as the state sem
ate is concerned. That body adj
wit IN II fftp q
definite step either toward confirma-
ton or rejection of the five men
whose names Mr.. Edwards sent to
the senators for consideration.
In the meantime. however, 1t Is
confidently believed that Attorney
General McCran will commence quo
warranto proceedings compelling
tho old utility board to show by
what right it continues to exercise
the functions of that body in view of
the governors action in ousting the
members. The senate adopted res
olution requesting the states legal
| officer to take such steps and to in
stitute such proceedings as in his
! judgment are appropriate to have
determined the legality of the gov
ernor's action In removing Messrs.
Slocum. Wright. Gaul and knight.
The resolution recited in part that
''There exists a grave legal doubt
as to the power of the governor to
| declare the terms of the present
members of the Board of Public
! Utility Commissioners at an end, and
to send to the senate the aforesaid
nominations to fill the alleged vacan-
cies."
'I will at once examine the ques-
| tiOns involved" said the attorney
| general when notified of the pas
sage of the resolution,'t after which
! will, with all convenient speed,
| institute an appropriate proceeding.
/ as requested by the senate, in order
| that the court may pass upon the
matter"
The attorney general held a short
confab with the governor late yes
! terlay afternoon, presumably to lis
cuss the quo warranto proceedings
to be taken against the board which
Mr. Edwards ousted and which re-
/ fuses to give up office. Earlier in
/ the day, Mr.. McCran was closeted
with the Republican members of the
| senate and it is understood he in
| formally advised that under the
Pritchard decision in the supreme
Continued on page ~
ItaFan Club Meeting Tonight
An important meeting of the