Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1921-01-12
WINS
UTILITY TILT
Attempt to Have Governor Eat
His Own Words Fail, Tren-
ton Observers Point Out.
THE SCENE is SHIFTED
Next Action in State Board
Fight to be Taken by G. o.
P. at Atlantic City.

TRENTON, Jan 12-Those who
are following the different ramifi-
cations of the utility board contro-
versy. in which is very much bound
up the question of a ten cent trolley
fare in New Jersey. are now turning
their eyes toward Atlantic City,
where on Saturday there is to be a
session of the Republican legisla-
tive joint committee on party pro-
gram for the session. The meet
ing is scheduled for the Marlbor-
gh-Blenheim and the COMMITTEES
Of senator's and assemblymen will
be the guests of Senator Charles d.
| White, of Atlantic county. The big
subject for conference Is whether
it is best to take the appointments
to the utility board out of the hands
Of Governor Edwards and vest this
power in the hands of the courts.
Other matters Will be taken up on
Saturday too. bu, the utility board
question will overshadow them all.
BY a. vote of twelve to eight
the state senate yesterday afternoon
refused to take up the governors
nominations to the utility commits
sion. The Democrats were support
er in their votes for immediate
action BIZ Ruryon. of Union, Bright
of Cape May, and the new Essex
senator, Perry. Senator Whitney
Republican, of Morris. who has
been voting with the minority for
action on the nominations. voted
With his own party against taking
them up yesterday. ts
The Edwards administration was
today awaiting the next assault OF
the Republican senate majority,
after having yesterday, at the open
ing of. the lefislAture vanaushed
the majority of the upper House,
when 1t ATTEMPTED to chastisef the
governor for his recent statement,
charging that "malign and invisible
influences" are at work in the utii-
ity board. muddle.
The attempt upon the part OF the
O. o. P. leaders to make Mr.. Ed
wards eat his own words, so to
speak. can be described as nothing
less than complete failure. At
ter, adopting a resolution naming a
committee of three senators to wait
upon the executive to explain his
reference to the courts as being un-
der the "malign and invisible in
fluences'' the committee. Senator'S
Mackay and Case, Republicans. and
CilARcOI@ lCiAOltd dtf Cdl4Fu uHOH
Edwards but failed to get what it
went after What cause the flurry
was this part af the recent Ed
wards statement:
Then the plan is to remove the
power of appointment of the COM
missioners from the governor and
vest it in certain members of our
courts who are believed to be un-
der the influence of these inter-
ests.''
The senators on the Republican
side charged in the debate ON the
senate floor that this was an as
persion upon the integrity of the
New Jersey courts. The reply from
the Democratic side through Sena-
tors Simpson and Brown was thRt
the governor was. not making the
charge. he was simply stating what
was srumored. When the commit
tee called on Mr.. Edwards. the two
Republican members said they did
not want to- cross examine him.
The. resolution had recited that
what he had charged against the
courts was a matter for impeach-
ment proceedings, ii true. and they
wanted to know the names OF the
court members he. had in mind.
II don't believe these rumors," :"
said the governor to the committee.
will you name the members of
the court" asked Senator Markag,
who is Republican senate leader.
"What do you think am" shot
back the executive.
You don't want the governor to
make any libelous statements. de-
clared the Denaoeratic member of
the committee. Nj. Simpson. Then
the governor made statement. iii
which he said:
First, l want to say to You, the
article stands for itself. 1t is a mat
ter of common knowledge that
masses Of our people are of the be-
lief that the courts generally art
subjeet to corporate influence and
control If you ask me whether 0r
not have ever said that Auch is
the condition. / can say to you that
have not, nor does the article. in
my Judgment. fairly IMPLY that
Some persons. for ~their own pur- !
poses. have put upon the article
construction which 1t will not bear.
viz. that / believe that the courts
are subject to that influence or
control"
Then the special committee, after
the EoNcfnVF ItiHluutu Tic Hit&u0ti5
of their responsibility 10 give the
slate d public utility board Withdrew
and returned to. the senate and
asked that his statement Of expla-
nation be spread in full upon the
minutes. thus ending the tempest in
teapot.
The resolution appointing the
committee to. wait upon the COVER
nor was passed bf a vote of Is to s.
one Republican. Bright OF Cape May
voting with the Democrats against
IT. The debate on the Republican
side was from Maekay and Case.
who con.ended that the Governor
might attack the senate for not act
ing on the utility board appoint
ments al he wants. but he should
not criticiso the courts Of New
Jersey.
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