Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1921-02-02
Adopt WaIIWorth Measure
Providing for New Board
by Vote of II to 7.
HEAR TALK OF A DEAL
Would Create New Board to
be Named by Governor,
Consisting of 3 Members.
BY Special Correspondent.

BY Special Correspondent.
TRENTON, Feb BY a vote
of eleven to seven the senate yester-
day passed the Wallworth bill.
which will create new Public
Utility Commission OF three MEM
bers to be appointed by the governor
at $4,000 a year each. The Demo-
Gratis in the senate opposed the bill
and were Joined on the roll call by
Senators Bright of Cape May. and
Parry of Essex. Republicans. This
combination also worked in vain
for an amendment which would in
clude the clause to give the gov
ernor the power to remove the
be ard members whenever the chief
executive might deem such a step
right and proper. The bill will
come up. for consideration in the
House of Assembly probably next
week, as it has now cleared the sem
ate. 1t provides for six year terms
for each commissioner, although
serve for two and four years respec-
lively.
Senator Simpson. Democrat, of
Hudson. presented the amendment
inserting the clause giving the gov
ernor the right to remove the
board and it provoked the most
spirited part of the debate on the
bill. 1t was opposed by the bills
sponsor. Mr.. Walworth- Two Re-
publican senator's, Sturgess, of
Gloucester. and Reeves of Cumber-
land. refused to vote for the bill
on final roll call. There is talk in
some quarters that deal of some
kind is on behind the measure and
it is believed the attitude of these
two senator's was Influenced by this
talk.
1.-The public wants the utility
board removed from politics. said
Mr.. Wallworth opposing Simpsons
amendment. This bill is an hon
est and sincere attempt to take it
out, but the removal clause will
destroy the real merit of the BILL"
This amendment is no attack
upon any of the proposed boards
functions" replied Simpson. I'm
less there is some check upon this
body you may create a Franken-
stein, a board that you cannot
stop"
Senator Parry, Republican, of
Essex. also urged the adoption of
the Simpson amendment. Are you
going to allow this board to func-
ton for six years without removal.
except by impeachment. This board
deals with questions affecting every
trolley rider and every consumer of
gas and electricity. There should
DC check upon i:, but no governor
would dare to remove its member
ship so long as it did its duty"
How about the old highway
commission" broke in Senator
Case of Somerset, cit had very good
citizens in it's makeup
The former. highway commission
was removed by Governor Edwards
last summer under the provision
giving him this power in the act
creating that board. No response
to Cases point was made.
The governor made a promise
before he was elected to remove the
utility board" stated Republican
Leader MacKay. I'VE all know that
he was duty bound to keep that
promise. But he was not fit man
to act as the judge of the boards
fitness, having made that pre-elec-
tion promise. That Is an example OF
how politics enters this situation re-
specting the utility commission.
1T is idealistic to think that this
board can be removed from poll
tics" was one of the comments
from Senator Runyon, of Union.
Democratic Leader Kays offered
an amendment making the term of
the new board members seven years
instead of six. 1t was voted down.
He held the longer they would serve
the more proficient they would be-
come in their duties.
1t is known that the bill has the
backing of Republican State Chair
man Stokes. at least, if not the Re-
publican state committee, which re-
Gently declared for a high class
commission on a par with the ju-
dietary. In passing the measure,
Senator Simpson said the senate
Republicans were putting them
selves in the same position as Gov
ernor Edwards, namely that they
did not recognize that any other
utility board existed or that an ap-
peal is pending before the errors
court. Heretofore the senate ma
iority has refused to act on the gov
ernor's nominations upon the
ground that the courts had not de-
cided whether the governor had
legally and constitutionally remov-
ed the old board.
The Wallworth Bill is expected
to pass the House and then ii will
go to Mr.. Edwards, who has said he
will accept no compromise.