Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-01-08
Republican Leaders Discuss
Wisdom of Taking Away
important Power.
ACTION is WANTED
Public Utility Commission Ap-
pointments Subject of Dis
cussi0n at Conferences.
BY Special Correspondent.

Dy SpcCidi correspondent.
TRENTON, Jan. S-Republican
leaders have not yet decided as to
the wisdom of taking from the Of
fee of governor the appointments
to the Public Utility Board. There
were indications of that here yes
terday in the informal discussions
among members of the G. o. z.
state committee which met to go
over party affairs. All are agreed
that action should be taken to put
the utility board upon a higher
plane, but two schools of thought
exist as to changing the appointing
power from the governor to some
ether official, such as the chief JUS
tice or the chancellor. The state
committee discussed the matter be-
hind closed doors and it was an
nounced that the following resolu-
ton had been passed:
1T is the sense of the committee
that the Public Utility Commission
be raised to the dignity of a court
to the end that its decisions may be
founded upon facts and justness
and not upon political expediency
and we recommend that the legis-
lature enact laws to that end"
There is growing feeling among
some of the party leaders that eff
fcrts to take the appointing power
ont of the hands of Governor Ed
wards, who removed the old COM
mission as the result of the trolley
fare controversy, might be regard
ed by the public as showing ten
dency toward the corporations.
This feeling is somewhat reflected
in a state ment on the subject today
from State Chairman E. c. Stokes.
In this he says he believes that the
power TO remove the commissioners.
except by a cour. of impeachment
which is provided for the judiciary,
should be stricken from the Public
Utilities Act.
When asked if.the plan of taking
appointments out of politics had
been formulated, Mr.. Stokes said 1t
had not been decided upon. His
statement today does not say how
it should be done. and when this
was called to his intention. he de-
clared that is a matter for the leg
islators to decide. But he wanted
it understood that the Republican
party is not supporting the old COM
mission. which Governor Edwards
removed.
'sThe Republican party is making
no claim for patronage or for Of
flee in connection with the Public
Utility Commission" said the for
mer governor. The party. however.
-, a
matter of public policy and desires
a statesmanlike adjudication of this
problem. 1t is time that public
were entirely removed from
politics.
"The function of the commission
is judicial and not political and the
commission should be raised to the
dignity of a court with the proper
length of term where it could act
independently. base its decisions en-
tirely upon justice and right without
political favor or fear.
''rhe courts of New Jersey stand
second to none among the states OF
the Union. The Public Utility Com
mission should occupy the same
high position and command the
same public respect in its partic-
ular field and should not be drag
ged in the mire of political maneu-
yering. l believe the people want
this matter taken entirely out of po-
litical control. 1t is only fair TO
the bar of the state that when they
appear before this body they should
have confidence to believe that their
clients, be they the public or the
corporations. would have a fair
hearing and a decision based upon a
proper consideration of the facts
and conditions involved. No man
wants his case tried before a politi-
cal tribunal and no mans case
should be tried in America before a
political tribunal.
personally, have never favored
the policy of giving the governor the
power of removal. 1t is unfair to
ask the governor to exercise such
power. and it is utterly unjust to
subject any official serving the pub
lie to risk his reputation by being
for political reasons.
Every man is entitled-even a GRIM
inal-to a fair trial before his peers
and public officials under our Amer
lean system should be removed by
trial where they can
have their day in court.
mo matter who makes the ap-
pointment of these officials, whether
1t be the governor or someone else,
they are judicial officers and should
have the same rights so far as re-
moval from Office Is concerned as
does a judge of the court. The main
question involved in this problem
for the benefit of the state at large
Is to have this commission free
from political control. 1 believe
the people will regard this policy
as wise"