Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-10-04

TRENTON, Oct. 4-Pubic uuEty
featured the Republican
state convention here yesterday.
The following platform was ADOPT
ed:
We, the lawfully constituted mem
bers of the convention OF the Repup-
lican party, duly assembled. present
our record and make our pledges to
the voters of u state.
Candidates
The Republican party Is the party
of constructive achievement as OPP
posed to the opportunism of the De-
mocratic party. This ATTITUDE is que
lare civ to the constructive states
manship of our public men In their
official capacity, from Lincoln TO
Harding. In keeping with this his
toric characteristic of the personnel
of our standard bearers. we advo-
cate the election of Joseph s. FIRE.
lin for United States sena-
tor. and William N. Runyon for gov
error. With equal confidence we m
wife the support of the electorate
for our candidates for the House OF
Representatives at Washington and
the legislature of New Jersey.
Direct Primary
Believing in the American system
of party government, and that the
direct primary is the only agency
through which party organizations
may be made responsive to the
wishes of the people. we strongly ad-
vocate the upholding and continu-
arce of the present direct primary
law for hat purpose.
Public Utilities
The people of the entire state are
| intensely interested in the trolley
lines and the gas, electric and tele-
| phone companies, but as users and
as investors.
The public utilities should not
have the right first. to try their cases
| before the state Public Utilities Com
| mission, and then, to seek to try
| their cases anew before the federal
| courts on entirely different issues.
We therefore strongly the pass
| age of a federal act consistent with
| the federal constitution designed to
limit present authority of the lower
\ federal courts in this matter. The
problem is a state problem for the
determination of the Public Utilities
Commission, which should without
exception be composed of men OF the
highest character and attachments,
and the state courts, on principles
laid down in the Public Utilities act
and the decisions of the federal su-
preme court.
The values on which rates are
based should not be speculative val
use, such as good will. franchise
value, past deficits. development
costs, hypothetical brokerage fees,
deferred maintenance and other SIM
liar items, but actual values, as de-
fined in the decisions Of the courts
of New Jersey, and of the United
States supreme court. of which the
Galveston Electric Company. case
is the latest exposition. On the basis
of these decisions, the Public Utilities
act should state explicitly what
items the Public Utilities Commits
sioners should take into considera-
ton, and what items they cannon
take into consideration in valuins
the property of public utilities COM
panies.
The jurisdiction of the commission
should be extended to cover not only
al! utility holding companies, bu'
also all the companies hat supply
the public utilities, the products
which such public utilities furnls
to the public, to the extent of the
! Q6dlllko DGlWSSh $500
If any of the public utility companies
are over-capitalized on the basis O.
their valuation as thus found b.
the utility commissioners, their cap
ital should be reduced to conform Il
such valuation. The valuation 8
= found should be the basis lot onl,
for rate making, but also for lcca
taxing purposes. Such measures VII
not only conserve the interests Q
! legitimately invested capital whic
: is essential to the future expansio
of the public utility system of tn
v state, but will also safeguard tn
t interest of the consuming public an
should, under present conditions, re
v suit in substantial reductions in ga
n electric, trolley and other utilil
t rates.
Highways
r We recognize that modern har'
y surfaced roads are indispensable
our agricultural, commercial al
social life; we reaffirm IL pied!
:r to the people of a program Tor
l. early and economic completion OF o.
r. State Highway system and the IL
IL provement of our rural ROADS
,e tributaries thereto.
6 We condemn the Partially SHOW
Is by the present governor ana sta
n highway commission for certa
patented road materials, ana TO &c
D. tair favored contractors n plea
,h ourselves to correct this evil
" We pledge u representatives
:. the legislatures: first, to an amen
ment of the state and county &C
to permit state and counties TO !
. ceiye bids on several types of paV
---A H. Ala so manner that m
nicipalities do under the Municil
Is Home Rule act. and. secondly,
pledge them specifically to the pas
70 age of an act providing for OF
y; oompetitive specifications in no
work q. e., whenever a govern
=, hedy advertises for bids on a Pc
~ ented pavement, it must also a
- yertise for bids on a non-patent
;, payement of equivalent merit a
must award the contract to the 10
Of est bidder).
We further pledge ourselves
N the adoption of such engineerli
al construction and administrat.
of methods as will insure the comp
th ton of our roads at the earliest pc
r sible late without further waste
IN the taxpayers money and with
e. minimum of Inconvenience and q
comfort to the travelling puonc IL
% ing the progress of such work.
~ Bridge and Tunnel Commissio
is We especially commend the r
publican legislature o It's prom
and courageous action IN mann
IN efficient members to the New 9 GE,
a Interstate Bridge and Tunnel Co
I'd mission who have merited their q
i'd pcintment by restoring conhden
in the integrity of New Jerse
Of agreement with her sister states
al