The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-08
How They Are To Be Made to Bow the Knee
and Serve Their Masters.
A new LAW TO REGULATE PROFESSIONS
Devotees Of Agriculture Taking Hold Of
Railroad Questions and the Result.
THE SENATE REFUSES TO TAKE A RECESS.

Influences which have hitherto made them the
masters Of the people-at least the people Of New
YORK city-can be brought to bear this session SO
successfully as they have been in years past. The
Two bills introduced in the Assembly by Mr..
Ryan and Mr. Burns to-day have apparently, the
good Of the people at heart, but they
are not quite as comprehensive as they
they might be. Still, judging from what
I have heard on the subject, it Is
more toan likely that the committee to which they
were referred will make them broad enough and
allreaching enough to admit or no companys
escaping rom its provisions. Every one in New
York Is familiar with the
THOUSAND AND ONE ExroRTIoNs
daily practsed by the gas companies; how they
made Judge DAILY pay an enormous gas bill for gas
that was never consumed, while he was in Europe
and his house closed and untenanted; how, II any
consumer questions a bill he Is really sympathized
with, but made to "come down" just the same,
and how, when he refuses, he hnds the gas cut Off
from his house and discovers there is NO remedy
in law whatever to have justice done. The gas
companies wif doubtless spend plenty OF money
to defeat these bills In question and every other
bill that any well-intentioned legislator may at
80 introduce; but the dividing line in the gas ques
ton in the Legislature during the last year or two
has become very strongly Defined and
THE BRIBr-TAKERs AND THE HONEST MEN
can this year certainly be easily distinguished the
from the other. 1t Is high time in the opinion
OF many Of the leading members that the monop-
oily enjoyed by the companies, In New York espe-
cially, should be broken down. and measures taken
to prevent their growing SO strong in their cor
'ruptly acquired strength that they can no longer
hold the very people by the throat whose dollars
and cents are making them richer py millions
every year, will be found in good favor all Sides
Mr. Ryans bill requires that upon written
application for gas on the part OF the owner or
occupant OF any building within 200 feet OF
main laid down by any gas light company, and on
payment by him Of all money due to the company
the company must supply all the gas that may be
required, Notwithstanding that there may be
RENT OR COMPENSATION IN ARREARS FOR GAS
SUPPLIED,
or for the meter pipe, or fixtures furnished
60 former occupant IT. however,
q special agreement is made by the owner
or occupant with the former occupant,
then this provision Is not to be carried out. II,
sor the space Of ten days after the application in
writing above referred to Ia made, and the deposit
af required Of twenty five per cent above the esti-
mate OF the price Of gas that will be consumed by
the occupant until the first bin Is sent in by the
company, the companyrefuse or neglect TO supply
gas required, 1t shall forfeit and pay to the ap
plicant $50, and the further sum Of SIS for every
provides that
NO COMPANY SHALL RETAIN MORE THAN TWENTY
FIVE PER CENT DEPOSIT
above the amount of the bill for gas The COM
panies are also required, at their own expense to
lay service pipe In the inside Of any building
whose owner or occupant makes written notice
that he desires to be supplied with gas, provided
Of course, there is q main pipe within 200 feet
OF the building. The request must be complied
vvffh 6ua ofeo fho To
The companies are also compelled to pay interest
On the deposits, and to give at least two days.
notice before cutting OF the gas from any house.
Every report and statement made by its employees
who take the index OF the gas meters must be
sworn to before notary public, commissioner Of
deeds or Justice OF the peace. Mr.. Burns bill pro-
EVERY COMPANY SHALL MAKE AN ANNUAL REPORT
TO THE COMPTROLLER
OF the State. They must state in the report the
amount Of their capital stock, incomes and profits
from all sources, dividends, shares and extra
shares OF stock issued certincstes OF
na the ana a asS a. other S
assets. In addition to this they are re.
CURED 70 q, state the amount they may have
works, the sum expended for taxation upon in
come and all expenditures OF any other nature or
kind whatever. The report must be sworn to by
the President, Secretary and Treasurer Of the COM
pany, before some offcer duly authorized to ad-
minister oaths within the State. IT, in the opinion
OF the Comptroller the report is net specific
enough he Is empowered by the bill to compel
them them TO make and nile an amended report: II any
fined net less than $500 nor more than
1000 .or be imprisoned Tor six months, or be
the Comptroller every February to report to the
ATTORNEY General on the 2oth of February such
der that he may prosecute the ofncers, the Presi.
dent, secretary and Treasurer.
VERY QUEER BILL
Is that OF Mr.. Snyder regulating parades and pro.
cessoA II cities. IL prohibits the marching OF a
procession IN any street where there is railroad
track, and whenever procession passes across a
met WITH the paradcrs are to be compelled
particulars this bill would work wonderful deal
OF COED, but as there Is now q law on the statute
beck, passed only as late as last Winter, which
gives professions In New York half way rights on
street and leaves the other half for vehicles an
cars generany' and requires them to march In col
umns Of foor- and further puts them under the Ill.
rection Of the Police Commissioner as to
. WHAT STREETS THEY CAN PASS THROUGH,
It Is very hard TO see the necessity OF this new
bill. II only stirs up strife that put to sleep,
II not smothered to death last year. and therefore
give the travelling public Of other cities the same
protection now guaranteed to New York by the law
90 amend the Jaw as to make II general IN its 70
cation, and then every city In the State would
enjoy the same benefits OF the law which the me.
tropolis now alone knows how TO appreciate.
Mr.. blessings bill to compel
THE EIGHTH AVENUE RAHRoAD COMPANY
TO charge only six cents fare from any part OF New
York city to Manhattanville Is, in the opinion OF
many lawmakers who live up town on the west side
very righteous one. The company now.chargc five
cents TO Fiftynlnih street, and then i've cents for
any distance further; while the Third Avenue Com
pany charge emily six cents from Vesey street to
harlem bridge. large number. OF the poorer
classes have to travel over the Eighth Avenue road
ABOVE Toe Park, and the extra 1--WE cents fare
Charged comes very hard on them. Besides the |
GOmpany,have legal right 10 charge IL ut all.
line bill wall certainly pass.
MI Camp5ell's bill prohibiting
ALL HORSE RAILROAD COMPANIES IN NEW YORK
hom iayme more Than one double track In any one |
s.ree., ana compelling the Commissioner OF Public |
,orks 70 Al pnce take up the 'surplusr tracks In
& nose streets where there are now more than one |
ia uble trzck ls.a peculiar one. No doubt the bone
hu ntcrs Wal nave hand IN 1t II it ever gets
the House, cnt am inclined TO think that II never
will
M p Herson. from Albany, the great and mad
look out on the hudson and Central Railroad shin
and VINO always mas