New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-14
THE RAILWAY COMMISSION BILL
A HEARING BEFORE THE GOVERNOR.
ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE BILL-srEEcHEs
BY SIMON sTERNE. AssEMBLYMAN BAKER AID


Is
OTHERS
fPkoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEl
ALBANY, June 13.-GOvernor Cornell gave a
hearing to-day on Assemblyman Bakers Rail
road Commission bill Tho hearing was
held in the = Governors large room.
At the left OF the Governor there were grouped the
friends Of the bill, including Assemblyman Baker,
Simon Sterne, and the leaders OF the Autobiography
party that has pushed the BILL f. b. Thurber, L. T.
Chttendep Ambrose snow and others from all parts Of
the state On the opposite side OF the seated
those opposed to the bill including General John h.
RathbOne, OF Albany O. ". Allen, Of Auburn; exSens
tor Theodore NJ. Pomeroy, OF Auburn; sen
ator Dennis Mccarthy, Of the dry goods firm
Of Dennis Mccarthy Co.. of SYRACUSE and many others
At meeting Of the merchants opposing the bill this
morning C. A. Burt, a produce dealer Of Newark, was
elected secretary at salary OF 81 900 yearly The mer
chants have formed an association to DO known as The
NewYork State Manufacturers, Merchants aud Prodno
ors' Association"
AdGison c. Miller representing several cotton and
wooen mills made the first and chief argument against
the bill He maintained that the bill unconstiln-
tonal It was subversive Of the right OF the people to
select their own officers. The Legislature cannot
delegate it's power the general conduct OF the rail-
roads, rid itself of tho responsibilities OF LEGISLATION
The granting of the privilege To appoint one comns
soncr TO associations in NewIors was also Voia
ton Of tho constitution The speaker then reviewed the
and farmers TO their meeting at syracuse last Thurs
day They believed that they would suffer injury under Ae
operation OF the bill The farmers, he maintained,
would be injured rather than benefited by the b be-
com ne law. The bill did not secure non partisan
commission.
Assemblyman Charles 8. Baker, in defence Of the bib
said in part This bill in the interest Of every one
who uses the railroads OF the state. These Commits
soners have power to fix rates. They are to keep
themselves informed simply whether or not the railroads
conform their charters IL there anything wrong ia
hati submit there il not. These commissioners have
no power except TO investigate and make public abuses
In the interest OF the millions who will be benefited by
| this law we ask that It be signed"
L. f. Chiitcnden the next advocate OF the BILL SAID
that the ar nents against it showed that tho bill had
not been read. They fighting objections which did
| not exist
| F. H. Thurber described the agitation in favor
| OF Railway Commission, especially drawing
the Governors attention to his own words
on the subject in bis annual messages
He said that the only name he had heard mentioned AZ
probabe choice OF the New-York city bodies, in the
event Of bill becoming law. was that Of an honest
and independent citizen living IN the interior 81 the
state. Henry l.. Dusuid member of the old Hepburn
| Committee. argued that railway commission "Ou'd
people Farley jr. OF Rochester said that the mil,
ers Of Rochester had no fault to ind at preset oul
ago aud therefore desired railroad commission To
SIMON sterne argued that the bill constitutional.
He quoted reply to Mr. Miller, decision o the Court
of ADpcas which he said gave the Governor right 10
make apDointmeuts of railroad commissioners ia the
manner prescribed BY the bill THIS decision was To the
eject that the gsature had power To delegate to Tie
| Chamber 81 Commerce the right Of appointing Pilot
| Commissioners. Ia this case the Legislature ptssel
| over even the Governor
| Senator Mccarthy, III opposition 10 the Commission,
charged that bill in effect dec AIRED tha the people
were not abe to take OF thcm,elyes. There
had been popular demand Tor the Oil
winch had been bcgOttcn by political manHuFfiu-
MIR Thurber had organized the Legislature. me AMI
Monopoist mad sent an agent to lobby for tie O.4
IL WAS not apparently known. also that the cIn'ul7
could interfere with tArOugh freight, even Il
was carried for moth ng The BIN WIZ merely IN effort
to nelly lame anu thr halt and the bund among buS
Ex-senator Poneroy said that while the bill submitted
nv the Hepburn committee under 90 81 craIou MI
Baker o. rochester The Legislature and revived
II III hall ne mcrs OF kochcscr nose spoke 'lIdh
had acknowledged thh they now had no grievance
These mcrs the only ones That cOmpitiAcI
among the mcrchdn OF ne state one ol
III senators said this winter that ney were going
10 mi the Governor hole Inc OH al Insult
TO the Governor. IL wager between the lLItt
pohtieal parties OF the state. As soon as
the Governor should sign the bli t"e rae
would BEGIN. Tho merchants were entitled
TO fair commissioners, not 10 a gang Of politicians
rhe National Autobiography Lcngde l. not known &,
law Power could not be Conferred upon any tuns
which did not exist
| John Is. nasku said that he represented Tammany
lLaughtcrl Two OF Its senators, CRAZY ana Irca Iur
mad pretended - he tl-MOhOpOls 4, Dut tue! had
actualiy mOnOpOsts. Thcy would not be reelected
NOnupu. ts present hcaruy htptuted Mr. lIatkli
he made this declaration MI lnHi Der suN dt' T.
ward that Grady aud lrcanor naVhg been IN
faithful O tie Autobiography League would
no longer support them. WIN lr ilashlns speech thI
| hearing ended