New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-30
THE BOARD is BLAMED.
OF ELECTRICAL CONTROL
DECLARED INCOMPETENT
pREsENrMENT OF THE GRAND Juhh iN 1'
GARD TO THE wIREs-MR' slANoi
rHARGEs-MAYoR GRANTS
OPINION.

-, ,, u,ho have been investigating
the condition OF the electric hsnV "-t.s 81
nresentment Yesterday before heooiU'A Wy 49,. -,
- T;.+l. the foreman. read the document
- &c., tho Grand Jury had taken their places
a. .ho oourt room of Part l. The 1rand Jurors
" -. .hor have made an investigation INTO the
aouaI s s,biects of subways and OF the electrical
wires strung in the streets. They say:
W. snA that the present State laws permitting
cnarnorsfion nn authorized to operate underground
stnctures 10 tear up pavemens, subject only 10 the
S 1r ~ enforcement Of the regulations Of the
Departnent of Public Works, and are an enec'udi
bindranre 10 good pavements and clean streets
Therr is a great need of legislation which viii give
the city authorities the power TO determine "nen anu
under what conditions the streets shall be dug up
ana 10 enable proper supervision and regulation OF
Al present the same street may be dug up day
after day by different companies, whereas one such
opening could under proper supervisor De mace ma & 70
ing up the pavements. opening trenches reaching
water and gas pipes well a. relaying the paVemehts
should be unGer the control OF TIE department OF
Public Works and such work should be done by the
Department application. the parties desiring the
work making deposit to cover its estimated cost.
II is the opinion OF the Grand Jury that. whenever
possible subways should be constructed which would
and water pipes and for wires. traction cables and
similar uses instead Of as at present allowing each
separate interest the exclusive use OF separate part
OF the street There should be regulation also
10 work with three shifts ot men so that the "orh
may go both night and day, and thus reduce TO a
nmum the aIinoyance OF open excavations ,.o,, .,
time 90 into the question Of the origin and effect
warrant their suggest ting any modification ana
have therefore confined themselves 10 the condition
been assured by satisfactory evidence that the oppos
tOn OF the electric companies to Ourying their wires
ways when completed but It is their opinion that the
city authorities should keep constantly in view that
ultimately they ought 10 avail themselves of the city
right under the OF 1887 (a recommended by Mayor
Hewitt TO become the owner of it, own electric sub
VI hat he of these Clb
vested in the Department OF Public Works and not in
Se rand ms & b b go no are zoe aaSs al o De-
ermine the responsibility for the death of the lpeman
Feeks. since an examination OF the evidence before
beyond a reasonable doubt.
there is room for a radical reform in the present
methods of conducting coroners' tnqueSts. They have
largely degeneraed into sensational investigations, in
which counsel for the supposed defendant are allowed
az unlimited t latitude private papers found upon the
OF justice defeated by the admission OF evidence not
related to the simple question properly before the
But the Grand Jury believe that the death Of said
Feeks, well the injury TO a valuable officer Of
the metropolitan police force and the death Of horse
on FOurth-ave this month, were directly due 10 the
practice of stringng eecriclight wires upon the
poles with telephone and telegraph wires. We
not too strongly condemn this practice and call the at
a constant menace 10 the lnemen but also by the
breaking Of wire contact between il and light
house or Office deadly current over The telephone
produced before US that on the 18th Gay Of October
1889 there existed on telephone poles below Four
ents upon which wires n $50 the insulation
defective, In the majority spots varying from two
thsse w al belong 70 the he UatsG saes arsrd tp
Light Company and two to the East River Electric
Ermann. the Grand jury are of the opinion that
there is evidence obtainable that would enable the
responsibility TO be placed. and the foreman hss
handed a memorandum of the 10 the District
Attorney for such action as he shall deem proper.
The Grand Jury present 10 The Court that in their
opinion it grave 10 inrust such important
Interests TO commission board having no practical
theoretical or applied they believe, from evidence
presented 70 them. that the present Board of Eecfrca.
So4 I,r rnS,onsia for 10 siotr and factory
manner which the wires arr being removed from our
streets. and worthy Of censure in this respect and
that as soon as possible without me senoIS impair
ment Of vested Interests, this Board shall be re,
moved and the control of the electric Subways and
service should be intrlsted 10 c0m0"ten su1erys on
Recorder Smyth listened attcntively 10 the read
ing of the presentment and id: have heard
with interest the paper which your foreman has
read II contains valuable suggestions. Only
small part Of them relate TO matters in the con-
troll of this court Most OF them will be for the
City Government or the State Legislature TO act
upon. / viii cause copies Of this presentment TO
be sent TO the city authorities and the Legislature
l have 10 thank you, gentlemen, for the manner
in which you have performed your duties"
Copies of the preSentment will be made to-day
and sent TO the proper officials District-Attorney
Fellows would not make public the contents of
the memorandum relating TO the death of Lneman
Erdmann
Referring to the presentment by the Grand Jury,
Mayor Grant said that he hardly knew whether
it would be proper for him as the chairman of the
Board of Electrical Control TO express his views
regarding it. But l am frank TO say he added,
that in a general way the language of the pre-
sentiment of the Grand Jury expresses my ideas
Commissioner Gilroy, Of the Department Of Pub
lie Works, holds that the power Of cutting down
wires and poles is wholly out of his hands while
the injunction Of Judge Andrews, of the Supreme
court remains Mr.. Gilroy sent letter TO the
Mayor Oh the subject on November 27 which
Mayor Grant made public Yesterday Ii was a
reply 10 letter from Secretary Moss of the Sub
way Commission, Indicating that it the duty
OF the COmDllsslOner OF Public Works TO remove |
improperly insulated wires upon notice 10 the !
companies and after sufficient time is given them
to repair Mr.. Moss added that some : 600 |
notices have recently been sent To the Comnis |
loner Of Public Works, pointing out Improperly |
Insulated wires, which have not been acted unon
Replying TO this Mr.. GilrOy says:
The superntend mt Of Incumbrances infor,ns ma |
asi instead of 1000 notices sent to me indlcat
ing detective insulation Of wires used for ghtenslon
Currents. which notices have not been acfed inon |
mere ar less than 1000 notices on file which have |
not been acted upon.
hold II 70 be the duty Of the Board OF Electrical |
Oohtro 10 send the first n0tc- 10 companies for the
removal Of improperly insulated wires, and to use |
proper endeayOr compel til removal Of such wires
DrS calling upon this Deparm 'nt 10 make the re-
fha,~s;; On this pOnt the conclusion is irresistible
ren y attempted 10 throw upon this Department the
Colt~os which belongs the Board Of Elec trca
Board ana for the discharge Of which tht
bS - 1 rs mAy equipped by legal authority
% e employment O Scientific experts and force Of
slsctr,c experienced the and handling OF
% ~ WIS, While this Deparfnssnt Is without any
~ 'rS HeGIess@ry means for properly proceeding with
v{eyvs be,s zinc wfe-. For this reason and the
Of MAJ ngre @ eSPressed must cline the responsibility
~
and proner ende has previously used its authority
nOVe improperly insulated v5r o % % ntained
proceed IIpon no,, t and ! must also decline To
indicating fective inalano me oa t,osu IN ni ~