New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-02
A GRAB FOR MANY THOUSANDS.
GAS INSPECTOR STEWARDS LITTLE BILL.
AFTER PATRONAGE THAT WOULD PROBABLY
BLEED GAS CONSUMERS OUT OF 100000
YEAR-A MEASURE FOR REVENUE.
rGRApu TIE TRIBUNEl

IBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE1
Alhanv March l-Senator John Raines and Super
,ntendent OF Public Works George W. Aldridge. as
patronage grabbers, have Formidable rival IN 'he
person OF James L. Stewart. Inspector OF "as
Meters The CanandaRua statesman. by COM
pete revolution Of the present excise laws. seeks 10
secure patronage through the appointment OF COM
pany OF $50 inspectors and liquor attorneys Ihe Su
pernendent of Public Works reaches out for patron
age known TO go hand in hand with tho disourse-
ments OF large OF the moneys OF the state ior
the canals and Mr.. Stewart. not 10 be ou;done hy
these patronage grabbers. persuaded George C.
Austin. OF the XXIst Assembly District. Of New
York TO introduce a little grab BILL" placing In the
hands Of the Inspector of Gas Meters the appoint
ment of deputy gas inspector In every town. village
and city OF the State. Assembyman Austin had no
sooner learned the true nature OF the bill. which he
had introduced by request. than he repudiated the
bill in a public statement. Nevertheless Inspector
Stewart was In Albany the greater part OF last week
making futile attempts to have Mr.. Austin recon-
sider his action over the bill. Mr.. Austin firmly
declined change his hostile attitude Since then
Mr.. Stewart has been making canvass among the
Senators and Assemblymen TO obtain support for
his scheme.
The bill in which Mr. Stewart IS 90 deeply inter-
csted t. in the form o: amendment 10 the Trans
portation Corporation law relating to the Inspectors
OF gas meters Under the present law the salaries
OF the Inspector and his deputies amount 10 800
The proposed amendment allows this salary clause
to stand unchanged but contains the additional pro-
vision that there shall be paid on every meter in
spected fee Of % cents payable by the meter
facturers The inspection Of meters Is further
made mandatory by the elison Of the words when
required" from the present law That part OF the
bill under which the patronage is sought 10 be Sc
cured is entirely and reads as follows:
In addition to the hree dePay inspeei9rs to "hose
Inspector
10 his duties IN city on town. ne shall aii,.pt
temporarily. and for such time as he deems eN.'ed.-
ent. one or more deputy Inspectors Of meters for
the county In which such city or town - situated.
The Inspector ehtI be entitled 10 collect !oi the
service Of such deputies IN inspecting, cxamn.ns.
proving and sealing meters a fee OF % conie for
scaled siil fee In the case OF new meters 10 be
collected from The several ais meter manu- tctnrers
or lnanniacturlng companies, ana III tnr case ot
l;aelighi companies in state Ou 4 the foes -
collected by the In rector ne shal pay TO stii epH
tics sucn reasonable salaries a, may br asr"'i On.
may apply - the Iayment O; Ms o~n Office rvmt
and Office eXpcnstS.
Stewards for his bill IS that he has to pay
for the seals he puts on meters J. IS 'sfima'. 4
that there manufactured in this State annual
ly upward of 5000 gas meters. H. required by
the proposed amendment. each 4 these new
meters taxed % cents. the revenue 70
the inspectors would be about $3.50 The seals
would not cos; 500. in the opinion Of William Nc
Donald. Of the firm OF d. Mcdonald e Co.. of Al
bany. one OF the largest meter manufacturing con-
Germs OF the State Mr. Mcdonald ls authority for
the statement that the meter manufacturers OF the
State are opposed to the bill pending. and he
has further stated that the duties OF the present
force q inspectors are not onerous. and that the
cost 0! the seals could be easily borne by the In
spector from his liberal $1,000 salary
But X stewart could obtain patronage to the
amount Of $l2,5D by examining meters what
would be the amount ne could obtain by examining
old meters? The gas companies alone can answer
such a question. II can be Suspected however. that
patronage TO the amount Of 10000 or 100000 Is
SOuSh: That sum would out Of the trcasl-
rics % the gas companies in the frat place and
secondly. out Of the pockets OF the gas consumers
1t IL the gas consumers HhO actually would pay e.
They would be the persons who would support S,eN-
arts army OF gas meter inspectors The Assembly
Committee on Ways and Means is considering
Stcwart's bill. and is being subjected to consider
able political pressure 70 report Il favOrably The
companies and gas meter manufacturers also
IL is said have been subjected threats Of repr!-
sails unless they quit opposing the measure.