New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-11
GREAT POWERS PROPOSED.
SCHEME TO PUT CORPORATIONS UNDER
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION

THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
THE LEADERS AT ALBANY LIKELY TO ENLARGE
TIE COMMISSION AND GIVE IT SUPER
VISION OF GAS. ELECTRIC LIGHT.
WATER AND TELEPHONE COM
PANIEs WITH AUTHOR
ITY TO REDUCE
[FRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
/ Albany, Feb 10.-A report was current here
to-day that the Republican leaders in the Legis-
ature were contemplating such an enlargement
Of the duties of the State Railroad Commission
ers as Will give them the supervision of the gas.
electric-light telephone and water companies of
the State In view of the consideration Of this
plan, it is said the Senate Railroads Committee
has deferred making any report on the nomina-
ton of Ashley w. Cole, George W. Dunn and
Frank NJ Baker for Railroad Commissioners as
some Of the members of the Legislature think
it would be well to increase the membership OF
the Railroad Commission If great addition Is
to be made to its present work.
Senator Bracket possibly in consequence of
the suggestion that the Railroad Commission
should have charge of the gas companies. has
introduced bill adding two members to that
Commission. 1t is we'll known that he has a
candidate for one of the new places II they are
created. in the person of William c. Worden of
! Saratoga.
A large number Of bills have been presented to
the Legislature reducing the price OF gas In
various cities OF the State Some OF these bills
provide for the ownership Of gas plants by
cities Then there are other bills lowering tele-
phone rates, and still others creating Electric
Light Commissioners with authority to put pres
sure upon companies to reduce the price OF light
ing. Some Of the members of the Legislature.
when they came to the consideration of
these bills. expressed the wish that there was
some body of State officials like the Railroad Com
mission, to whom these measures might be re-
ferred with request for their expert opinion.
From this suggestion has grown the idea that
the Railroad Commission should have added to
its present duties those OF supervising the oper-
alton Of the gas electrc-lght. telephone and
water companies.
No opposition to this proposition has been
manifested so far by the interests affected It Is
probable that they believe that, as the railroads
have been less troubled with Matchmaking bills
In the Legislature since the Railroad Commits
sion was established such tribunal would also
bills affecting railroads are referred by the COM
mittees Of the Legislature to the Railroad Com
mssioners for their opinion. Then. after the
Legislature passes the bills. the Governor sends
them to the Commissioners again for their judy
ment. Thus there Is a double check put upon the
massage of bills unjust TO the railroads. The gas.
| electric light and telephone companies. there
fore are not likely to offer any opposition to the
increase in the powers OF the Railroad Commits
sion contemplated.
"If no new State commission is established
said Senator Mullin, chairman Of the Senate fi-
nance Committee. to-day, 81 think the people
will approve a bill putting the gas companies
and like companies under the control or state
BOARD The present Railroad Commission, l
think has the confidence of the people or the
State. and Is best fitted to do this new work.
1t is possible that the supervision or trusts VIII
! also be put in charge of the Railroad commas
eior In that case the name of the Commission
NAV be changed to express its manifold duties.
Some of the Republican Senators favor an in
crease in the number Of members or the COM
mission If it is to have such varied duties OF a
responsible nature. Practically 1t would have
/ charge Of all the leading corporations OF the
! State except the insurance companies.
| II IS probable, if such a commission IS organ
| lied it's duties will be- such as are denhed III d
| tiu introduced nv Assembyman Dddley, OF Nj
| arara county on January a. Mr.. Dudley is one
| of the capitalists of the Niagara Falls ana Bur
| colo street Railway Company, and one OF the
| most influential members OF the LEGISLATURE II
| has been suspected for some time that MI. Dud-
| ley's bill drawn up in Newly orK Cl'y' anu
| that possibly the Republican leaders long ago
| decided to pass II. The bill. however. does not
! touch telephone companies 1t merely author
| ICES Governor Black to appoint board OF gas
| electric light and water commissioners. the mem
| here "a serve until December 81, 1898; December
md III 7.
| While the original members are to be appointed
| bv Governor Black alone the succeeding mem
! bers are to be appointed by the Governor ny
+ and with the consent of the Senate. III may De
| suspected that this alteration in the method OF
! appointment had in view the contingency or the
/ election of a Democrat as Governor.
The general powers and duties Of the board
| proposed in Mr. Dudey's bill may be conferred
,no tha present railroad Commission. The
| Railroad Commission. if it gains this authority.
! will be authorized TO Investigate the quality,
quantity and price Of gas. electric light or water
! furnished by any gas, electric light or water
works corporation upon the request or the local
authorities Of the city. village or town expressed
| nv resolution Of the Common Council. Board OF
| Trustees or Town Board. respectively, or upon
| complaint in writing Of at least twenty custom
| ers of such corporation, IL operating in city
| or village OF less than ten thousand Inhabitants.
or of at least nifty customers II opei ating in n
| CITY or village of over ten thousand inhabitants
! The Commission is 10 have power To reduce the
price of gas electric light or water If the corpora
| ton concerned is making profit of more than III
per cent on the capital which has actually been
| expendad in the construction of itS plant The
| bill also authorizes the Commission to prevent
| the construction Of what II may consider need
| less gas electric light or waterworks systems
| except such as constructed or operated by a
| municipal corporation.