New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-03
TELEPHONE BILL WAYLAlD.
SENT BY ITS ENEMIES TO A HOSTILE
COMMITTEE.
SIGNIFICANT ACTION OF ALL BUT TWO MEMBERS
OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrDUNE.l

my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuNEl
Albany March 2-The supporters of Senator
NarshaIIs bill TO lower telephone rates fear thd'
Il received its death blow I'm tho senate 'o-""y'
through the action OF that body In TRANSFERRING -
from the Finance Committee to the COMMITTEE ~
Miscellaneous Corporations. The latter coii''.,'.o'
IS known Familiarity In the Senate as the Co'l-
mittce on Miscellaneous Corpses.' IL Always ''
been hostile TO bills to lower telephone rates
Mr. Marshalrs bill provides maximum rates io'
telephone service In the cities and towns ol l,'0
State and gives authority to the ContoHer' ul0
Attorney General and the State Engineer !"
forco the act The sum OF $1,000 was to De 'p-
nronristea to nav the expenses Of the Commission
and therefore the measure was consigned "o"'''
aro 10 the Finance Committee. Iho suPPo''0'9
Of tho Marshall bill felt more confident of FAVOR
able report from the Finance Committee 'i'in i
any other committee in the Senate
4 fcvy DAYS ago, however. something leu ''0
,ra,or,,,, of rho Republican members OF the com
mlttee TO think they ought to give UP '"o w :,
the Committee on Miscellaneous Corporations -
was held day by the action OF senator d. ~
Republican, and tho Democratic members
came n ground swell. from New~fork app"''','''
which affected all the Democratic members pu'
Senator Douglas, Of Albany. who happehou " -
absent and there was practically ul'"ii'o 1,a,
siro TO send the bill to tho Committee on N''C
lancous CORPORATIONS. This decision was maui 80
before the bill sent back to the Sen"'e 80
appropriation OF $4,000 was taken our "i'iC"
leave the state Telephone Commission II II siou''
he organized without funds 10 carry on us WIN"
senator Higgins chairman of the Finance com
,rittee said on presenting the bill 10 the oend.c
1hi. morning that the cancellation or Inc |i',V
appropriatlon left the bill without reason III ;"
ing I'm the hands OF his committee ana II Sho'''
no cent 70 the Committee Miscellaneous Cor
norat,ons He was sustained in this action by
senator's Ellsworth. Raines. Maby. Krum' Sua"a-
han Uunphrev and Armstrong. Republicans, ana
Senators Grady Martin and Plunkitt. Democrats
all members OF the Finance Committee TWO MEM
hers of the committee Senator Brown. RepuD"ca",
Of WATERFOWL. and Senator Douglas Democrat u
Albany-opposcd the surrender. Senator higgins
said his committee had no time to consider the
senator Marshall protested against the transfer
of the bill and moved to recommit 1t to the FINANCE
senator Foley also protested against this chb bn
OF venue" and remarked tnat odiy n drht on
before the Finance Committee had mace "a '7 Iee If
the floor for the reference or DILL 50 INC P''
Alter an extended discussion the senate came to
4 vote on Senator Marshall's motion 70 s9ud .I9
bill back to the Finance Committee ana uele~'eu
it, follows
Ayes-A4ea1 cons F; Da ro15 D Srnaey
Maciey. Marshall Mitchell Norton. Ramsperser Nas
, NGe'ARof DAVIS Ar Es%srh ' Feete oose GRADY
Havens Higgins. Johnson Krum La Roche; MaiDy; NIL
Rice Sherwood. stranahan, Sullivan. Thornton Whte'
Wilcox. Wlis-3o.
The bill had n hearing before the Committee on
Miscellaneous Corporations this afternoon soma
Tor Marshall opened the argument. declaring that
The proposed legislation was in the interest OF the
subscribers to whom the telephone mad become Il
necessity. and not oppressive 10 me coHpd =,
nes as Il did not compel reduction until Il shouli
be shown that 4 company was making 10 per cent
on its Investment Ex-senator Brush, OF Brookyn'
said competition could not produce the desired re
suit rs the larger company would always ioIce 4
continuation with the weaker. Edward j. GaVegan.
Of the Merchants and Manufacturers Board or
Trade said that the association faXored me nllI'
q Waldo smith president of tho Wholesale Gro
cors ASS ISOLATION: Frank s Gardner. Of New-York'
ana John Scanon, Of Cohoes, also urged the pas
sage Of the bill.