New-York tribune., 1903-04-19
EAvoRs THE RussELL-wooD BILL.

To thu Editor Of the Tribune
Sir- On behalf of some thirty-nine organizations
,,-Ia have Endorsed the bill introduced by Senator
Russell and Assernblyman Wood for local rail-
road commission I want to thank you for your
editorial in Saturdays issue. pointing out some Oh
the objections TO the bill introduced by the Mer-
chants Association. known as the Flnch Dill
- or1v needs a clear statement Of the provisions
Of the two bills show to the citizens OF New
York the necessity for bringing whatever pressure
they can TO bear upon the legislature ana tle
Governor to secure the passage OF the husseH-
Wood bill and to secure the defeat OF the Aler-
chants Association bill The latter, We under-
stand IS supported by no other organization IN
the city It is g compromise which defeats as we
believe the very purpose Of its trainers
The RusseII-Wood bill provides for local ran
road commission composed of three members to be
appointed by the Mayor the first three to serve LOT
two four and six years, respectively, ana IiIell
successors to serve six years This VIII secure d
m a foritv Of the commission first appointed Tot
fo,r wears It has appeared 10 those who carefully
framed the bill that If the crowded teneIneIlIs OI
the city necessitated the appointment OF d telie
rnent house commissioner the one Dillon paSseh-
gers carried annually in this city through KS
+Aa+e crowded like cattle In its cars for the same
reasons needed a local department charged with
similar powers and similar duties Mayor 10"
advised US he preferred a three-headed conInIs-
sion 10 4 one-headed one. Various committees ana
organizations who were supporting the Dill were
therefore confirmed in their opinion that the pro-
visions of the bill in this regard were wise
No answer has been made TO our conten-
+yon that if it was proper TO have a local com
missioner of water, gas and electricity because
those commodities were carried through the streets
of the city and formed system peculiar 10 the
city itself there should be local commission 10
take charge Of those corporations whose duty ana
rriyflege it was to convey human freight through
fhe same streets and on systems which were quite
sanarare and apart from the great steam !IitId--
stata railroads. In fact we have been advised
that the Merchants AssOcia ton themselves prefer
a local commission and have only been persuaded
to Introduce their compromise measure because
thew felt mot anticipating the present aroused pub
lie sentimentl that it would be Impossible 10 pass
The F4ncn bill proposed by them is a weak. in
members 10 the Board, leaving the majority
with the present members: II proVides tnat t[ie
civ ~ Nev--York although the men so chosen are
TO exercise Jurisdiction over all the rallroads o.
the State This makes the cOnsut utionaIlty or the
act more than doubtful aud gives the Ieg a1VlstIs
decision rendered by such composite or rongTTeI
hoard Within a year the Court or Appears.
through Mr. Justice Cullen in the case OF tne
People VS. DoCley. III n. Y. H. has said.
~ should be much inclined to the belief that the
rrincipIe underlies form OF government IIial
provision is made to the contrary.
II &c true that the above statement reIers 10
elected officers but the principle would seem
TO apply to appointments ., -. -,
70 act on the defensive. but TO ask Tor arlrTTalE
ralfsf from the State Legislature. 1t would
also seem to be ariss to refuse 70 sigh the
widely circulated petitions distributed by the Mer-
chants Association in support OF the tlncn Dill
and TO lombard our representatives In A ntany
with petitions and requests that the RusseII-N ooo
oii p J. ASPINWAL4L HODGE
New-York. April A. 1898.