New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-06
REPORT R. R. BOARD BILL,
BAKER NOMINATION, TOO.
MaBda1us PO7cer for Commissioners
KILLED by amendment.
tBr urrDoRApH 20 THE TRIBUNE

fHy rELUGBAPH 20 TEfE TRIBUNE.
Albany. April 5.-T7e Wncox-wallace bilL
amending the Railroad law by increasing the
number Of Railroad Commissioners from three
10 1--WE and increasing their powers. ostensibly
introduced for the Merchants Association. was
Favorsbly reported by the Senate Railroad Com
suittee with an amendment to a large extent
reducing the proposed increase Of powers. Co
incident with the report was that on the name
OF Frank N. Baker for disappointment As Rail-
road Commissioner Neither action caused sur
prise 10 any the representatives OF the
Merchants Association, who were somewhat
puzzled TO determine Z The amendment left
theu with bin for which they could stand
The doubt stiu seems to exist.
The original bin, which was unmstakahly the
work OF The Merchants Association. increased
the commissions membership, but did so Win
the express intention OF adding two Newly YORK
engineers. who were TO deal with the street sur
face railroad problems. They received the
1owor 70 issue orders on railroad companies
Cor improvements which had the effect OF a
rnspdaunus and in case OF the failure Of the
company 10 act that company ives IN criminal
contempt This bill the Merchants Associa-
ton declared. through its representatives was
1he work OF many months OF study OF the stua-
zion.
No sooner had the bill drawn public attention
than Il became amended. First the engineer
y,rovision disappeared, and then the New-Nork
snembershfp. Finally the provision with rel
erence 20 the power Of n-andamus and criminal
k,outernpt was to-day amended after a hearing
st which representatives o. a number OF rail-
road companies protested against the amend
Fnent as unconstitutional, drastic and unrea-
eonable. In the amendment finally adopted the
provision for obedience 10 the orders OF the
new board Of Railroad Commissioners is changed
90 that instead Of the corporation and the OH
cers being punished By proceeding for criii'-
nal contempt. the law VIII read:
Obedience to said order may be enforced by the
Supreme Court motion Of the Attorney tTeilei "a
sIpop the request OF said board RAILROAD Commits
eiouD the judicial district where bdld idlHoAu
cooperation has ats principal offices.
one significant fact OF the hearing was the
lack OF any actual hostility to the measure as
shown in the attitude OF the counsel for the
railroads. John b. stanchheld. representing the
Lehigh Valley. Erie and Delaware ana LaCh@-
wanna railroad companies.
The fve-headed commission feature was IN
opposed, save as an additional expense by the
railroad Representatives. Senators Martin ana
Plunlzett charged that the bin was simply 20
nitical IN its purpose, and voted against ITS re
port. The counsel for the Merchants Assocla-
ton George Z. Morse. declared later IN the
evening that the Hill enforced on the railroads
the necessity Of making the motion 10 Naca1e
any order issued upon them 10y the railroad
commission and that he regarded this as the
essential feature The new bill Increases the
annual exDense to ne borne by the 'Tailroads IN
connection with the Railroad Commissioners
from 100000 10 100000. Its consideration IN
the Senate is likely 10 provoke considerable de-
bate.
George W. Aldridge and W L. DER. superin-
tendent Of the Delaware Division OF the Erie
Railroad. have been prominently mentioned TOT
the two new positions. Without an emergency
message from the Governor the hiu cannot De
voted on this week before Saturday.