New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-18

SENATOR STEVENS ELECTED CHAIRMAN II
TELEPHONE COMPANIES PROPOSED.

would take IL only ff / were to be unpedged
and uncommitted, with the absolute agreement
that 1t should be an actual and bona fde investi-
CATION There is no limit string and no
control to the work of this committee. AS l
understand it's mission. it is to examine into
the question, first OF all, to whether there
is a monopoly in the gas and lighting field III
New York. second, whether the gas is good
and what fair price is. and finally. what con-
tracts have been entered into between the city
and the gas companies. We shall not go deeply
into the question of meters. imagine. That is
too complicated. We shall have plenty of ex-
perts to furnish the data may require"
Are you likely to make use of the facts that
have been collected for Controller CIRCUITS in
vestgation, now terminated by the courtsT'
the Senator asked.
1--WE shall make use of all the material we
can find, but 1 can't tell any more definitely
now." the reply.
do you expect to subpoena II. II. Rogers and
John D. Rockefeller to testify before the COM
mittee?"
1--WE shall not inconvenience any one unneces-
sarily. but If any one is believed to have infor-
nation that is needed he will certainly be asked
to give it,"
DO you expect to report at the present ses-
sion of the legslature?"
Yes should imagine that the session would
not adjourn before April Is, and that our report
would come in prior to that time. OF course
we have not yet arranged any details, not Sc
Iected any attorney taken any steps. We
SHALL I presume, make our headquarters at the
Murray Hill Hotel although shall be at the
Fifth Avenue tomorrow We shall at once ask
the Mayor to assign us in some court
building, preferably uptown, If possible
GOES INTO WORK UNPLEDGED.
Senator Page discussed the work of the COM
mittee in the same general fashion. He said:
This is a committee TO investigate and 1t
will investigate We shall hope to carry our in
vestigation of the question to a point satisfac-
tory to the people of New-York City and l shall
go into the work unpledged and absolutely free
in my action"
The makeup of the committee is generally
regarded as insuring a thorough and searching
investigation Senator Stevens, who in the past
has been associated as capitalist with various
gas corporations, is entirely familiar with the
situation and the conditions of gas investigation.
He is not connected with any gas corpora
tion save the owner of some few shares of the
Washington Gas and Electric Lighting Com
pany, while as man of large personal fortune
he will be free from the suspicion sometimes
leveled at members Of investigating commit
tees. His appointment was great satisfaction
to number of the older members of the Senate,
who regard his presence the committee a
guarantee of good faith. Senator Page and AS
semblyman Agnew, the New-York City mem
bers are we'll known locally, and it is believed
that these three men will in reality dominate the
committee
Moreover. the plain fact of the situation in the
Senate to-day should not be mistaken A man
datory gas reduction bill for which the investt-
eating committee could not show the best of
justifying evidence in facts and figures would
not muster fifteen Republican votes. The So
called steering committee which finally
adopted the Page resolution adopted the only
form of gas measure that could have passed
the Senate in any circumstances, and a number
of Senators have served notice that they will not
stand by any programme for gas reduction that
does not have the complete justification that
might be furnished by a scientific and careful
and above ALL an honest investigation while
the presence of two Democratic members will
preclude the charge of any political coloring to
the committees work
Henry w Taft, Of New-York, is one of the
men mentioned as possible attorney for the COM
mittee