New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-05
MCARRENITESKILL 80 CENT GAS
OTHER STETENS BILLS PASS SENATE-NO EXTRA
SESSION SAYS GOTERNOR
Senator Steuen Gratfed, Bmes LobbyCy WH Get Cheaper
Light, He Says-Bracket Changes Tote.

that IS. it lacked one Of the required twenty
six votes. The gains included the commission
bill, providing a State commission of three 10
have drastic. sweeping and final control of the
price the quality and the conditions OF manu-
facture of gas throughout the State the bills
fixing the price of electricity to consumers at
10 cents instead of 10 in Manhattan and IL in
stead of Is in Brooklyn. with similar reduc-
tion bill for electric light sold to the city; a
bill fixing the price of gas at - cents TO the
city a bill requiring inspection of gas by the
local authorities and, finally bill permitting
New-York City to use for its municipal pur-
poses any electricity it can develop from water
actually taken for drinking purposes
ASSERTION PROVES TRUE
The story of the battle vaged for eight hours
to-day naturally divides itself into three parts.
made up first of the representatives OF the vari-
Gus gas interests. the lobbyists. the lawyers and
the minor retafners: secondly. Of the party and
district leaders who held whispered COnsulta-
tions in the corridors and in the corners Of the
Senate Chamber; and, finally. of the legislators
themselves who sat and voted wrangled or
otherwise obeyed their orders or followed their
convictions. To speak first Of the legislative
elements. these entered into the battle at pre-
cisely 1890 a. m. when, after the brief morning
prayer. Senator McCarren, grand marshal of the
force walked lt lLl- emu ''l tttr 'elti4t0L'
met Charles F. Mathewson. counsel Of the con-
solidated Gas and said tersely. I have got ths
votes" an assertion that proved literally true.
for he not only had the votes but kept them
The bill hxing the price Of gas sold 20 con-
sumers in New York Ci,y was first on the calsEs-
dar and as the clerk announced il Senator Nc
Carren arose in his place and with a formal
motion began the attack on the bill RE
criticised IT as drastic unfair and "a a con-
fscaton. Reading from a typewriter brief.
he indicated defects in the bill These he re-
inforced with figures and statistics, with evi-
dence indicating an intimate acquaintance with
gas corporations and their books not developed
by the members Of the Stevens committee when
they had the officials of the gas corporations
on the stand Then he gave way TO Senator
Stevens. chairman of the committee, whose
duty il was 10 defend the hill
The strain OF the long hours Of night work IN
the preparation Of his report and 5he tension OF
the battle were shown in Senator Stevens's man
ner. He spoke in a low, hardly audible. voice,
defending the work Of his committee, ella borat-
ing on its discoveries. emphasizing the condt-
tions Of monopoly that had been revealed He
talked for twenty minutes. and then sat down
As he finished Charles F. Nathewsou the gas
attorney. was again seen watching the pro-
ceedings anxiously from the rail Again Sen
ato- NcCarren answered with a vOley OF gas
statistics. and then he gave way 10 Senator
Page the author OF the resolution under which
the investigation had been conducted. Senator
Page spoke with bitterness and with every evj-
denCe Of deep feeIIng.
Unfortunately. the committee did not have
the intimate relations with the company that
Seem TO have existed between the Senator and
the corporation he answered. He has been
bic 10 state figures and facts that the officers
Of that company when put on the stand were
unable 10 give; he has been able TO make justif-
cations where the stood silent"