The sun., 1905-05-23
REPUBLICANS SLEW GAS BILL.
ABSURD TO CHARGE 1T TO TAM
MANY, SAYS SENATOR STEVENS.
He's for Resubmittln the Bill At the Special
session OF Republican Changes
Of Heart-Courts Might He Invoked
Against Gas Commission Rulings.

Tho attempt that is being made down
here to put up the defeat of the so cent
gas bill to the five Tsmmany Senators
who voted against the measure is all poppy
cock. While it is true that five Tammany
Senators did vote against the bill yet the
fact remains that 80 out of SO members
OF the State Senate are Republicans and
the Governor is Republican. Thirteen
Republican Senators voted against the
bill and the people will certainly hold the
Republican majority responsible for the
failure OF the measure to pass the Senate. !"
That was what Senator Frederick c.
Stevens, the Republican chairman OF the
Legislative gas investigation committee,
said last night at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
In my judgment said Mr.. Stevens
'the so cent gas bill ought to be submitted
to the special session Of the Legislature
The situation in this city demands that
there should be such reduction in the
price Of gas to the private consumer, and
more than that, the passage Of an so cent
gas bill would bring support to the Re-
publican organization. With Republican
Governor and a Republican majority in
the State Legislature Tammany cannot be
accused Of defeating that bill because
Ave Tammany Senators voted against 1t.
II the bill Is reintroduced it will have a
good chance Of passing the special session
because | understand that some of the
Republican members who voted against
it have experienced q change Of heart.
There is no question that the gas COM
panies can sell gas at 80 cents and still
make a profit. Another reason why the
Legislature should take this matter up
at the special session is that tho Legislature
has more power to regulate the price Of gas
than the State commission which is to be
appointed would have"
Mr.. Stevens went on to explain that
while the authority of the Legisla ture
to regulate the price Of gas was unques-
toned and had been upheld by the courts
when there was no question Of confisca-
tion involved the commission would have
to go over all the evidence that was adj
duced before the investigating committee,
and any determination reached by the
commission to lower the price OF gas in
this city might meet with obstacles in the
way of injunctions and other appeals to
the courts 80 that a long time would elapse
before the powers of the commission could
be settled.
Several up State Republican members
Of the Legislature ventured the opinion
last night that the Gas Commission would
very likely be made up of George w. AL
dridge secretary of the State Railroad Com
mission ex-senator Persons Of Buffalo
and New Yorker, possibly Charles f.
Hughes, who was counsel to the Stevens
investigating committee. Senator Stevens,
who was in town last night, said that he
was sure that Mr.. Hughes could not be
prevailed upon to take the appointment.
At the Fifth Avenue Hotel the remark was
made that William Halpin, Mr.. Odells
chairman Of the Republican county COM
mittee, was a candidate for place on the
board. 'Why," exclaimed one well known
up State Republican leader who was in the
group, Il think l know how much of
chance Billy Halpin-- Bouquet Halpin we
call him up in Albany-has OF landing the
job, and his chance is just about as good
as that Of that porter who 10 handling that
trunk over there"