New-York tribune., 1905-01-04
LIGHT BILL AT Albany
THE ALDERMEN IGNORED.
George L. RiUes Found Many De-
fectiUe Gas Franchises.

Tor introduction in the legislature bill authoriz-
ing the building Of a municipal lighting plant
Under the act power is practically vested in the
Commissioner of Water Supply. Gas and Elec-
trioity and the Board Of Estimate and Appor-
tlonment TO go ahead and build the plant. The
bill will be introduced in the Senate by Mr. Mar
TN and in the Assembly by Assemblyman Les
lie J. Thompkins The bill follows:
Section The Greater New-York Charter as re-
enacted and amended by Chapter 4ss of the laws OF
dSOl as amended. is hereby amended by adding to
q anew, new section. 10 be designated Section 4s9-a,
Sec 4es,a- It shall be the duty of the Cormis-
sIoher or Water Supply. Gas and Electricity and he
thorized by the Board OF Estimate and App0rtion-
20 acquire for the purposes in this section
estate or interest therein. and contract for
plans and specifications to be approved by said
ssT I'd q municipal plant or plants. with the neces-
conductors poles. conduits. subways. meters. Ian
ces and such extensions and additions as may from
@ IiIle 20 Tune be determined by said board TO be
PuohS Pun oi places public Offices and public buildings in
eIoicy te CITY OF New-York or any part thereof with
~ SnaII be the duty of the CONTROLLER and ne is
Ihorlzed by the said board. and without the concur
body to e @ Of sn{ other % ts 5osFd sa or
61oeT 6 IRON time to time by the issue and sale
OF money sufficient to carry the purposes OF this
sscn3n. and to pay al Of the expenses authorized
proper certificates @ Of the. said coInnissioner.
New-York charter as re-enacted and amended by
Chapter 4s6 of the laws of 1901 amended. is hero
Sec. o Of the making and performance OF con-
tracts when duly authorized in accord with n the the
same in the matter of furnishing the city, or any
umnant or co tt5am' by or under Contracts
wit with Individuals partnerships or corporations: or
and management of all municipal lighting plants.
IosSther WIN the TeaI estate oudlngs; nlachery ~
conductors. poles.
meters. lanterns and other necessary fixtures and
sions and additions belonging thereto or connected
and changing of lights for the use of the city; OF
the inspecting and testing of gas and eiectrlclty
metres electric wires and all lights furnished TO
said city: and of the use and TRANSMISSION ut gas.
all purposes in. upon. across. over and under all
Susie budng Of the Of electric
mains. conduts conductors and subwayS in any
places and the granting Of the permission to open
streets. when approved by the BoTough FreSGI1t @ .
therein the business Of transmitting. conducting,
snF ol fb and selling wn5e tbfs This section
shall not be construed to empoyer the said COMMITS
streets exoept bv persons or corporations otherwise
duly authorized to carry on business Of the charac-
Sec. 3. This act shall take effect Immediately
Not only Is the Consolidated Gas Company
preparing TO fight this bill in the legislature
but il is getting ready to enforce the contract
signed by Commissioner Oakley, over Whlch
the agitation about municipal lighting started.
In telling Controller Grout that the companies
would not submit to an 'inquisitorial examina-
ton of its accounts, Vice-President Addicks on
Friday indicated clearly that the companies
had decided to fight the city all along the line
There were vague rumors around the CITY
Hall yesterday about injunction proceedings to
be brought by the lighting combination
Controller Grout through his counsel. Henry
Yonge. will to-day make application TO the
Supreme Court for sufficient authority to compel
the officials of the New-York Edison Company
to attend his inquiry and answer questions MI
Yonge thinks that the court viii order the COM
pany's officials 10 obey the Controllers summons
forthwith The chances are that the companies
will be able to stave off an inquiry indefinitely
The Controller has the data gathered by Cor
poration Counsel Rives a year ago and. it is
+,o,,eb+ viii make use of them in his inquiry if
he can succeed in getting any OF the ofnclals
TO testify. 80 a.. e,.,.tss -
the Consolidated Gas Company 0AP'''' ~ m
That the amalgana ton of the gas companies
in 1854 irregular and sun1ecs tnem 10
forfeiture Of their charters
that the Standard Gas Light Company inval-
idated its franchise by merging with the Con-
solidated in 1884.
Union companies in The Bronx have been oper-
ating for many years with insufficient fran
ckiseS.
many never has been able to furnish any evil
dence that Il received franchise.
A contention in a legal acton IS one tnlng,
however, and a decision ~ quite another. Not
even Controller Grout is confident that the city
could prove these contentious When asked
about the alleged 1orrelture OF LfanChISes S00
terday he said
THE forfeiture of franchise is distinctly a
question for the State through the Attorney
General to decide
John A Carver, attorney for the Consolidated
cas- Company Yesterday was quoted saying:
whether the franchises are valid or not Is a
oues+ion for the courts to decide. Not that the
courts have been called upon TO decide. but we
do not feel called upon to make public our optn-
ion on the question and VIII not"