The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-18
GAS INVESTIGATORS NAMED
AND THE COMMITTEE WILL GET
TO Work TONIGHT.
WIN SIT Almost Daily, senator stevens,
the Chairman. says. ana VIII Report
TO This LeEislature--Bin 10 Accom-.
pany RepOrt-H. II. Rogers TO BE Called

ALBANY, March 1.-THE Joint legislative
committee to investigate the lighting situa-
tibn in New York city has been named. II
consists Of Senators Stevens Of Attioa,
Wyoming county, and Page Of New York
(Republicans) and Grady Of New York
(Democrat); Assemblymen Apgar Of West
chester, Agnew Of New York and Merritt
Of st. Lawrence (Republicsns) and Palmer
Of Schoharie CDemocrat).
The appointment OF Senator Stevens az
chairman of the committee was due to the
fact that both Senators Elsberg and Page
wanted that honor, and al the Odell trium-
virate Of Legislative leaders did not want
to give the two Republican places to New
York city II was decided TO select Senator
Stevens for the Craftsmanship.
The committee expects 10 he able to
begin the investigation by Wednesday next,
and TO go on with the work with all the
expedition possible 80 as TO report back
to the Legislature before adjournment.
As Senator Raines thinks the Legislature
can finish it, work and adjourn on April IA,
the committee cannot afford to lose any
time in getting down 10 business. providing
that the investigation Is to amount to any
thing aside from furnishing material for
Benjamin b. Odell's Mayoralty candidate
in New York city next fall.
The committee met this afternoon and
went through the form Of organizing by
electing Senator Stevens chairman.
Senator Stevens came here from Albany
last night with two or three other members
Of the committee to arrange the preliminar-
les Of the inquiry. There will be a meeting
of the committee tonight at the Murray
Hill Hotel. at which counsel 10 examine
witnesses will he chosen and a letter OF
application 10 the city authorities will be
prepared asking for the Use Of court
room in which TO hold the inquiry
Senator Stevens said that the investiga-
ton would be thorough and that politics
would not be allowed to influence is scope.
When it was explained TO him that there
was an impression here that the investRa-
ton had been ordered mainly for political
ends and that the committee was expected
TO continue its sittings by means Of reoesses
until interest in the MayOral campaign
began to develop. he said;
III can hit that nail on the head at once
by announcing that the committee will
start in to take testimony next Wednesday
at the latest and will sit continuously eX-
cept perhaps for one day a week, when the
members will be required to go 10 Albany
to vote on important measures Further,
il is the intention Of the committee to re-
port to the present session Of the Legis-
lature,
an fact the Legislature MIL take q recess,
n that should be needed until we can present
our report. The report will undoubtedly
IL L E.sI
the recommendation contained In it,
It was reported that Henry W. Taft,
brother Of the Secretary Of War, would
he chosen as the counsel 20 the committee,
but Senator Stevens said that this was
mere speculation.
The resolution appointing the COM
mttee is sufficiently comprehensive accord
ing to Senator tevens to permit it to so
into all phases Of the lighting question
and even to bring within its inquiry the
telephone company.
THE matter Of the use Of the conduits
through which the wires, not only Of the
electric lighting companies hut Of the
telephone and telegraph companies are
carried will be one Of the QUESTIONS the
committee will 60 into Senator Stevens
said, and that will allow us, at least in
directly, 10 inquire into the workings of
the telephone company.
II il understood among the members that
the witnesses will include not only the
official heads Of the gas and electric com
panies. but also the reputed financial heads
of the Consolidated Gas Company. One
OF the witnesses, II il understood, will be
Henry n. Rogers. Mayor Mcclellan, Comp
troller Grout and Commits sioner Oakley
will also be called
Senator Stevens was once president OF
the Potomac Electric Lighting Company
and United States Electric Company Of
Washington. ID. &.