New-York tribune., 1905-08-14
TANMANY SMELLS GAS.
CITY PROBE IN SEPTEMBER
Murphy Much Disturbed OOer
rTlOseneSs to Fall Cam palgn.

The state Gas and Electricity Commission. it
was learned last night. will begin work in this
city soon after September !. Tammany men
are angry account of it. and say that 1T is
political move TO discredit the organization with
the voters
II is expected tnat Chairman Davies VIII take
up as one of the first items OF business the deal
ngs of the New York Contracting and Trucking
Company with the Consolidated Gas Company.
This company obtained from the gas company
the contract for the Astoria gas plant. said to
amount to about s5,OoO.O0O
The commission consists of ex-Attorney Cen
era John c. Davies, Frederic F., Ciunnison and
Lucus l.. Shedden. The commission is clothed
with extraordinary powers. 1t compel the
attendance of witnesses and the submission of
papers, and commit reCalcitrant witnesses
for contempt. the same joint committee of
the Legislature
1t is this fact which is causing unusual COM
ment among Tammany men. Charles F.
Murphy testified when questioned by Charles
F. Hughes before the joint Legislative commit
tee that he knew James Stillman and Henry Fl.
Rogers and that he had speculated i'm Consoh-
dated Gas. Mr.. Hughes did not press the in
qury further, because he was not seeking IN
formation. primarily, about the financial trans
actions of the Tammany leader. He was trying
to discover a reason for the continuance OF the
high prices for lighting in this city. with the
idea OF giving the legisla ture data for the
formulation Of necessary new laws.
The appointment of the new commission was
the most important outcome Of the investiga-
ton because the commission has power to COM
pei reduction i'm the price of lighting
The votes on the gas bill of the friends of
Charles r. Murphy and Pa trick Fl. McCarren,
both Of whom known to sustain confidential
relations with the lighting companies showed
that they had been tipped off, to prevent re-
duction i'm the price OF gas The Murphy and
McCarren men prevented immediate reiuc-
ton i'm the price, but they could not prevent the
appointment of the State commission. which is
clothed with power to enforce it's judgment
Mayor McCIellan's friends are nervous over the
prospect OF Charles F. Murphy going on the
stand before the state commission and having
to answer questions about the astonishing sue
cess of the New-York Contracting ana Trucking
Company. owned by his brother and by his dis
trict alderman, James r. Gaffney, both active
in the Anawanda Club. the district organization.
and just now apparently making plenty OF
money
The plans OF the State commission re-
garded by Tammany men as a sinister move by
State harman Odell and President Halpin Of
the county committee TO hurt Mcclellan i'm the
of heart about the narrowing Of the feelings of
Mr.. Murphy's friends. and this. too, is annoying
to the boss. who is entertaining his friends at
present at his country place on Long Island.
The action OF Senator Page in sending to the
State commission a complaint signed by 100 cti-
ducing the price Of gas shows that there are
persons in this town who are determined to give
the new, commission and the law appointing II
a practical trying out.