New-York tribune., 1905-03-22
POTENT PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION PLANNED
CONTROL OF POWER, TELEPHONES, GAS, LIGHTING
AND WATER INCLUDED IN SCHEME.

water question. A measure carrying a State
commission is in the hands of the As
sembly, and is not opposed by the local city
authorities. The Governor has urged the pass
age Of legislation creating central supervising
authority, irrespective Of local interests of va
rious cities. to apportion the water and super
wise the plans. The Agnew bill. favored by the
Republican Club of New-York City, is such a
measure, creating a commission. The only new
step is the including of this power in those Of
the new Public Service Commission.
The question of power is the one in some
plase8 the most interesting in the whole propo.
stion For the last three years there have been
before the legislature many bills that have been
widely condemned as grab bills, the founda-
ton of each of which was condemnation power
It has been generally believed that the develop
ment of the transmission of power would compel
the adoption of a State policy before long
Power companies are asking the same privileges
now asked by railroads, of condemning land, or
stringing poles and in general obtaining al! the
things they need under conditions such as those
covered by the issue of certificates or pubic CON
venience and necessity in transportation heids.
TELEPHONES MAY BE INCLUDED.
one State commission. appointed last year, on
which Assembyman Merritt is serving is wreS-
tling with this power question Between the
problem of lighting and that of power trans
mission there is obviously a place III which tele-
lie service commission. thus contemplated, then
would have charge of railroads now, tele-
phones, telegraph companies, power manufact-
ure and transmission companies and finally or
water companies, possibly exclusive of private
companies, possibly including even them. but in
general and in broad terms controlling. super
Vising and regulating all the various corpora
tions and companies dealing in various public
service matters. in all Of which there have been
of late growing abuse and endless complaint.
It would be, without question the most powerful
commission existing in the State 1t would
doubtless, have a large number of branch Of
fees and many clerks and expert engineers and
electricians It's findings on the complaints Of
the individuals would be subject to the review
of the courts but, aside hom this limitation. it
would have powers OF enforcement not now
given to the railway commission
OF actual progress the committee which Is to
investigate made little to-day. Senator Stevens
will go to New-York tomorrow. In response
to various questions about the appointment of
attorney, and particularly with reference to
the report from New-York City that Julien T.
Davies had been decided on, he declared that
the matter still pending and would not be
decided tonight. Senator Stevens talked with
the Governor this afternoon, but both he and
the Governor declared that nothing of impor-
tance was said planned
The delay in the selection Of counsel has GER
tatnly put off the work of the committee for at
least week. so that it will probably be about
April 20 before the committee IS ready to report
back its findings and its recommendations and
it may easily be week later. Two possible
methods of INocedure may be passed by the
Legislature during this period. 1t may adjourn
April IA, the normal date of adjournment
pending the report of the committee or it NAV
keep in session until the return of the commit
tee with its statistics and recommendatio tions but
either procedure will equally prolong the actual
session until about May l. and prophecies OF
even later dates are to be heard on all sides No
new names were suggested for counsel to-day