New-York tribune., 1906-05-25
THINKS GOVERNOR INCONSISTENT.
Stakeholder" Can't Reconcile Mr.. Higglns'
Gas Bill Vetoes and Signatures

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: Within a day or two Governor Hssnl7' ssls-.
cOrding to the newspapers. has vetoed OliiS -
would have given dollar gas TO the eompan''1 =
Auburn. Waterloo and Seneca Falls IN Gls'y.-o y.,
ing the bills the Governor said that the PMS s
him would arbitrarily hx the price OF ll- -'5 -
gas in the city and villages above mehli'A-
is further quoted as saying;
The Legislature has the power 70 sSc-otons n
TO be charged by public service &C., 1cf rates are
reasonable The question OF reaso ga - bo de-
Ject to judicial review. and sIoo,t sI.Jn Is to the
nom such Service Confscatory legislation e ,5-S rs
the prolific mother OF lawsuits Inc S-usr-S1s Of
IN these corporations as well as tas , .r3 e1ual
gas are entitled 70 the protection nIjrJsI 1l a cos-
sion OF gas and electricity. havng aiap - tss o.
regulate the price Of gas upon no'e7 -
pOratiOn affected and a hearing.
He further said that the price OF gas in New
City fixed by law as the result o. uI1- -
legislative investigation II Is difacuIt - sis
pairing this statement OF the Governor - .,,i.
signing OF the Scent gas bill 20 hazrnon-9 rs,-
tudes. In the case OF the Brooklyn l i'''' ,,nssr
pany IL I mistake u not. their case - EIss
consideration bv the Commission or Gas a. a. ,bar
,rfcitv and undetermined at the very - ,n.t u
Governor Higgins signed the S-cen' o-.' t bs said
the case of the BROOKLYN Union IT. cam csHts as
that the Governor signed the pm ~ lV,sStlgali0n
the result of a thorough legislative nv signsd ths
81 the same ti4ne thar the Governor sSS,,rs vii
SN-cent BILL / think the copies o1 ne ,oany was
show that the Northern Union Gas ss and Elsc-
recommended bv the Commission @. ,Ss . vet Uudss
tricity furnish its product ior y C;s Vas lnads
the bin signed by the Governor the pl.,snies dons
~ cents. In the OF all the ~ + am not ~
business in New York CITY. tnlllN ,1neal oy ~
error when I say that there Was an s%S-auaiss0n q
companies from, the decision OF the SqS1n 81 the
Gas and Electricity in the Appellate = ,be hands o.
Supreme Court and the matter "ts s e&cvernor sal
the Attorney General and stiu te us,srt 10 Judi
''the question OF rsasOnahlenesS Is $1,000 without
cial review and should not be detvti'i'-
careful investigation etc, .,,,rs Govern.
Last wear according to the newspSlelss-Set o. 3
Higgins when asked about the ~ 'SSsSftsr thal
cheaper gas bill. said that that was ,Ss COnllnl'
could be safely left in the kecpinS o. =, "a annuN
sion OF Gas and Electricity. ana yeS ...S tho Les
message he almost peremptorly OlNItosS ne Legs,
islature to pass Slcent bill Wl-, orders. sls
ture verv promptly did under MS 81 4 bll y
Senator Stevens very promptly iutrodncqso, 81 Gas
the IelisIature TO abolish the Conh''
and Electricity. ,- the const.se
AS The Tribune shows this mornins, 'p ,'n5sr Gov,
tonality of the act OF the LegiSlatute - thrashel
ernor Higginss Instructions Is now g. rSt the vets
out IL would the unlrlttts' -, is II UeeA
or the bills by the Governor Wlttllh s.,a vfitn ns
and the reasons he gives. are al Na4''
action In signing the S-cent olll l,r,t-F{OI E1-
New H0rG CITY Nav Ia 4slA SAO~~%