The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-15
ATTACKS GAS COMMISSION.
PRESIDENT RUMPHREYS SAYS IT
LACKS EXPERIENCE.


Head Of Stevens Institute Finds FAINT With
the Way the state Has IND ertaken TO
Regulate the Lighting mduatry-ToO
H. Many Lawyers, Is One Complaint.
President A. @. Humphreys Of Stevens
Institute, Hoboken, took a fall out Of tho
State Gas Commission, Gov. Higgins and
the Legislature at a dinner Of Columbia
University civil engineer graduates at
the Hotel Aston last night. President
Humphreys was one Of the experts who
testified before the gas investigating COM
mittee. There we're anout $50 civil engi-
neers at the dinner.
Let u.s." said President Humphreys,
CONSIDER a case Of so-called reform near at
home. In the case OF a certain industry
public clamor had been cultivated by the
yellow journals and especially by the
yellow journal. No doubt >ause had been
given for complaint, but the causes we're
specific, not general. But this was enough
for the yellow journal to say that every fea-
ture Of the management was wrong and
that nothing was or could be fair or honest
about the management.
First, an investiga ton was had by a
oommitte from Albany. This is generally
spoken Of as a most thorough investiga-
ton The thoroughness Is seen when we
find that upon the recommendation of this
committee a law was passed requiring
the company to distrib ute its product under
conditions that would in the effort to con-
form Their eto necessarily deprive a con-
sumner Of satisfactory supply and then
the oompany would be subject to $1,000
fine as ften almost as the authorities
M no1 70 pnalo tha ipora1tipna
As the result Of this Investigation
which was 30 remarkable for its complete
~ness-alaw was passed to place this industry
under the control Of a commission. tt
business being one Of much complexity,
1t was reasonable to expect that the Gov
ernor would not only try to appoint able
and reputable men, but men already quail
fed to deal with the problems TO be pre-
eented and men not subject to political
pressure.
sThe undertaking was a difficult one,
even for a competent board-competent,
/ mean, by reason of particular training
branch Of engineering Is involved, should
we not expect that on such a board there
would be at least one engineer? AS many
questions OF business policy and manage
ment are involved, should we not expect
that there would be at least one member
with a broad business experienced No
all three appointees were lawyers, and all
three apparently subject to political press
ure.
Il wish it distinctly understood that l
make 10 reflections on these gentlemen
personally; 1 am finding fault only with
: the system. Furthermore, none Of them
apparently had had such a qualifying ex-
perience in commercial matters that they
could rea lily take in the full and true mean
ing Of a statement of accountants. For
~tunately there was a judge, and he had
had experience in balancing conflicting
evidence.
Speaking from a fairly full and broad
experience In such matters, l deliberately
express the opinion that if such a board
is 10 be recruited from one class or profess
sion only-though there is no necessity
for such a course-a better result could be
obtained from a board composed of three
engineers than from one composed of
three lawyers, and especially ii these engi-
neers were accountant engineers. l firmly
believe that selected engineers are as Iom-
Petent to decide questions Of law as selected
lawyers are competent to decide questions
of engineering.
Il am making no attack on lawyers or
On politicians, but | claim that men who
are called upo to act on matters 80 i'm
portant and charged with technioalities
should have had previous experience to
qualify them to act intelligently, and above
all they should be under no political obli-
CATION.
In this case, the couSEe pursued is def
nitely open to criticism, for the Legislature
which passed the law and the Governor
who appointed the members Of the boa I'd
put pressure upon the board to render q
decision while the Investigation was not
yet. completed; Finally, the Legislature
took the mat tPolt of the hands of the board
by passing a hSt to cover some of the cases
still under 5eytoment.
What a parody upon justice and what
q reflection upon themselves in having first
committed the matter TO a board of their
own making, presumably that the facts
might be developed by a dispassionate and
intelligent investigation as a guide to any
action to be taken, and then taking tn e
matter out of the hands Of the board be-
cause the Investigation necessarily took
more time than the politicians believed to
be necessary"
Preside Vt Humphreys said that it was
evidento ,at the public clamor which had
infiuenctS.'-our Legislators" was not cult
waited even by the CcnSCienCelesS yellow
journals without there being a basis for
complaint.
But" asked the speaker, do the oom-
plalnants conduct themselves 80 as TO give
no reason for complaint? Especially do the
yellow journals conduct their affairs in a
way TO place them above reproach?"
Might not the politicians who iuvesti-
gate sometimes be themselves investigated
to advantage?
do public servants under the control of
politicians always perform their duties
efficiently and are the results so obtained
always economical?
President Humphreys was not, he de-
clared, trying to Justify ineffciency or dis
honesty, but he believed in fair play and
discriminating criticisms.
William Barclay Parsons was toast
master. Other speakers were President
Nicholas Murray Butler of Columbia and
Henry F. Hornbostel, the archiectt.
MURDERED IN HER HOME.