The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-14
HALF FARE FOR CITY PUPILS.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL HOLDS SUCH
PROVISION CONSTITUTIONAL.
The BtI to Re Reported Favorably 10 the
Assembly, VI. o. Measure Advanced
Would Abolish water Commission
Bracket Attacks the Barber Graft.

VII ~ HuVlhHu "aNOt SOiuiuibsaOal
Bracket ATTACKS the Barber Graft.
ALBANY, March 13.-Despite the opposi.
ton Of the street railroads of New York
city the Assembly Railroads Committee will
favoTably report Ass%emblyman Hartman's
bill granting the school children OF New
York city a half fare going to and from
school. The railroads had raised the point
that the bill was unconstitutional.
In order to make sure Of the point Assem-
blynnan Percy Hooker, chairman OF the
Assembly Railroads Committee, asked At
torney- General Mayer to render an opin-
ion as to the right Of the Legislature to de-
fine the rates that may be charged for diff
( ferent classes Of people.
Mr. Mayer holds that the bill Is constitn-
tfonal, urging that the State recognizes
children as wards OF the State and conse-
quently can secure to them rights and privi-
legas that do not accrue to others. He also
holds that the Legislature has a right to
change fares to suit all conditions.
Senator Thomas F.. Grady expects to get
upon the statute books this year the bin
favored by Tammany Hall which empowers
Mayor Mcclellan to name board Of control
of public utilities in New York city. To-day
the bill was ordered TO a third reading in the
Senate. The bill is favored by Tammany
as a cure for the corporate ills complained
Of by the Municipal Ownership people,
Senator Stevens's bill, continuing as
legal Investments bonds Of a railroad which
has gope under the control Of a holding
company, Is ~encountering serious opposi-
ton In the Assembly. Two weeks ag o
when Assemblyman Wainwright's similar
bill came up on third reading in the Assem-
bly, on the order of final passage the bill
failed to receive enough votes to pass 1t.
To-day the Stevens bill came up in the
Assembly on third reading and again met
objections. Finally it was laid aside for
perfection.
It is explained that the intent Of the bill
Us to legalize the bonds Of the Chicago
and Alton Railroad Company, now held
by State savings banks. The Chicago
and Alton has been sold to a holding COM
pany. One argument against the bill
advanced In the Assembly by Assembly,
man Tompkins is that the bill practically
legalizes mergers and holding companies.
Another bill Of Senator Stevens that is
also meeting with opposition in the Assem-
bly, is the one grading the prices Of electric
light for pivate consumers in New York
city. Assemblyman Oglesby asserts 1t
raises the price of electric light In the
westchester county, district OF New York
city, and he is opposing the bill on that
ground. To-day he managed to have it
recommitted for a hearing.
The senate to-day advanced to a third
reading Senator Stevens's bill requiring
trust companies to maintain a reserve
fund.
Although it was stated hat the bill was
such an old timer hat it was entitled TO be
turned out to pasture for the remainder Of
itsf days the Assembly passed Assembly
man Averill's bill prohibiting the docking
OF horses tails. Last year Speaker Wads-
worth, then an ordinary member, was
successful in killing this bill.
Considerable dissatisfaction exists not
only among Democrats but among Re-
publicans, with the progress made by the
expert commission appointed. by Mayor
Mcclellan to create an additional water
supply.for New York city In Ulster county.
The dissatisfaction Is entirely with the
work OF the commission and not with the
for which it was established. 1t
Is insisted the commissioners do not seem
20 grasp the situation and that their work
shows experiences beyond the pale Of prac-
ticability.
Last week Assemblyman Yale (Rep.,
Putnam introduced a bill abolishing the
commissioners and enabling Mayor McClel-
Ian to appoint a new n more practical
COLtnsSSlOn. lO-udy oeIatOT GdTUneT lfL6p.
BROOKLYN, who. represents Timothy L.
Woodruf's district, introduced a bin en-
tirely repeating the law of last year under
which the New York city water commission
was appointed. Senator Gardner last year
was opposed to the bill because the city,
he asserted, had ample power under the
Smarter to go anywhere in the State and
get an ample water supply. He is of the
opinion still and Furthermore con-
siders that the commission has succeeded
a. lAt-r -AthiN- I,N f,rnt.h Nn tha ,-A-l,
Of New York city a magnificent illustration
OF the maximum Of extravaganza with the
minimum of accomplishment. Senator Gard
per says the commission has a payroll Of
$500 900, with results that cannot DO seen
with a microscope.
Senator Cooper introduced a new branch
bank bill, which provides that no bank
with a capital and surplus Of less than
$500 900 shall open a branch and If any bank
with that capital and surplus opens more
than one branch it shall have for every
branch an additional capital
and surplus of Sl00, 900 In no event can
. branch be established without the con-
sent OF the State Superintendent OF Banks
Cooper bill extends these proyi-
TO trust companies.
Senator Edgar I. Bracket to-day threw
q scare into the State BARRIERS Commits
He introduced a bill repeating the
law creating the commission. Senate
Brackett says the State BARRIERS Com
AbACEnOtl - u pew hoiNCAl % !
AssemhlyInan Bernstein (Tam.) has in
a bill providing for a commission
Of three persons to inquire into the con-
dition OF the ice crop, the sources OF supply |
and the method of its distribution. The
object is to see whether the ice trust is
in raising the price next summer
as is threatened.
A bill introduced by Assemblyman Eagle
ton amends the Constitution so that the
terms Of Senator's and Assemblymen shall
be two years and the salary of Senators
shall be $1,000 and Assemblymen 5 5000 u
year. They each now get, 81 500 a year,
and some Of the rural members save 81 200
, session at that.
Senator BENJAMIN F. Wilcox, who Is
to as the diplomat of the Senate, |
he never says anything, intro
iuoed a bill ~to-daytwhich provides that the
in actions against a railroad for
to issue transfers shall 20 to the
people instead OF the aggrieved party.
This practically means there would be
no incentive for the filing Of complaints
of thie character.
Bills Signed by the Governor. 4
Albany, March 1s,-Gov. Higgins has
signed the following bills:
"a n-l.t- -..t, ,n.tatn