New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-14
CLUB OVER RAILWAYS.
Legislature Inquiries Only If Utilities
Bill Fails.
by Telegraph to The Tribunal


Albany, March 13.-ResolutiOns for legislative
! Investigations Of the transit situation in New
York City and the recent New York Central ac-
cident being held in the Assembly Ways and
Means Committee as a possible club over the
companies in case the Governors Public Utili-
ties measure should fail of passage This fact
was made apparent at the hearings to-day on
the Wagner transit investigation resolution and
the Sheridan resolution covering the Central
accident From the discussion of the measures,
it became clear that the Ways and Means Com
mittee expects the Public Utilities bill to ac-
complish the results they contemplate. For this
eason the committee unwilling to make
appropriations for legislative investigations
when such appropriations would be unneces-
sary on account OF the confidence they place in
the passage Of the Public Utilities bill and its
effectiveness when in operation.
The hearing on these resolutions was signih-
cant of the opposition that Is expected to the
public utilities measure. Messrs. Sheridan and
Wagner thought that IL the bill were passed at
all 1t would be passed so late IN the year that
it's provisions would not be effective In time to
render unnecessary the need for legislative in
vestigation as provided by their resolutions
Mr. Sheridan said: The probabilities are that
when the Public Utilities bill is passed It will be
so marred by amendments that 1t will be made
quate to render the necessary relief"
Mr. Wainwright, who introduced resolution
somewhat similar 70 Mr.. Sheridan's calling for
an investigation of the accident on the New
York Central said:
yesterday the Governor received a large
delegation from Westchester County who came
here to urge him to have such an investigation.
After considering the subject he decided that
the Public Utilities bill would best carry out
the purposes OF the proposed legislative inves-
tigation He convinced them that he was right
Now. they were the people who had lost rela-
tives in the wreck who had suffered directly
from it If they went away convinced that the.
Public Utilities bill was the best way 70 handle
the matter. 1 should be inclined to believe that
il was myself"
Mr. Merritt, OF the intrOducers OF the
utilities BILL held the same view.
This matter Of railroad accidents Is no Joke.
he said. "As soon as I think that a legislative
investigation Is the proper way to handle the
question shall be strong for It, think 1t IS
the wrong way now. The passage or the puohc
utilities bill will give a commission far more
power TO deal with the situation than IeglsIa-
tive investigation would have. But II see
that il won't act, I ready 10 go ahead ana
do things TO the roads We should deal with
these questions the English do, and the time
will come when we Will"
Mr. Wagner was not satisfied with trusting
to the action of bodies created by the utilities
measure. He said there urgent demand
for an investigation OF transit conditions IN
and should have it, He said he feared that the
utilities bill would fail 10 pass or be amended
10 such an extent that 1t could not apply. After
the hearing Mr.. Wagner said that he would
move that the committee be discharged from
further consideration of his resolution. and
make fight FOR 1t on the floor Of the Assembly