The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1907-05-30
UTILITIES BILL PASSED BY
, new YORK LEGISLATURE
Governor Hughes Measure Gac5
through in Record Time.
EVERY AMENDMENT REJECTED

NO&ANG ~ AAS 4A OAAA
Cancus Wanted Itand With Only
Six Disscnters, All Democrats
Synopsis of Bill.
Albany, N. Y. - After a debate
which lasted less than two hours the
Senate passed the Governors Public
Utilities bill, as approved by him, ny.
a vote Of forty-one to six. Ten mini
utes later the Assembly by unanimous
vote had concurred in the bill as
amended by the caucus OF Republican
Senator's.
Bound by the u rule, the Re-
publicans voted for the bill as 4 unit.
The Senators who voted against the
bill were:
Thomas H. Cullen, Third District.
Kings.
James J. Frawley, Twentieth Dis
trict; New York.
Conrad Hasenflug, Ninth District,
Kings.
Patrick H. McCarren, Seventh Dis
trict, Kings.
Thomas T.. McManus, Fifteenth
District, New York.
James A. Thompson, Fifth District,
Kings.
Several amendments were offered
by the Democratic opponents and
other Democrats who voted for the
bill on final roll call. All these were
voted down. Senator McCarren Of
fered two amendnlents. One of these
provided for the appointment of the
Commissioners for the New York
City District by the Mayor. Tho
other amendment was for q broad
court review.
Senator Cohalan (Tammany) Of
fered ar amendment providing for
one commission for the entire State,
and making that commission elective.
A synopsis of the Public Utilities
bill is as follows:
1.-Two public service commissions
of five members each, one for New
York, Kings, Queens and Richmond
Counties, the other for the rest of the
State; each empowered to provide for
the control Of common carriers, gas
and electric corporations, with full
power to subpoena witnesses, and all
proceedings prosecuted by it to be
preferred. Its orders shall take eff
feet at a specified time and shall re-
main in force as long as the commits
sion may direct, provided they do not
violate any provision OF the constitu-
ton.
S-The obligations of common car
Eiers and tho rights of shippers are
defined in Art. 2, which is ~self-opera-
tive, no action by the commission be-
ing required to render it effective.
S-Safe and adequate service is re-
putred from common carriers; switch
connections for shippers and with lat
~ercl roads being made obligatory.
e4-The publication by railroads OF
schedules of rates, in such a form as
to make rebates impossible. Before
any rate can be changed, notice must
be published for thirty days. All
preferences are prohibited, as we'll
as all devices for securing rebates.
False billing is also prohibited, and a
shipper who takes a rebate is liable
to punishment IS well as the railway
that gives it.
5-No free passes are permitted,
except to officers, employees, clergy
men, etc.
GA common carrier is prohibited
from charging more for a short than
for a long haul. The commission is
to regulate the, distribution of cars
among shippers.
THE carrier cannot limit its
liability by contract, but absolutely
insures goods and baggage that it
carries.
S-The commission must know the
condition, capitalization and fran
chises of the railways, and any single
commissioner may investigate their
acts or omissions, acting On his own
initiative. Provision is also made
for f1in1 onn7n1oinfC with tho 0nna.
mission.
9-The commission is to fix reason
able rates for passenger, freight and
express service, to compel the estab.
lishment of through rates, to order
repairs, improvements and changes
by any common carrier, to regulate
its schedule, and even to dictate tic
1t the system Of keeping accounts ii
shall adopt, and its consent must be
gained before any railroad can build
or can assign, transfer or lease its
franchise OR property.
1n-NO holding company can hold
than ten per cent. of the stoca
of any railroad, but one railroad may
acquire the stock of another If it OBJ.
<tains the consent Of the commission
The railroads cannot issue stocks OF
bonds without the approval Of tbs
commission.
1.-THE penalty for violation OF
the law is a fine of $1,000, and any
officer or agent of the corporation
who violates it is guilty of a misde.
meanor A summary proceeding may
be brought against a corporation re
fusing to obey the commissions man
Gate.
/14-Ga5 and electric companies
are regulated about as under thc
present gas commission.