New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-04
TO TIE Up COMMISSION
CITY NAY HOLD Up FUNDS
Test of Utilities Act Looked For
bU Some.

tician q Democratic State Senator, that the
Controller would refuse to grant the commission
any money after it had expended the $500 OGA
that Controller Metz said he would turn over
to IT. I tell you," said this Senator. that the
Ctliites Commission for the first district will
be without a dollar either for its own salaries
or for the prosecution of its work The Of
hclals of New York City will not give it a
cent until it goes into the courts and on its
own initiative proveD the constitutionaity of the
utilities act
one of the Commissioners said yesterday that
ne was aware that there might be some diff
hculty of that nature. but that the commission
would continue the performance of its duties
as II everything smooth. I'VE will do our
DUTY and trust To public opinion making the
officials of this city do theirs If there is to
pe any test Of the Constitutionaity of the utili-
lies bill We the Commissioners are certainly
not the ones 70 make IL. If the men in charge
OF tho city's finances refuse US the funds thax
are necessary to do the work, with them alone
and upon them alone must the whole responsi-
biity rest"
CORPORATIONS MAY INTERFERE.
That there is a determined and at present
underground fight being made to hamper the
Cultles Commission is not doubted by many
corporation representatives. in Albany smiled
cNhcaiiy when the bin was passed and more or
less openly predicted that its provisions couIG
never be enforced. That they had determined
on some plan To annul the effect Of the measure
many politicians believed al that time and
even the friends of the bill felt some uneasiness
over the cord up the corporations sleeves.
but such fears quieted on the reflection
mat Governor Hughes himself had devoted
many hours to careful study of every pro-
vision Of the bill, and that so excellent law
yer as the Governor would never have signed
me OH II II had been unconstitutional.
10 this too, was added the argument that
even powerful corporate interests would not dare
10 oppose the execution Of the provisions of a
bill that public opinion seemed so unanimously
TO demand
Stll the sudden let-up in the fight OF the cor
poratfons against measure that affected so
vitality their whole existence caused uneasiness
that could not be entirely offset The original
stand taken by Controller Metz. in the eyes of
many, seemed TO justify these fears. Then, on
TUESDAY, the Controller apparently deserving
his first stand. came out in an interview in
which he said he would turn over 10 the COM
mission the balance in favor of he former
Rapid Transit Commission if the Corporation
Counsel advised him that ne could legally.
DEMOCRATIC SENATOR PEssIMIsTIC
Hardly had this reassuring statement come
from Controller Metz when the Democratic Sen
ator announces that, although the commission
may get the 100000 credited the former
Rapid Transit Commission through weaken
ing Of the Controller" it Will have to 60 into
court and prove the constitutionaity OF the
utilities bill itself before il can get another cent
The city officials viii not dare TO use such
tactics" said a Republican leader YES erday
even should they be inclined 10 do so II they
did, why the public would rise up and drive
them ont Of Office 7 think the Senator has al
lowed his friendship for corporations 20 destroy
his good Judgment"
This seemed TO be the general opinion Of Re-
publican politicians in the city yesterday. With
out exception they said that at this time no
public official would have the temerity to hold
M the Utilities Commission for this district even
II he had the desire 70 do so.
Corporation Counsel Ellison would give 20
idea as TO what opinion he would give the Con
troller on the latters right to turn over TO the
Utilities Commission the balance Of the credit
Of the former Rapid Transit Commission. II
have not had time TO go into the matter. was
ali he would say.
The commission got on rapidly yesterday with
its work Of organization. The work Of the old
commissions and the examination Of their ar
fairs were turned over 10 subcommittee. The
following committees were appointed:
For the immediate investigation Of gas meters
Commissioner Matbie
on organization, Commissioners Eustis and
Maltbe.
Budget Commissioners Bassett and McCarron
Permanent offices, Chairman Wilcox.
Rules Of procedure, Commissioners Bass7tt
and McCaToll.
MANY COMPLAINTS RECEIVED.
Numerous complaints were received Yesterday.
These were simply tabuIated and filed. Tho
pIaints as soon as possible. The principal OBJ
tect at present is 10 get the commission thor
oughly organized and the work systematized,
Commissioner Wilcox said that the present
force Of the Rapid Transit Commission. which
has been retained. would be used to a certain
extent IN investigating the complaints. The
commissioners themselves. he said, would he
active personally In Investigating complaints I'M
,nediately on their receipt. Chairman Wilcox
would not say whether the commission would
bnld tbo riD m q Island
scheduled by the old Rapid Transit Commits
sion for July -, but the general impression is
that this hearing Will be had
ultimately WIFI appoint force TO inves-
tigate complaints" said the commissioner, but
at present we will content ourselves with the
force under Mr.. Rice to do this work or
course there is a lot Of work for us 10 do. We
will get at the big problems that confront MS,
such the bridge crush grade crossings and so
forth as soon as possible. There Is a lot Of
work in the organizing Of a commission like
this. and need time. Give us little time TO
get organized and then we will get down to
business.
we have received a lot of letters that begin
b,, congra atulating us on our appointments and
wind up by asking why we have not rem
edied this or that grievance. Those are hardly
complimentary letters. in my opinion. But we
want to begin holding public hearings as soon
as we can"
TO APPOINT COUNSEL NEXT WEEK.
Mr. WILCOX said that the appointment or
counsel had not been discussed at the meeting
and that II was improbable any appointment
would be made before next week.
The commissioners went to the city Han yes
terday with the intention of formally calling on
the Mayor. the President of the Board OF Alder
men and the Controller to establish official rela-
tions The Mayor received Mr. Wilcox, VINO
went TO his office TO if such a programme
was acceptable and requested him to postpone
the official calls until Monday because of the
pressure of business affairs. Mr.. Wilcox
-.s.raod 70 thn s,1neestinn and the official calls