The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-28
0. c. SEMpLE MADE ASSISTANT
WILL AID 4. n. BLACKMAR. PUBLIC
UTILITIES COUNSEL.
An Amherst Man. He PractIsed Law Early
In Minneapolis prominent rs q re
publican M0rker-Nlr. INlns's Probe
Will he Aeady by Thursday. He says.

"ht ."s W
The appointment Of Oliver q. Semp!e
as assistant counsel to the Public Service
Commission was officially nou Cod
yesterday. Mr.. Semple will assume his
new office on Monday and with A. +. Black
mar, chief counsel OF the commission.
he will proceed at once to organize the
boards legal department. COMMISSIONS
Bassett said yesterday that because Of the
wide range OF the work OF the commission
IL would be necessary to have the assist
ance Of a large legal staff. For some days
past Mr.. Semple has known that he would
be appointed and has been ~acquainting
himself with the general scope OF the legal
work which will fall under his supervision.
Mr.. Semple was born In Burlington, VI,
in 1851. He was graduated from Amherst
College in 1888 and later from the Columbia
Law School. He practised law in Minne-
spolis first. but since 1891 he has lived in
this city. He was chairman OF the Fifth
Assembly district organization Of the
Citizens Union in the Mayoralty campaigns
OF 1897 and 1901 and was chairman Of the
committee On district organizations Of the
Citizens Union in 1901 and 1902. Since
last year he has been a member Of the
Republican county committee, is a member
OF the State bar association, the bar asso-
citation Of this city. Amherst association,
and Of the University Republican, City and
Madison Square Republican clubs. He
married Miss Hester NJ. Callahan in June.
1898.
William NJ. WINS, special counse for the
commission, said yesterday that II the IN
v~estigation Of the Inter-Met and Brooklyn
Rapid Transit companies should be fixed
by Chairman Wilcox to begin Thursday
next he would be fully prepared to start the
inquiry on that day He and his legal and
accounting experts were at work all day
yesterday on the books Of the companles.
They will continue that work .o-day. 1t
was made clear yesterday at the offices Of
the commission that the real purpose of
the investigation will be not so mu Oh to
examine into the financial history and on
dition Of the traction merger as to ascertain
II the companies have been making efforts
to provide adequate service for the travel
ling public and whether or not II would be
possible to relieve the congested transit
conditions OF the city by compelling the
companies TO make such improvements as
would increase the carrying capacities OF
their lines. The place where the hearings
will be held has not yet been decided.
Commissions Bassett is studying the
Belmont tunnel situation. A delegation
from Queens told Mr.. Bassett on Friday
that the impression prevailed in that bor-
ough hat an extra fare would be charged
for passage through the4tunnel Although
the tunnel will connect the subway in this
city with the Queens county trolley lines.
which are owned by August Belmont.
the tunnel under the East River, also con-
trolled by Mr.. Belmont, is the property
nominally Of a separate company. The
proble'l Mr.. Bassett has set himself to
work out is whether the commission can
prevent the charging OF an extra fare in
the tunnel in view Of the fact that while
the TUNE and the trolley lines in Queens
are operated by different companies Mr..
Belmont is admittedly the owner Of both.
The question was one, Mr. Bassett said.
that he was not prepared for the moment
to give an opinion upon. but he will sub
nit a report to the board within a few
days pom the matter, and he will include
in the report his opinion as to the power
OF the board to take up the question OF
the validity Of the franchise under which
Mr.. Belmont is preparing to operate trains
through the old Steinway tunnel