Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-01-12
CORPORATIONS TO
FIGHT Mr.. HUGHES
They are Planning Battle Against
New York Governors Pub|Ic
Utilities Board Plan.
STRONG AHO BITTER OPPOSITION
Empire States Chief Executive viii
Rely on Public Sentiment to
Garry the Day-Asents of the
Great Corporations Beginning to
Get Busy at Albany.


ALBANY, N. Y, Jan. lit be
came evident today that any politi-
cal opposition to the State of New
York public utilities legislation
proposed by Governor Hughes will
fade into insignifcance beside the
corporation fight that Is to he made
against those measures. So far as
the wiping out OF the State Railroad
Commission and the State Gas and
Electricity Commission involves the
loss of party patronage the polite
ians directly interested appear TO
have accepted the matter philoso
phically and not much talk Is heard
OF fighting to save their jobs.
The big steam railroad companies
that make labyrinth out OF the
map of the State; the local traction
Interests of New York city; the gas
and electricity companies and the
telephone companies are all fearful
of the powers that it is proposed to
give to the State public utilities
board and to the New York CITY
public utilities board over the public
service corporations.
Advance Agents Busy.
Advance agents of the corpora
tons are trying to learn Just what
IS to be put into the bills to be
introduced on behalf of the admin.
lstration, and in every part OF the
State the financial interests are pre-
pairing to get together to make
tremendous fight against Governor
Hughes plan to regulate them.
Governor Hughes in his message
did not go into oil the details as to
what should be put into the pro.
posed legislation. He drew broad
outlines. the filing in of which he
leaves to the Legislature. Senator
Page is preparing the legislation.
lie hopes to be able to bring 1t
here next week, but the job is so
tremendous that it may not be fin
lshed by that time. He has had
man busy for two weeks going
over the details of the old laws of
public utilities laws OF other States
and of seeing how some proposed
new ideas will have to be fitted into
existing statutes.
!. The Railroads Worried.
One of the big propositions that
are frightening the steam railroads
all over the State In connection
with the proposed public utilities
board for the entire state Is the
matter of regulation OF domestic
freight rates. Governor Hughes in.
tends to get impartial treatment for
shippers. whether big or small. and
very strong powers on this subject
VIII be vested in the proposed new
BOARD II the sought for Legislation
is granted.
Another point over which the
steam railroads are alarmed is what
provisions are to be inserted relative
TO the safety OF the public. Grade
crossing improvement structures are
the bugbears of the railroads, es. |
pecially where they have to stand |
most of the expense of the work. I'll
is also proposed to give the new
state Board strong powers on the
question OF requiring adequate
vice Tor the people OF the State both
Us 10 passengers and as to freight.
Il
me corporation representatives al.
ready here are in somewhat of n
qnandary how to size up the nro.
posed legislation. In the past srstI
drafts of legislation have either ask.
ca Tor much more than the origina.
TORS thought could be obtained or
eise much less. The idea of Ben.
'amin b. Odell, Jr., for instance
was to ask for every possible thing
and for much more than was want.
ed' and then gradually give in
though really retaining what was
originally hoped for.
other leaders before him would
put In bill asking for little no
an opening wedge. and gradually!
'ead up to the full list of objects
sought to be accompanied.
80 the advance agents of cor.
poratiohs and Legislative prosperity
are wondering which end tho nres.
cut administration will play. 1t does
not appear to have occurred toI
.aese men of devious mental wavs
that the administrators, ,,