The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1907-05-01
PUBL|CUT|L|T|ESB|LL
Hearing Held by Joint LegisIa'
tive Committee.
Among Important Changes Is That
Modifying Power Of Removal and
Allowing Railroads to Exchange
Passes = Transportation For News
paper Advertising.

Albany, April 30. = The socalled
public utilities bill, in substantially
the form in which its introducers, SEN
htor Page and Assemblyman Merritt,
desired 1t to go before the two houses
for final disposition, came from the
printer late yesterday afternoon; too
late for detailed discussion at the
hearing, or conference, on the subject
held by the assembly railroads COM
mittee in Joint session with the senate
committee on judiciary.
There was, nevertheless, consider
| able debate on the bill as originally
introduced, though In several in
stances Chairman Merritt declared
that the assembly committee which
has worked many hours on the bill,
had already made substantially the
changes asked for.
Practically no new objections were
raisSs by the representatives Of the
public service corporations who ap-
peared before the committee, and most
of their suggestions were of tech
nical legal character, relating, for in
stance, to provisions for the entry of a
defense by a corporation against
which one of the proposed public SER
vice commissions shall have begun
summary proceedings to enforce its
orders.
Pierce Criticlses the Bill.
The chief direct criticism of the bill
as a whole was made by Henry ].
Pierce, chairman of committee ap-
pointed by the trustees of the Buffalo
Chamber of Commerce. who presented
II specific criticisms based on the or
iginal BILL three of which 1t appeared
had already been made by the assem-
bly, committee. The principal objec-
tion was against the absolute power
Of removal vested in the hands Of the
governor.
Ex-Assemblyman Charles Campbell,
who was leader of the Municipal
Ownership delegation In last years
assembly, attacked the bill as unin-
telligible to- layman, and said it
ought to have several months consid-
GRAFTON. o. D. Franz of Buffalo, repre-
senting local organization of the
Brotherhood of Railway Conductors.
objected to the bill on the ground that
1t would inevitably result in injury to
railroad employees
An informal discussion was held
with the committee by Charles Mat
thewson, representing the Consolidat-
ed Gas company, William N. Dykeman
the Brooklyn Union Gas company and
Colonel Timothy p Williams the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit company.
1t was announced by Chairman Mer-
ritt that so far as the assembly COM
mittee was concerned there would be
no more hearings on the bill, but that
anyone who had suggestions to make
after study of the amended bill might
communicate them to the committee.
Discussed at Public Meeting.
The special committee of the AL
bany Chamber of Commerce which has
been studying the public utilities bill
has reported and the trustees of the
organization have adopted recon-
mendation favoring a public meeting
to be held here for the discussion of
the bill
AS conditions of the meeting it is
specified;
That two prominent speakers be in
vlted to address this meeting, one to
favor the measure, the other to op-
pose it; that the chambers of COM
merce and boards of trade in the state
be invited to send representatives to
this conference; that 1t be understood
that this conference is called for the
sole purpose of discussing the measure
and that no vote is to be taken COM
mitting the gathering as standing in
favor of, or opposing the bill; that the
Albany Chamber of Commerce is not
to commit itself at the present time
as either opposing or favoring the
measure"
Among the railroad labor organiza-
tons which notified the legislative
committees of opposition to the bill
are H. G. Brooks Lodge No. 169 of Hor-
nell and Albany City lodge No. 23O of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men and Engineers.
Among the amendments to the bill
as originally introduced the most i'm
portant from the layman's viewpoint
Is that modifying the power to remove
4 public service commissioner, pro-
posed by the bill to be given to the
governor. In the original bill it was
provided that any commissioner might
be removed by the governor, but in
case of such removal the governor
shall file with the secretary of state a
statement of the reasons for such re-
moval and shall report such removal
and the reasons to the legislature at
its next session" The amended bill
provides that:
"The governor may remove any COM
missioner for inefficiency, neglect of
duty or misconduct in Office, giving to
him copy of the charges against him
and an opportunity of being publicly
heard in person or by counsel In his
own defense upon not less than 10
days notice. If such commissioner
shall be removed, the governor shall
file in the office of the secretary of
state complete statement of all
charges made against him and his
findings thereon together with COM
plete record of the proceedings"