New-York tribune., 1907-07-10
ELLISON FOR P. s. LAW.
U1TOR STOPPED HIN.
Rcmocal Nay Sdrc Mcclellan Id
miHiSEati0n Reluctant Step.

Wtan2 3, Ellison. removed Monday as
Corporation Counsel by Mayor Mcclellan. MAS
on the point of signing and sending to the
Mayor an official opinion saying that the
Public Service Commission act was constitu-
tional. Had he remained Corporation Counsel
his opinion probably would have committed the
Mayor and the Controller to compliance with
the provisions Of the law.
The appointment Of Mr.. Pendlefon as Cor
porstion Counsel before Mr. EEisons opinion
was turned in to the Mayor leaves the inter
pretation OF the law, from the Mcclellan ad-
ministrations point of view. entirely open.
1t was learned yesterday that the Public Ser
vice Commissioners were considerably wrought
up over the turn affairs had taken. At least
Two members Of the commission inclined to
the view that the removal of Corporation Coun-
sci Ellison was FASTENED because it was known
that ne was about To turn In opinion sus-
tanning the Cousitutonality Of the new law.
Those who were determined to find fault with
the Mayor for removing Mr.. Ellison suggested
that Controller Metz could not have carried out
his expressed intention of refusing TO pay the
bills OF the new commission if Mr. ElliSOns
opinion had been sent to tire Mayor ana the
Controller would have been done in another
twenty-fou' hours The Mayors critics say it Is
suggestive tha, Senator McCarren and Control
Ter Metz should be opposed to the new law and
that just the head Of the Law Department
was about to give an official opinion sustaining
its Consttutionality he summarily removed
from Office. 1t will he recalled that the Mayor
opposed the utilities bill before it became a law.
The fact that Mr. Ellison about to for
ward his official opinion, said, was COnlmunt-
Gated to one Of the Public Service commission
ers yesterday and caused buzz of excitement
AT the office of the commission. 1t goes with
out saying that Controller Metz cause the
commission some embarrassment if he opposes
the payment or its bills on the ground that the
law creating it IS unconstitutional The com
mission has S1500 600 Of state money with which
to run its business. but that Will not last LONG
the salary roll Is formidable,
The other side Of the situation is that Mr. ELI
son personally did not investigate the provisions
of the new law. Practically all Of the study and
cOmpa arison of laws in the city's law depart
ment is done by the assistants the Corpora
tiOn Counsel. An opinion concerning the con-
stitutionality of act like that creating the
Public Service Commission wOulC pass under
the eye of Theodore Connolly first assistant. be-
fore going to the Corporation Counsel The
opinion which Mr.. Ellison left unsigned Is doubt
less the work of of the assistants, and as
such it viii go to Corporation Counsel Pende-
ton Mr. Pendleton said yesterday that he ex-
peCted 10 make a personal study OF the new
law before reporting on it TO the Mayor
Another story which Interested the Public Ser
vice Commission yesterday the report
that Cord Meyer. the friend Of William F. Shee-
han and Senator McCarren. two months ago
from office before July II. When Mr.. Ellison
was Commissioner OF Water Supply. Gas and
Electricity he severely Jared Mr.. Meyer b.
proving in some inexpcable way Mr. Meyers
Citizens Water Supply Company Of Queens was
taking a large quantity OF water from tho city's
mains in the RdgewOod's Heights section or
Brooklyn without paying for II.
When Mr.. Ellison first made the charge Mr.
Never Indignantly denied Il. Mr.. Ellison demon
strated that the Meyer company was getting the
city's water without paying FOR II. Thereupon
zens' company and the city mains cut. In
mediately the people who had been served by
the Citizens company complained that tho
pressure was so low that they could not get tho
desired quantity of water.
The Citizens company then made a contract
with the city 10 re-establish the connection in
Stanhope street and agreed 10 pay the citys
prIce for the water used. Mr.. Sheehan was
counsel for the Citizens Water Supply Company
when the controversy between Mr.. Ellison and
Mr. Never occurred. The friends Of Mr.. Ellison
saw that Messrs Sheehan and Meyer have been
bitter toward Mr. Ellison ever since the contro-
versy over the secret water pipe connection and
that they FASTENED his downfall.
When Mr. Ellison left the law department on
Monday he intimated that he would have good
deal TO say about the cause Of his removal
Yesterday, when seen Ivy a Tribune reporter he
said that he abiding ny the counsel OF his
friends and that ne would have nothing to say