The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-03-06
GOVERNOR HUGHES
 PUBLIC SERVICE BILL
LONG EXPECTED MEASURE TO BE INTRODUCED IN LEGISLA-
 TURF TO-DAY.

Provides for Abolition of Present State
 Board of Railroad Commissioners
 and the State Commission of Gas
 and EIectrIcity--WOuld Crente Two
 Public Service Commissions of Five
 Members Each to be Appointed by
 the GOvernOr-New York to be
 Treated Separately.
 Albany, March 5-The long expected bill, which will be known as the gov ernor's public service commission bill," to carry into effect what is regarded as the most important recommendation of Governor Hughes message to the legislature, will be introduced in both houses of the legislature tomorrow by Senator Page and Assemblyman Mer- ritt.
 The bill provides for the abolition of the present state board of railroad commissioners, the state commission of gas and electricity, the New York city inspector of gas meters and the New York city rapid transit commission. In their places would be created two pub lie service commissions of five members each, to be appointed by the governor; their jurisdiction to cover, respectively New York, Kings, Queens and Rich mond counties as one public service district;;" the rest to consist of the state as the other.
 Each commissioner is to receive $l0,- 900 and each commission is to appoint a counsel at $10,00O and a secretary at $6,OOO, The full term of office is to be five years, the term of one commission CT in each board expiring annually be- ginning February 1, 1909
 The jurisdiction of the commission in the first district extends to all rail- roads, street railroads and common car riers operating exclusively within that district to street railroads any portion of which is within the district, except as to construction and local facilities and transportation outside the district; to the construction and local facilities and transportation of the state; and, in addition the commission is vested with all powers heretofore conferred upon the rapid transit board.
 All jurisdiction not given to the com mission of the first district is vested, in the commission of the second district.
 The bill prescribes the duties of transportation companies and of gas and electricity companies, and gives to the commissions power to regulation of such companies, It provides for ade- quate side track and switch connec- tions equitable distribution of cars, and requires the filing with the commission and publication of all tariff schedules, joint tariff rates and verified copies of all contracts or agreements between common carriers. It prohibits unjust discrimination, by whatever device; free passes, save in certain excepted cases, and undue discrimination be- tween long and short hauls. J
 The bill provides that the franchise lo of a public service corporation shall not be assigned, transferred or leased with out the approval of the proper commis- sion. It forbids a railroad or street railroad or gas and electricity corpora tion to purchase or hold any of the capital stock of any other similar cor poration unless authorized by the com mission. It further forbids the trans fer to any stock corporation, except as collateral security, of more than 10 per cent of the total capital stock but this does not prevent the holding of stock heretofore lawfully acquired. The com missions are given jurisdiction over is- sues of stock or bonds, but may not authorize the capitalization of fran chises except to the extent that the corporation has actually paid for such franchise to the state or a municipal ity, not including an annual tax or ize the capitalization, upon the merger of two public service corporations, be- yond the amount of the capital stock of the two so merged, or to capitalize any contract for consolidation or lease.
 Each commission would have power ports, to investigate accidents, fix rates, order adequate service, and ap- ply to any court of competent juris- dlction for the enforcement of it's or ders.
 Penalties ranging from S1,O0O to $5,- 900 are imposed upon public service corporations violating the act or fail ing to obey any order of the commits sion.