Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-14
IGNORES "OLD GUARD"
Gov. Hughes Stand Amazes
All the Headers"
mo DEALS" HIS MOTTO
Announcement Carries Dismay to
Practical Politicians.
THE PUBLIC UTILITY LAWS
Corporation Bills Will Not Be Intro
duced In Legislature ut
Albany This Week.
THE PUBLIC UTILITY LAWS

ALBANY, January H-That mo deals
with politicians" is to be one of the notices
of Gov. Hughes administration became i'm
pressed upon the politicians themselves dur
ing the last week Ever since the election
Of Mr.. Hughes the politicians have been
wondering where they are at They have
now ceased to wonder. They understand
that Gov. Hughes is going ahead as IL there
weren't any such things as political lead
ers In New York state. Where hose men
happen to be duly accredited representatives
OF the people. such as members of the legis-
lature. the governor will ask them officially
to do certain things for the people. But he
will do so because they represent the peO-
pie, not because of their political influence.
Politicians great and small found this out
last week. some personally and others by
proxy. Chairman Timothy l.. Woodruff of
the republican state committee was one to
CLEAN the information personally. Another
was Speaker James w. WadSworth. jr., Of
the assembly. Then there a big dele
cation of legislators from Brooklyn, who
also acquired the idea at first hand. Not
that Gov. Hughes unpleasant to any
of these gentlemen, but he made them all
clearly understand that there was not to be
any divided responsibility that he was go
Ing to run his Office he though. it should
be run and that he expected the Legislature
to go along It's own responsibility. For
instance. when the Brooklyn legislators
urged the governor to reappoint Lewis M.
Swazey of that borough as state Superin-
tendent of elections for the metropolitan
district. he thanked them for their views
and then said that he must his own
judgment. even though it be erroneous. An
other time during the week. when Speaker
Wadsworth called on the governor to ac-
quaint him with the functions of the assem-
bly, committees. just before the makeup of
those bodies was announced, the governor
hut cnf hot he
speaker must act on his own responsibility
In making the appointments.
"Old Guard" Alarmed.
Then on top of this after 1t became
known that the "old guar had been
placed in control in the committees of both
houses, came Gov. Hughes speech to the
Albany chamber Of commerce that in case
OF any difficulty arising in his adminlstra-
ton he would appeal directly to the people.
So now the politicians worst fears are
confirmed. They find that Gov. Hughes ex-
poets to run his Office without their aid. 1t
is amusing to see lieutenant generals and
other commanders of the "old guard hur-
rying around explaining how they are
with" the governor in all his reforms and
waxing indignant at newspaper hints that
they ever thought Of opposing them. Yet
they are industriously trying to find what
they can save from the wreckage
The opposition to the governors pro-
posed transit reforms for New York city
and the remainder Of the state will become
more crystallized after the corporations
show their hands more clearly. The cor
porations are going to let the people have
just as little relief as possible, 1t is de-
clared and the fight between them and #.
Hughes will be intensely interesting
one.
Public Utilities.
1t is not believed that the public utilities
legislation recommended by Gov. Hughes
can be introduced this week. In fact. 1t
may be two weeks before the bills are
nodded into shape for presentation to the
legislature. Both Senator Page of New
York city and Assecblyman Merritt of st.
Lawrence county are industrously at
work on the subject. with expert help on
the side studying UP details.
One problem In connection with the pub
lie utilities board for New York city is the
boundary of the district to be laid out.
This is to be state board to regulate the
public utilities CORPORATIONS In New York
city. But an arbitrary district will have
to be mapped out. SO as to avoid conflict
of authority with tEe proposed new public
utilities board for the remainder Of the
state. 1t may be found practicable to use
the boundaries Of New York city for the
district In which the new board is to OPP
crate. For instance. traction lines. tele-
phone lines and gas mains used in the city
extend to suburbs beyond the line, and 1t
may be found more convenient to have
those interests regulated by the commits
sion for the city than by that for the state.
So territory extending several miles out
side of New York city may be included In
the district.