New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-12
CRAVATH FOR UTILITIES
Metropolitan, He Says, FauOrs the
Passage of the Bill.

Paul ID. GrdYafh. attorney lof AIe -aVIiDA'o-i1-''
Street Railway Company. who was TO have oeeh
one OF the spea kers at the monthly dinner OF the
Mems League Of the Broadway Tabernacle Iast
night, sent letter in which he said that 'iie N
terests represented by him would be gao 10 eeo
she Public Utilities bill passed. II would he
wrote no Of as much advantage TO the corporations
as TO the public
Afr. Cravath said that traffic conditions were HoM
bad but they would be horrible IN hVe years il
the company did not have the cooperation OF 'He
city in making adequate provision for the futu'e'
The increase in The yearly passenger traflc IN Man
haitian and The Bronx in the next ten years ne
said would equal the present yearly traVel IN the
subway.
George ". Schurman presided at the dinner me
discussion was devoted entirely TO the FuoHc
Utilities bill william n. WINS said that berore
the civil War every man of exceptional AFFINITY IN
the country was applying those abilities 10 SOWING
The problems of state. After the war the county
began 10 feel impulse Of inventions ana oil IN
dustrial development He added;
II Won look to-day for the men with the ablest
inteliects you do not look for them IN me slate
look FOR them in the CiubernatoriaI chairs or the
Mayors chairs, nor even IA tAe + H. roads
81 The hig corporations, developing the material
side Of The country and making money Tor 1lehl-
rhesc ''- oapians Of industry have frequently been
,7tsrae-er,3frlg me welfare Of she community as
S55ale Their great power has made II possible ior
sben to determine the acts CT legislatures 70 eect
votes of OILERS The country has now awakened
10 The fact that the state needs TO pe sueis
against the corporations
Tnis condition Of affairs the speaker said had
led up TO the interstate commerce legislation 10
..inr Roosevelt propaganda and TO leSlslauoh III
various states. The Public Utilities blIl' ne sal''
had been drawn IN response 10 demand ior d
measure that should bring the corporations uhaer
tbe safe sane and honest control Of the state MI.
I,-irs smoke of the tremendous problem that the
transit; officials in this city had to solve GeheI-
Rrv speaking the roads were performing their
functions well, he thought
one feature Of the bin which Mr.. WINS said he
was opposed 10 was that giving TO the Governor
he mower of removing members Of the commission
without getting the consent Of the senate ne
safe it would be almost impossible TO get aoie'
conscientious men TO take such appointments when
they might be removed by a Governor N response
70 IN unreasonable clamor
The sneaker said he would prophesy that IN
making his appointments 10 the commission the
Governor would be asking the appontees 10 4
,loitcaI funeral and the flowers could be ordered
IN advance Little could be done by :he commits
sion before the next campaign TO solve the prom
lens Of transit in this city, impatient IS the
New York public he said. and the next Governor
would have the entire support ~ the populaee IN
any desire 10 remove the members. Transit prob
lems were growing rapidly lie said. that the
next election would see an unrest and uneasiness
such as we had not had before.
unless these commissioners are supported by
the feeling that they cannot be removed when they
are doing their duty said Mr.. WINS, they cannot
do good work They viii be between the people
and Governor. or. I might say, between the dew!
and the deep sea- Think for instance, what pres
sure they might be under if President Roosevelt
was still Governor and II he made up his mind TO
be not only Governor but the five commissioners
as WELL"
J. Aspiawan Hodge said the reason the railroads
were assuming such humble attitude was that
the general public had lost confidence in them ne
spoxe OF q client who was in charge OF an estate
oil some S20000 who said he had been getting Tld
OF ali his railroad stocks The last ye-r OF tNo'
II that IS ypcal of small investors, sad 9r.
Hodge 1T has more 70 do with the present con-
ditions than any Individual acts or words or hgh
officials -.
Mr. Hodge did not agree with Mr.. WINS that
the railroads n the main were doing their pest
10 solve their problems. -
Walker D. Hines. a lawyer, speaking on the
attitude Of the steam railroads, had said ne ga
not believe wise give to SUcl a commission
power over 30 many details OF railroad manage
Inenf. that would be dangerous ana resull IA a
chaotic condition. Mr. Hodge, III reply, Sald tIiit
10 give tie commission power over sucn dtldliS
did ~. faesc -uaL - @ouId exercise It II Vas
no more dangerous. lie said. lh2n 20 give the power
OF pardouing criminals to The Governor
a. HodSa thought 5he Governors absolute power
10 remove tl.a commissioners was a good thlng /
ar q Democrat he said. but am enough OF an
,1rt;r5. ct - irGt te people once having mao
an example Of good red blood will never want any
other k.a5 Of blood than that which how5 IN the
veins cf Governor hughes.