The Washington herald., 1907-12-16
HUGHES TO Be HOST
Invites Public Service Men
to Dinner Wednesday.
WINS SAID NOT TO BE ASKED
Governor Believed TO Have Told
Friend IL He Were Presidential
Candidate Fruitless Work of New
York City Commission He Appoint
ed Would Make Him Unavailable.

Albany. n. Y, Dec. 15.-Gov. Hughes
has i-yited the members of the public
service commissions Of up State and
down State 10 be his guests at dinner at
the executive mansion on Wednesday
evening. SO far as could be learned to-
night, William NJ WINS, special counsel
for the New York City commission, has
not been invited to be present on this
occasion. Only the members Of the two
commissions. the two secretaries, and
Abel Blackmar. general counsel for the
New York City commission, are 10 be the
governors guests.
II a reported conversation between Gov.
Hughes and William L. Ward Repub-
lican national committeeman for this
State. is correct, Gov. Hughes is not sat
isfed with the work of the New York
City commission. According TO this con-
versation. repeated by a personal friend
of Mr.. Wards. Gov. Hughes said TO Mr.
Ward in New York City. several even
ings ago:
Even II / were a candidate for the
Presidency. my New York City commits
sion. II it should continue on it's course
for another two months, would make me
unavailable"
The alleged conversation between the
governor and Mr.. Ward followed the
meeting Of the Republican National Com
mittee IN Washington to name a time
and place for the national convention.
AIr Ward did not attend the meeting. but
gave his proxy 10 William Barnes. jr., Of
Albany
Ward Urged the Governor.
1t turns out. however. according TO Mr..
Wards friends. that Immediately after
the committeeman dispersed in Washing
ton. Mr. Ward called upon Gov Hughes
in New York City and urged the gov
ernor TO permit his friends in the State
10 go to work for the purpose OF paving
the way to elect delegates for him to the
rational convention. Gov. Hughes. Jac-
cording to the best reports. thereupon re-
cilled to Mr.. Ward the speech which he
(the governor) delivered at the Repub-
lican Club in New York City a short
time ago. wherein the governor declared
that he would not lift finger and. moro
over. he would not cause to be lifted a
finger TO bring about the. election Of dele
gates from New York State 10 the ma
tional convention in his favor. Then fol-
lowed the governors remarks about the
public service commission.
The New York City commission has
bsen in operation nearly six months. and
its work has not been followed by n sim
gie practical bettarment for the people.
Wilcox and Wins Rivals.
It has become a matter Of general COM
ment in political circles. both Republican
and Democratic, that Chairman William
p. Wilcox. Of the New York City com
mission, and Mr. WINS. its special coun-
sci. are both aspirants for the Republican
nomination for governor next year. So
specific has this talk become that Mr..
Willcoxs friends and Mr. WINS friends
have told what either was 10 do when
elected governor of the State.
This talk has led TO the conclusion that
Mr.. Wilcox and Mr.. WINS were especially
interested in their personal gubeTnatorial
prospects, and that each has sought by
a undertaking policy as to the work
ings OF the public service commission Of
the city Of New York to rival each other
rather than TO perform the work for
which the commission was appointed-the
betterment of transit facilities in New
York City for the people.
The opinion has been freely expressed
here that the people of New York City
care little or nothing for the political as
pirations Of Mr.. Wilcox or Mr.. WINS. or
Tor the ancient political-hnancial scandals
Of several Of the traction companies be-
low the Bronx line, but that they are in
tensely interested in securing Il quick.
wholesome, and practical Improvement in
these transit facilities