New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-21
CAUCUS FOR UTILITIES.
MAJORITY SENATOR'S ACT.
Act,on Is Unanimous Sure of
Passage.
TBy TELEGRAPH % The T-ibrne. !

IEy Telegraph - The Tribune.
Albany May 2O.-Unanimously the Republican
Senators in caucus tonight adopted the public
utilities bill party measure Various pro-
posed amendments were voted down and the
Assembly bill amended by Senator Page and
Edwin Sanford. the Governors legal adviser
was accepted by the caucus Thus the passage
of the chiefest of Governor Hughes's reform
measures is assured.
The Senate adjourned at 10 .. m and imme-
diately the Republican Senator's went into the
caucus in the Finance Committee room Senator
Davis, chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
which now has the Assembly bill presented nu-
merous amendments proposed to the committee
by railroads and upstate trolley companies. all
with reference 10 permission for extensions al
ready granted by the State Railroad Commits
sion An amendment covering this feature al
ready had been drafted by Senator Page There
was much discussion of these individual cases.
but no differences OF opinion over them
The Judiciary Committee will meet tomorrow
morning before the Senate session. and will re-
port the bill II is improbable that it will be re-
referred TO the Finance Committee. although IL
further consultation of the Senate leaders makes
this seem wise. special meeting of the Finance
Committee can report it out immediately The
caucus made the bill special order for Wednes-
day. when it will come TO the Senate desk with
an emergency message from Governor Hughes
Practically every amendment to the measure
which has been suggested at any time through
The session. with the notable exception of tha
power Of removal was suggested by Senator
Davis as chairman of the committee having the
bill in charge. Each was voted down with soms
discussion with little ceremony. At no time
was there any disposition manifested TO offer
resistance TO the wishes OF the Governor and the
dominant group in the majority party.
Following these, Senator Davis advanced the
proposal for a broad court review. Considerable
Informal discussion greeted this. but nothing
like formal vote taken Other amend
ments as to holding companies and franchise
values were advanced. but went down by large
votes Seantor SAKE offered the only amend
ment which brought close vote. He wanted
the public service commission 10 have power OF
regulating the price which should be charged
for the use of the electrical subways and con-s
duits laid under the streets of New York City
Under the provisions in the latest draft OF ths
bill the commission shall have general super
vision Of all persons and corporations having
the right to build maintain conduits or ducts
for transmitting electricity or gas. Senator
Page argued against the SAKE amendment de-
clartng that cases of the sort which would be
/ involved in this amenduent had been carried
up 10 the Court of Appeals where il had been
held that the company had the right to fix its
own charges. If reasonable" The amendment
voted down. 15 10 Il.
The SAKE amendment having been voted down
the caucus turned to measures 10 hasten the
passage of the bill After 1t has been passed in
the Senate Wednesday 1t will go to the As
sembly and the amendments be concurred IN
there Thursday.
OF thirty-twO Republican Senators all except
Senator'S Burr. Dunn and Smith were present
Senator Burr's mother died very recently. SEN
ator Dunns vote the final rollcau was cast
by proxy
In its present form the utilities bill contains
two amendments not in the bill passed by the
Assembly One safeguards the interests OF up
state trolley companies. which have obtained
permission from the State Railroad ComInis-
sion for extensions. This amendment ratifes
such permits The other permits the public SER
VICE commissions. If they desire. to take over
the employees of the Rapid Transit Commission
and the State Railroad Commission. without ap-
plying 10 the Civil Service Commission for nsts
of eligible employees.
The Moreland bill empowering Governor
Hughes to investigate personally by appoint
ed Investigators all state departments. is o the
Assembly calendar for tomorrow. and q q.
less will be passed without much opposition