New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-21
THE WEEK In ALBANY.
UTILITIES BOARD BILL.
Page and Merritt Hare This Meas
are about Ready.
IL T,lerr.nh 10 nc ,r,.Ihn1ne !

Albany Jan 2O.-Interest in the coming week
OF the legislative session Is likely TO centre in
the bill creating the Public Utilities Commits
sion to take. the place OF the present railroad
and lighting commissions. and the local COM
missions with similar powers in New York City
which will replace the Rapid Transit Commits
sion Senator Page and Assemblyman Merritt.
who VIII have this important legislation in
charge. hope to have IT ready for introduction
some time this week.
This legislation. concerning what were easily
the most sensational recommendations OF the
Governors message 70 the Legislature is being
awaited here with no little concern To be sure
this feeling is OF two distinct qualities. The poll
ticians are concerned because OF the doing away
with several desirable offices. and the funda-
mental lack OF respect for traditions which the
Governor showed when he urged that such places
be abolished Quite another kind OF concern
has been expressed by representatives OF civic
organizations and legislators who know how i'm
portsnt these measures will be 70 the public, and
fear lest after the careful work OF the drafrers
OF the bills they be mutilsted or rendered de-
fective IN committee or on the floor that they
should not carry out the full purposes for which
they were drawn
II likely that tire state commission for
which this legislation will provide will be COM
posed OF five members. One probably viii be a
lawyer and one an engineer. The salary which
the drafters OF the bill have been considering for
the members is 5000
Another measure OF much Importance which
may be introduced this week Is the local option
bill which the Anti-SaIoon League made a polit-
ical issue In many districts Of the state at the
last election. This measure will differ in two
important respects this year from the form IN
which IL was presented last session Then II did
10 CIT nd yha NIT
residence district OF no defined limits. After
many conferences with Senator Raines the chiefs
OF the Anti-SaloOn League have decided 90 adopt
q few OF his suggestions. one OF which was 20
make the local option unit the election district.
Contiguous election districts may be Joined in a
local option district" according 20 the votes in
such contiguous districts. The measure Will be
drawn this year 10 apply to cities well as
towns
Neither house is settling down 20 steady busI-
ness although the Assembly already has passed
four bills. One Of these is the bill permitting
the state to accept the gift Of William Pryor
Letchworth. The Senate Finance Committee has
reported the bill. changed somewhat from the
form in which it was introduced and IN which
the Assembly passed II. The change, which
took the property from out OF the jurisdiction OF
the American Scenic and Historic Preservation
Society. Is likely 70 create much delay Delay
Just now. since Mr.. Letchworth is seriously III.
might mean that the state might lose this val
liable gift. At any rate any delay now Is felt
here to be playing directly into the hands Of
the Genesee Power Company people. who are
opposing the bill because they want this land
for their own purposes
OF the bills introduced last week easily the
most important the ballot reform measure
presented by Senator Page and AssembIyman
Prentice This measure provides for the Aus
traIan or Massachusetts form OF ballot. IN
which the names OF candidates grouped
under the designations OF the offices for which
they are running cross must he made before
the name OF each candidate for whom the voter
desires TO cast his vote. This measure, which
also makes many important changes i'm the cleo
ton laws is fathered by the Election Laws I'M
provement Association. Of which William NJ.
WINS Ia the head.
Senator Agnew and Assemblyman Stanley pre-
sented the Jerome bills prohibiting betting at
racetracks and making II misdemeanor to
make books or sell pools. and third appropri
ating S210OOO to reimburse the agricultural So
cetes for what they would lose in receipts from
the racing associations. which now pay a GER
tain proportion of their receipts 70 the farmers
organizati tons.
A measure OF Senator Pages reOrganizes the
Court OF General Sessions. doing away with the
titles of Recorder and City Judge. and creating
a fifth part in the court The bill authorizes the
Governor 10 appoint two judges. whose success
Ors shall be elected in 1907.
Assemblyman W l. Lee introduced bill pro-
hibtlng city magistrates or justices OF the NUM-
cipal courts from membership political COM
mittees and from the practice Of law. Assem-
byman Prentice introduced bill. favored by
Commissioner Bingham and the committee uf
fifty. abolishing the detective bureau an fnsti-
tuition and the Office of inspector Of police 1t
permits the inspectors and the present detective
sergeants TO retain their present salary. but
axes the work they have been doing detafl
TO which they may be assigned for any length CT
time by the Commissioner.
Bills OF Importance now stand as follows
Senate No GRADY. introduced January . Public
Utilities Commission bill; referred u the Cities
Committee; printed and reCOmmitted.
Senate No 2-Saxe; introduced January .. Re
count bill: referred TO the Judiciary Committee
Assembly 23-ChaFlee +. Murphy.
foregoing; referred TO. the Judiciary Committee.
Senate No 6-FuleT; introduced January .
creating railroad commission for New York City:
referred 20 the cities Committee; reprinted and re-
committed January a.
Senate No 1l-Page; introduced January .; re-
peal of savings bank surplus tax; referred 10 the
Taxation and RetTenchment Committee.
Senate No. 20-TTavis; introduced January 3. Di-
rect Nominations bill; referred 10 the Judiciary
Committee.
senate No 2s-Gilchrist; introduced January s.
creating local railroad commission Tor New York
city, referred to the Railroads Committee.
Senate No. SS-SaXe: introduced January g.
amending Insurance law by adding
Senate No. 80 SAKE. introduces January q
amending hsuking law by addins new sec