New-York tribune., 1907-03-06
PUBLIC SERVICE BILL.
TWO NEW' COMMISSIONS.
Will AbOisk Present Railroad, Gas
and Rapid Transit Boards.
TBy Telegraph 10 The Tribune.I

Albany. March 5,-The Public Utilities Com
mission bill, reorsanizing the system Of super
vising transit and lighting concerns. according
to Governor Hughess suggestions. Will be pre-
sented tomorrow by Senator Page and Assem-
blyman Merritt
II is broad in its scope and specific in its pro-
visions as to the power of the commissions
created under it and the duties OF the COM
panles to be regulated by it. There win be
little joy in IT for the transit concerns given 70
high financial transactions rather than strict
attention to business and strong desire 10 serve
the public And lest some of those concerns
dislike il and show their dislike as interests
affected by legislation have done in other years.
a statement issued by the sponsors Of this
measure tonight contains brief note OF warn
ing:
1T is to be hoped that the interests affected
by this legislation will accept IL with open
mind. and will cooperate with the Legislature
and with the commissions in making it effective.
in order that there may be no necessity for
legislative investigation looking to additional
legislation"
WIDE SCOPE OF MEASURE.
Included within the scope of the measure are
transportation companies of all kinds. including
steam railroads. street railroads. express and
freight companies, sleeping car companies. pipe
line companies and lighting concerns. Over all
these two commissions. one for Greater New
York and the other for the rest of the state.
are to have Jurisdiction. They Will have the
power now given to the Railroad Commission.
the Lighting Commission and the Rapid Tran
sit Commission which they replace. and addi-
tionaI powers similar 70 those granted to the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
The measure was drawn with the idea Of
making II serve not only the interests OF the
travelling public. but the companies themselves,
since II would protect them from financial Jug
Cling.
II will prevent the future formation of hold
ing companies and trusts by forbidding the
transfer Of more than 10 per cent Of the capital
stock of any lighting railroad company to any
stock corporations; but it does not prevent the
holding of stock at present acquired. pro-
vision of this sort in the Shanahan Antitrust
bill of last year was killed after bitter battle.
Governor Hughes has been over the measure
as it stands now. He and Dean Huffcut his
legal adviser are satisfied that il is about as
we'll drawn as it can be. and that it will accom-
plish every purpose the Governor had in mind
when he wrote his message 10 the Legislature
The measure is expected to prove wholly satis-
factory to the civic organizations in New York
CITY which have demanded for many years the
transit reforms on which the Governor is in
sistng.
WHAT BILL PROVIDES FOR.
Senator Page and Assembyman Merritt made
the following statement in regard to their bill:
The bill aholishes the existing Railroad Com
mission, Gas and Electricity Commission IN
speCtor of Gas Meters and Rapid Transit Com
Ynissioners and COnfers all their powers upon
two public service commissions. It creates
TWO public service districts with a commission
composed of five members for each district, ap-
pointed by the Governor. The first district
comprises the counties of New York. Kings,
Queens and Richmond, and the second district
includes all other counties of he state Each
commissioner is to receive $4,000 and is TO ap-
point a counsel at $1OO10 and a secretary az
S6 600. The salaries and expenses of the COM
mission of the first district are provided Tor IN
the same manner as the expenses OF the present
Rapid Transit Commission. and the salaries and
expenses of the commission OF the second dlS-
trict are made a charge upon the state The
term OF Office of one commissioner IN each MS
trict Is fixed To expire on February /, ISOJ'
and the term OF office of one commissioner IN
each district expires annually thereafter
Successors are appointed for a full term OF
five years -.
The Jurisdiction of the commission in the first
district extends 10 all railroads and street rail-
roads and common carriers operating eXclu-
syelv within that district; to street railroads
any portion of which is within the district ex-
cent as TO construction and local facilities and
TRANSFORMATION outside the district; the con-
structiOn and local facilities and transportation
of railroads within the district TO the manu-
facture sale distribution Of gas and elec-
Continued second page.