The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-11
NO TILT AT INTER- MET MERGER
PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD HASN'T
TINE FOR EXPERIMENTS.

Later n May n It Finds n Has Power to Ga
Into Things Already Accomplished.
which WILCOX Dsubts-Talk OF Ellison
for COunsel Absurd. says Eustis.
The members Of the Public services Com
mission were nettled yesterday over the
report published In several morning papers
that the commission was going hot foot
after the Observation-Disclosures merger
with q view to breaking IL up II Investigation
showed that il had been illegally formed.
The positive statement was made in some
Of these ~accounts that the board was con-
sidering the matter seriously and that
some sort Ct action would be taken IA soon
as the decision Of United States Judge
Holt against the demurrer offered by the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Company could
be looked into. Commissions Eustis was
quoted as saying that II the findings Of
Judge Holt satisfied the board that there
was doubt about the legal standing Of the
merger the board had the power TO order
an investigation. He was also quoted
IA saying that to his mind il was a self
evident fact that the Interborough-Metro-
politan Company has a monopoly Of the
transit lines Of Manhattan and The Bronx.
Il never said anything Of the kind."
said MIR. Eustis yesterday. -and l don't
intend &c continue denying all the fool
stories that are written about the actions
OF this board. II seems that we are quoted
whether we answer the ridiculous ques-
tions that are put to us or not
President Wilcox of the commission
also denied that any action had been taken
by the board on the merger matter. He
complained that The commissioners were
constantly annoyed by hypothetical aues-
tons as to what action they would take
in certain situations that might arise in
the future.
Il hardly think il is our function to probe
existing mergers" said MIR. WILCOX. but
rather to oonine our Ell TO the proper
regulation of traffic under the present
future mergers in which there were APP
parent elements of illegality. but ] don't
think we can go back to something which
came into existence before this commits
sion was formed.
However, that is a matter for our oun
sci to determine, n any opinion l might
express at present would not be conclusive.
I wouldn't say positively hat the commits
sion would not look into the matter later
on
Il have never said a word officially about
the matter OF the merger said Commits
sioner Bassett, and an investigation OF
il has certainly never been considered
by this board
HAS the question ever come up in any
way in the board?" he was asked.
II decline to answer that, y said MIR. bas-
sett. And thsn after a short pause: Two
Commissioner might discuss the matter
without having IL officially brought up
before the board. just as any two other
citizens might discuss the matter.
Those matters which are unquestionably
,,nI.r a,x t,tria1iofinu will nCctnv AZ much
OF our time" he added. particularly at
the beginning of our work, that we are not
going TO try my experiments which are
possibly outside Of our jurisdiction
The public service act under which the
commissi oners' derive their power says:
Nothing herein contained shall be con-
strued to prevent the holding OF stock
heretofore legally acquired
The commissioner also denied yester-
day the report that the place OF counsel
B. Ellison, who was removed on Tuesday.
Corporation Counsel. Mr.. Wilcox said
that the commission had not yet decided
on it's counsel and that the process OF elm
ination of the various names under con-
alteration was still going on. We have
not got down TO any one man yet, SAID ne
This story about Mr.. Ellison being
chosen counsel Of the commission 10 absurd
on it's face" said Mr.. Eustis. 1T is not
something to antagonize the Mayor or any
other city officer with whom we are anxious
to work in harmony by appointing a man
whom the Mayor has just dismissed from
ONCE" =,
There was no public session OF the board
Yesterday, both morning and afternoon
meetings being held behind closed doors.
In the matter of the question OF the con-
gestion on the Brooklyn Bridge the com,
mittee which has IL in char ge decided
to hold a conference to-day with Bridge
COMMISSIONS Stevenson at his Office in the
Park Row Building.