The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-29
mayor VEFOES UTILITIES BILL
First, BECAUSE TT rs DESTRUC-
TIVE OF HOME RULE;


Secondly. Because II Gives q Partisan Gov.
eFnOr the Power 70 COeree Railroads
and Their Employees FOR whatever Par
ttsan Purpose He May be Pushing.
Mayor Mcclellan has sent the public
utilities bill to Albany with his disapproval.
His memorandum says that the act is 30
utterly destructive Of the principle Of home
rule as To leave q Mayor Of the city OF New
York no possible course except to disap-
prove II. He goes on:
A I understand the law, this measure has
been sent TO me not for an expression OF my
opinion as to its basic features. but because
In a veral OF Its provisions 1t affects the powers
OF the city government. In other words. !
am called upon to say whether or not. from
the city's point OF view. the bill Ia satisfactory
in its present form, To this question there
can oe but Unr answer. u IL not. IT ] were
TO decide otherwise and TO accept this bill as
II stands. II would imply an admission on my
part that the principle OF self-government
for the city was no LONGER worth striving for.
regret that | cannot agree With those who
have urged that this measure extends rather
than ourtails the present powers OF the local
authorities. 1t Is true. | admit. that In the
past the Legislature has constantly failed
to grant the city's demands Tor larger powers
OF supervision and control In respect to these
matters than II possesses at present. but In
my judgment this does not constitute any
reason why the city should consent to a bill
which empowers the Governor to appoint a
local commission and then oompels the city
to pay a large portion Of its expenses.
While ! hR We thus based my rejection OF this
bill sQuarely upon Its violation OF the principle
OF home rule, there Ia another objection to
which l consider IL my duty TO call the atten-
ton OF the public at the present time. This
~ L. -Iza-- a. ~ - LIN
and does not strike at It's intrinsic merit. but
It seems to me too vital and far reaching TO
be passed over In silence. I refer TO the
failure OF the bill to provide any check upon
the possible use OF these commissions in the
future for partisan purposes.
The power conferred by this act In I'M
preoedented. and under normal conditions.
many Of those who are advocating the measure
would be among its strongest critics
For the first time in the history OF our
State there are to be created two admins
trative bodies vested with power heretofore
exclusively exercised by the Legis lature OF
regulating rates and fares Of steam railroad.
street and elevated railroad. gas. electric
light and power companies. The combined
capitalization of these companies Is 81. 1922.
bs7. 9Ie. The gross earnings from operation
last year we're approximately S5SS. 900. 900.
the number OF employees pward of 800. 000
and the number OF security holders not less
than 100. 600.
The commissioners are to be appointed by
the Governor. and as they may be removed
by him, or his successors, they will become
the direct representatives and agents OF each
succeeding Governor. There is no pro-
vision that the commissions shall be bi-pRr-
tisHn or Don-partisan. and all members may
be OF the same political party. What may
be will be. And II this bill becomes a law.
We shall. in the near future, see these COM
missions composed entirely OF political par
tisans. with great consequent injury to the
state and the properties affected.
The power TO regulate rates and fares may
be used to destroy. Under given conditions
when party feeling is intense and the Pres
dency. the Governorship or the Legislature
lis at stake it will be used 10 influence, coerce
and TO secure the money with which to corrupt
the electorate.
When confronted with the yelled threat. or
intimation. OF a reduction in rates or fares.
what railroad, gas or electric management
vii! decline 10 lind the necessary funds or
hesitate TO influence or coerce their EN-
ployees In the interest OF the party possessing
such unlimited ~power-and In It's own int err
est as well?
II the theory of bi-pa rtisanship or nom
partisanship ever rested upon a sound founda-
ton. what possible excuse can there be for |
Withholding the principle from such admins
trative commissions as are established by
this bill?
1t is no answer that the present Governor
will not prostitute his ONCE by the selection Of
men ca pa BILE of such acts. II is no answer
that he will appoint three Democrats on the
commission for the overw helmingiy Demo-
cratic First district, and that two Democrats ,
will he named on the commission for the
Second district. The Governors tenure of
office i short. and 1t will not be long before /
we will have a Governor who will not hesitate
to Use this power.
When that day comes. the injured security |
holder, the coerced employee and the out
aged citizen will not be tricked by the plea |
that those responsible for This piece Of blind |
political legislation knew not what they did.
With the general principles OF this bill | am |
In accord. but ] will never give my approval |
10 d measure that places IN the hands Of u
limitless pow err. |