The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-06-12
new YORK ASSEMBLY
PASSES UTILITIES BILL
Not a Single Vote Was Recorded
Against the Measure.
MANY AMENDMENTS REJECTED
Senate to Make Such Changes Only as
Are Approved by the Governor
One Concession Granted on
Trolley Extensions.

IrOuey ExteuSlOHS.
Albany, N. Y.-The Merritt Public
Utilities bill passed the Assembly,
every one of the 140 members pres
ent voting for it.. Thirteen amend
ments were offered to the measure by
the independence League and Demo-
cratic members. They were all de-
feated by a party vote and the bill
put through in the form approved by
the Governor.
Most of the amendments offered
were drawn by Attorney-General
Jackson, and embodied the principles
of the independence League Public
Utilities bill introduced by Assembly,
mar Foley. The bill now goes to the
Senate.
The first amendment, calling for
the election of the commissioners by
a vote of the people, was offered by
Assemblyman Robert Wagner. In
support of his amendment Mr.. Wag-
ner said:
The principle of Capitalization Of
power and government by the. COM
missions is in direct contradiction of
the theories of our republican: form
of government"
Assemblyman A. E. Smith offered
an amendment. calling for the ap-
pointment of the New York City Com
mission by the Mayor Of the city.
The provisions of the bill, which
prevent New York City from con-
structing and operating its own light
ing plant without the consent of the
commission, we're stricken out by
amendments which Assemblymal
Stern sought to have adopted.
Assemblyman Kellel sought to
amend the bill to make the Attorney
General the counsel of the commits
sion.
Assemblyman Glynn, of Monroe,
offered an amendment preventing the
proposed commissions from !nterfer-
ing in any way with railroad en-
ployes during the time of labor trou.
bles. r
Assemblyman Stratton, of Chenan-
go, offered an amendment which pro-
hibits any holding company from &C.
quiring stock in a public service cor
poration. Mr.. Harowitz also offered
an amendment against the formation
Of mergers.
An amendment to relieve New
York City from the burden of main.
tanning the upstate commission was
offered by Assemblyman J.. A. Foley.
Assemblyman Bohan offered an
amendment prohibiting a railroad
corporation from engaging in any
other business than that of operating
a railroad.
Assemblyman Dobbs spoke in favor
of court review and offered en-
amendment to that end.
The only Republican who attacked
the bill in the debate was Assembly
man Prentice. . He opposed the con-
troll of the corporations by the COM
missions.
A vote ranging from ffty-one 20
ffty-four yeas and n~inety-eight nays
was recorded against each Of the
Democratic caucus amendments, and
then Mr.. Cuvelier got his amendments
before the House. They re-
jected by a vote Of yeas, 10; nays,
119.
The roll call resulted in a unani-
nous vote for the bill. When it was
announced James Oliver rose and
with a low bow toward the reporters
seats, said:
II extend my congratulations to
the press of the State for their sue
cess in passing this bill"
simultaneously with the passage
of the bill through the Assembly
came the news hat Governor Hughes
had consented to an amendment,
which will probably be made by the
Senate Committee on Judiciary. This
amendment deals with trolley extern
sions in the interic" of the. State. and
was the result Of frantic and almost
fearful appeals to the Governor by
capitalists in interior New York.
Under the bill no trolley extensions
can be made from the time of the
passage Of the bill until they have
been considered and approved by the
Public Service Commissioners, after
they take office and begin work on
July l. At the same time there are
many trolley companies that have OBJ
tanned consents of property. owners,
and of the State Railroad Commits
sion, which have issued bonds and
borrowed the money for the exten-
sions. All this work would have to
be held in allegiance. Governor
Hughes for a long time refused to
make any concessions in this or any
other matter. He felt that If ne once
yielded it would be an entering
wedge, and he would have great diff
fculty in protecting the bill against
other amendments