New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-16
ALL FOR UTILITIES BILL
Continued from first pare.


reminder from the Republican State Committee
as to its duty on this bill
IT am not following the behest Of the state
committee of any boss in voting for this
BILL he declared. II am not even acting be-
cause OF the decision of the Republican caucus,
because l would have gone further than the
caucus went and agreed 10 support all the other
measures the Governor advocates, as 1 be-
Heve the Governor in his demand for these
things represents the people of this state. The
people believe in Governor Hughes and want
him to have what he has asked for, whether 1t
be public utilities. ballot reform. recount or re-
appointment The power of removal should
rest with the Governor alone. Then the Gov
ernor can hold his utilities commissioners d.
rectly responsible to him. There should be no
divided. denuded power but absolute
reignty. In time that has passed feared to
confer such power. but time and conditions
have changed. I predict that when this bill
becomes law and goes into operation its effect
Will justify the wisdom of the legislators who
conceived and drafted it."
wAINwRIGHTS VIEWS EXPRESSED.
Assemblyman Hamn then spoke on the bill
and followed by Assemblyman Wainwright.
a member of the Railroads Committee, who has
taken part in the work OF revising the measure.
He also criticised the action of the Republican
committee in the stand 1t took for the bill
This he thought improper before the Legislature
had decided to pass it anyhow. He called at
teption to the public sentiment for the bill and
contrasted II with the sentiment against the bill
He said:
This bill would have passed this house in
spite Of any action of agencies without the
house. 1t all very well for the gentlemen
of political circles outside to meet and indorse
the bill and urge TO pass II, but their action
did not affect Legislators. Certainly It did not
affect my vote. If had intended to vote against
the bill should have done so regardless of their
Endorsement. The only thing 1 regret is that
more drastic legislation has not been passed.
1t is a pity our party has not done its work more
thoroughly. We should, for instance, have
passed a thorough. sweeping corrupt practices
act instead Of the makeshift measures we have
passed.
Now, as to the power Of removal believe
that that should be vested solely in the Gov
ernor. The President of the country has the
power TO appoint and remove his own Cabinet
officers. The cases analogous.
The bill provides ample safeguards for the
corporations that come under its provisions.
They have ample protection as it is from the
courts. The judiciary is so overcrowded in this
state now that IT would be shame to add to
its work when 1t is unnecessary to do so.
A fact in connection with this bill that has
impressed me is that the only opposition that
has been manifested TO II has come from the
counsel the hired counsel of corporations. The
stockholders do not object to the bill. They
have fled no protests against It, and the over
whelming sentiment in favor of It is the senti-
ment of the people. 1t is no manufactured SEN
timent In my own district the people are al
most unit in favor Of the bill and they don't
want ii amended, either.
Now, certain corporations have protested that
the provisions in the bill affecting stockhoding
companies will retard development in the state
don't believe that by prohibiting holding COM
panies we are going to hurt the development OF
railroads or other companies.
hope that the majority members will not
party measure. Let them remember that 1t
was brought forward by the greatest Repub-
hcan the party has ever had from this state
since the time Of its organization.
SEES HARM IN THE BILL
Assemblynan Prentice followed Mr.. VAIN
wright He said he would vote for the bill and
against all the amendments that were offered.
although he thought there were provisions in
it which would work harm, and that the meas
ure was unnecessarily drastic. He added:
The merest details of this bill are Of impor-
lance because Of the vast Importance of the bill
itself. 1t does much more than the introducers
Of IL intended that it should do, but under the
circumstances it will have TO be passed as 1t is.
ana It's defects, after they have been shown,
remedied by subsequent Legislature I think
this bill is too severe on The steam roads and
the provision prohibiting holding compares is
provisions governing the issue Of stocks and
bonds and still further limiting such issues in
directly change the railroad laws.
Another objection have to a part OF the bill
Is that II prohibits shippers from getting cheaper
rates Tor their goods by assuming Volun tarilY
part or the whole of the liability from accident.
Now, think this will hurt the shippers more
than il Will the railroads. and ii is a bad pro-
vision.
Assemblyman Merritt, introducer Of the bill
in the Assembly, made the closing argument for
it. He said
The amendments proposed by the minority
are, in my judgment. entirely wrong NY
friend. Mr.. Oliver says despite his objections 10
the bill. that he will vote for it. Well. if had
vote 10 pass the bill under any circumstances.
1t is not a perfect measure. 1t has faults in
II that time alone win show. But it is a step
in advance of anything that has ever been at
tempted by the AngIo-Saxon or Celtic races. It
mand of the people II has been severely criti-
bring forward better measure
The time has now come when the bill must be
either passed or laid aside. having in mind al
ways that this bill can be amended by future
legislatures where need has been shown by its
operation for amendments. The commission ap-
pointed by the passage Of this bill will have the !
dual duty of protecting corporate interests and !
the interests of the people. It is not an an
archistic measure. 1t is not communistic
Then came the slaughter OF the Democratic
amendments. One by one they went down before |
the combined strength OF the Republican major |
fly, except Mr.. Cuvillier's, where party lines !
were broken This was defeated. 10 to 10 |
Cuvillier had hard luck throughout the day At |
one peIiou III the ueodle speaker dosWortn Iert
the chair and seated Paradise Jimmy" Oliver !
as substitute About that time Cuvillier tried |
70 get recognition a point Of order Oliver
him, but when the Mcclellan man de-
clared that the five-minute rule was not being
observed the minority leader hundred at him:
All ever heard about five minutes was that
you were TO he restricted to that time: and IL I
had my way, any man who read himself out of
the Democratic party and jumped a caucus as
you did wouldn't get five seconds"