The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-06-19
UTILITIES BILL PASSED BY
NEW YORK LEGISLATURE
Governor Hughes Measure Goes
Through in Record Time.
EVERY AMENDMENT REJECTED

Voted by Senate in Shape Republican
Caucus Wanted 1t and With Only
Six Dissenters, ALL Democrats
Synopsis of Bill.
Albany, n. Y. - After a debate
which lasted less than two hours the
Senate passed the Governors Public
Utilities bill, as approved by him, ny
a vote of forty-one to six. Ten min
utes later the Assembly by unanimous
vote had concurred in the bill as
amended by the caucus of Republican
Senators.
Bound by the caucus rule, the Re-
publicans voted for the bill as a unit.
The Senators who voted against the
bill were:
Thomas H. Cullen, Third District,
Kings. ,
James J. Frawley, Twentieth Dis
trict, New York.
Conrad Hasenhug, Ninth District,
Kings. ,
Patrick H. McCarren, Seventh Dis
trict, Kings.
Thomas J. McManus, Fifteenth
District, New York.
James A. Thompson, Fifth District,
Kings. ,
Several amendments we're offered
by the Democratic opponents and
other Democrats who voted for the
bill on final roll call. All these were
voted down. Senator McCarren Of
fered two amendments. One of these
provided for the appointment of the
Commissioners for the New York
City District by the Mayor. The
other amendment was for a broad
court review.
Senator Cohalan (Tammany) Of
fered an amendment providing for
one commission for the entire State,
and making that commission elective.
A synopsis Of the Public Utilities
bill is as follows:
1.-Two public service commissions
Of five members each, one for New
York, Kings, Queens and Richmond
Counties, the other for the rest of the
State; each empowered to provide for
the control of common carriers, gas
and electric corporations, with full
power to subpoena witnesses, and all
proceedings prosecuted by it to be
preferred. It's orders shall take et-
feet al a specified time and shall re-
main in force as long .as|the commits
sion may direct, provided they do not
violate any provision Of the constitu-
ton. o..
2-The obligations of common car
riers and the rights Of shippers are
defined in Art. 2, which Is s%elf-opera-
tive, no action by the commission be-
ing required to render it effective.
3-Safe and adequate service Is re-
Quired from common carriers; switch
connections for shippers and with lat
eral roads being made obligatory.
4-The publication by railroads Of
schedules of rates, in such a form as
to make rebates impossible. Before
any rate can be changed, notice must
be published for thirty days. All
preferences are prohibited, as well
as all devices for securing rebates.
False billing Is also prohibited, and a
shipper who takes a rebate IS liable
to punishment as we'll as the railway
that gives it.
5-No free passes are permitted,
except to officers, employees, clergy
men, etc.
GA common carrier is prohibited
from charging more for a short than
for a long haul. The commission Is
to regulate the distribution of cars
among shippers.
THE carrier cannot limit its
liability by contract, but absolutely
insures goods and baggage that 1t
carries.
S-The commission must know the
condition, capitalization and fran
chisesI of the railways, and any single
commissioner may investigate their
acts or omissions, acting on his own
initiative. Provision is also made
for filing complaints with the COM
mission.
9-The commission is to fix reason
able rates for passenger, freight and
express service, to compel the estab-
lishment of through rates, to order
repairs, improvements and changes
by any common carrier, to regulate
it's schedule, and even to dictate to
it the system of keeping accounts 1t
shall adopt, and it's consent must be
gained before any railroad a build,
or can assign, transfer. or lease its
franchise or property.
10-No holding company can hold
more than ten per cent. of the stock
of any railroad, but n railroad may
acquire the stock Of another If 1t OBJ
tains the consent of the commission.
The railroads cannot issue stocks or
bonds without the approval of the
commission.
1.-THE penalty for violation of
the law is a fine of $1,000, and any
officer or agent Of the corporation
who violates it is guilty of a misde-
meanor A summary proceeding may
be brought against a corporation re-
fusing to obey the commissions man
date.
14-Gas and electric companies
are regulated about as under the
present gas commission.