New-York tribune., 1909-04-19
CORPORATIONS FIGHT
Continued from first page.

"-.ce+rack Republicans" returned TO the Senate
this year
PSYCHOLOGICAL MOMENT RECotIN lAf-D-
IN a nutshell. the success OF the corpora'ioiiS
in handling and manipulating the LeslSid,u'e
this year seems to lie in the fact 'iat r''''
-ecosnized a psychological moment GOV
ernor Hughes by his advocacy or the uiie
nominations measure had alienated from nm
self even the moderate support which Repuoh-
cans accorded to his legislative recommehua-
tions in the two years of his first term. Hosuhty
toward him was expressed by the most proml-
nent Republican politicians and legislators; the
Democrats practically of both houses were ar
rayed against him because of the proposed Ne"
York City charter and incidental leglslauon'
Thereupon the corporation lawyers stepped INTO
the situation and manipulated it to suit theF
own ends They not without aid from
within theeLegisIature. Many important legis-
lators are profoundly "reactonary' on the ques-
ton Of state supervision and regulation of fran
chise holding corporations. Speaker Wadsworth
is not much impressed with the wisdom of II
Beverly r. Robinson. a member of the Assembly
Rules Committee, who makes his office with the
firm of Masten G. Nichols. counsel TO the
ceivers OF the New York City Railway Com
pany, recently made a speech the floor Of
the Assembly In which he declared that a con
tinuation of the present scope of the Public Ser
vice commissions would be fatal TO street rail
roads in New York City. not only killing ex-
isting traction companies but preventing new
ones. He boldly advocated the repeal of the
law so far as ii gave to the commissions power
TO regulate or supervise or prevent bond issues
or interfere with capitalization of the companies
in any way. Mr.. Robinson was active in sug-
gesting changes in the proposed amendments to
the law when the bill before the Assembly
Railroads Committee, where weakening changes
were made to it. At a hearing on the proposed
rapid transit Law amendments last week Sena-
tors hcCarren and Fra wiley DISTINGUISHED them,
selves by declaring that there was no opnosi-
uon IN New York City to long term or even.
perpetual franchises for traction companies"
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION C,P1ppTr,r
Legislative hostility toward Governor Hughes
is said by many to be responsible for a heavy
cut IN the appropriations for the upstate Public
Service Commission. The Senate Finance Con,
mittee took about - per cent out of the COM
missions requisition. 1t went so far as +o as
certain from the Controllers office the fact that
certain places in the commissions office were
vacant because Of changes in the office force
and abolished them by refusing TO appropriate
money for next years salaries although III.
commission needs those places to carry on its
business But the most serious thing and one
directly affecting the safety Of every nerson
who rides on a railroad train in this state was
the wiping out of all provision for steam rail-
road inspectors. Since the days of the old
State Railroad Commission there have been two
inspectors of steam railroads. whose duties have
been to examine railroad rolling stock trains
and equipment. Early In the year. as The Trih
une at that time told, the commission made ex-
MIA to
to prevent accidents traced largely TO INSULT
cient inspection and the non-enforcement by the
railroads Of rules governing the engagement
and conduct Of their employees. Not only was
there appropriation made for the extension
Of that service, but no money forthcoming
even for the two inspectors employed for years
1t would that this hardly could result
from the absolute poverty of the state for Com
missioner Williams of the State Labor Depart
ment has told friends recently that the finance
committees gave him money than he
asked for. and unusual appropriations or en-
larged appropriations have been made for
travelling expenses" Of the heads of some OF
the departments Indeed the intimation was
sent out bluntly in some legislative circles that
the upstate commission a Hughes body"
and would have to stand the gaT." Efforts to
obtain official statement on this from the
commission have proved fruitIess. The commits
soners all last week giving hearings in
upstate cities Secretary Kennedy who has
been in charge of the Office has declined to
make any statement
AMENDMENT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED.
Some idea of the way the corporations are
working In the Legislature may be obtained
from ore two specific instances. In lesisla-
ton of the wide scope and important character
Of this public service legislation. where dis
puted points Of law may be carried to the
highest courts in the land. much naturally de
pends on every word, and the changing of
word in some sentences might make a tremen-
dous difference in court decisions in the
porations' favor To illustrate: In proposed
amendments TO the lighting sections of the
Public Service commissions law. designed
strengthen those provisions, was A declaration
that certain conditions of this business should
be made safe and adequate" etc. the
question of safety or adequacy, if submitted TO
2 court. there could not be great deal of
auibbling. by legal experts of the kind en-
ployed by the big corporations At somebody's
suggestion the Assembly Railroads Committee
inserted the word reasonably thus making
the phrase read reasonably safe and ale-
ouate" and. in the opinion Of certain lawyers.
letting down the bars entirely
In that same committee originated. likewise
at the suggestion OF somebody unknown. pro
vision permitting the Issue of bonds To REIN
burse corporations for money spent out of cam
incs in permanent bettermentS 1t is under
stood in railroad circles that this is designed tc