New-York tribune., 1909-04-20
PETITIONS EXPLAINED
ACTION ON p. S. c. BILLS.
Erie Official Says Only Opinions Of
Men We're SOHght.

a representative Of the Erie Railroad at the gsn-
era offices. No. 80 Church street, said Yesterday
that the special train which reported 70 have
gone over the Erie system in New York State 10
get all the employees sign petitions to the Legis
lature calling of railroad legislation special
inspection train with General Manager J. c. Stuart
aboard 1t admitted. however. that. acting
with certain railroad manufacturing concerns. and
the boards OF commerce in all the towns along iLs
system. the Erie officials had made extensive
investigation TO get the consensus OF opinion from
manufacturers. labOrers and labor leaders Con-
tfnuing. the Erie representative said,
'The idea OF the petition not to fight the
Governor nor the Public Service Commission. but
intended to call the minds of the legislators
the consensus of opinion of manufacturers. labor
and railroads in regard to OveregislatiOn- The
private train Of the Erie started out Thursday.
with the general manager aboard. tour OF IN
spection AT number Of towns along the route
manufacturers and business men telephOned to
those aboard the train and asked them TO sound
the different manufacturers associations along ts
line and TO get opinions from the different Erie
shops about Legislation The special train was not
special just to find out the feelings OF the
in the shops and from merchants and manu-
facturers.
This movement was not brought about by the
railroads. They dare not do it. II was brought
about by who supply railway material Theirs
more than sixteen hundred men normally in our
shops at HOrneI. To-day only eight hundred are
working. and for only thirty hours week. In the
railway supply factories there has been reduction
at present there is only a 50 per output
More than 80 per cent Of the IabOrers along the
whole Erie route are idle With this in view the 7
manufacturing interests. railroads and chambers
of commerce Throughout the greater part Of New
York State believe that legislation should stop.
There is no bill in Albany present and no
special measure which has brought about these
petitions and this idea Of checking legislation Il
In the unrest caused by too much activity in Al
bany. Seven hundred men signed the petition in
HorneI Along our whole line the idea was 10 have
quiet"
The same authority said that the present time
not chosen because Of the political hostility
toward Governor Hughes and the reactiOnary feel
ing the part of many legislators. but because IT
call attention conditions and also to
ward Off If possible, any rash measure that might
be passed in the last days Of the present session
In regard TO the Public Service Commission, ths
Erie representative said
There IS no opposition toward the Public Ser
vice Commission 1t is the Legislature we want
to stop for a while"
Lernuel Ely Quigg replied yesterday TO the in
sfnua tions of William r Wilcox. chairman Of the
Public Service Commission. that he at present
"acceeratfng' at Albany the corporations which
are opposed TO the proposed amendments to the
Public Service commissions law Mr. Quigg thought
the manly thing for Mr.. Wilcox 70 do would be 70
issue a subpoena for him II he desired to question
him. He said:
AS chairman OF the Public Service Commission,
II Mr. Wilcox thinks that engaged in behalf
OF any CORPORATION over which his commission has
jurisdiction in attempting to influence legislation
at Albany he has the power 10 summon me by sub
poena before his commission and question me N
raspect TO such activities II would be more manly
Of hin, to do that than TO intimate thing that Is
false"