New-York tribune., 1912-01-16
AIS. COMMISSION BUSY
Ilpstate Board Considered 2,321
Propositions Last Year.
0vERSEES 955 COMPANIES
More Power Over Telephone
Corporations Asked-stock and
Bond Issues Authorized.

Albany, Jan. ia comprehensive review
NJ the operation and existing conditions OF
inward Of one thousand corporations, car
ring capitalization OF s4.6l7, rs, 40. under
the supervision OF the Public Service Com.
mission. ID District, is given in the fifth an
pusi report Of the commission submitted to
m. Legislature tonight.
The public service corporations under the
jurisdiction of the commission are is4 steam
ra,,road corporations. 124 street railroad
eorporations, express companies, 1 sleep
ing car company. 294 electrical corporations.
10 gas corporations. 80 combined gas and
electrical corporations, 10 telegraph cor
,orstions and 1t2 telephone corporations.
During the year 1911 the commission had
presented TO IL 251 propositions. as against
itsa IN 1910, l.S45 in 1909. and 1906 in 1905.
making total during the four years Of the
commissions existence OF 1851 In 1911 the
commission disposed OF 25s applications of
various kinds. 314 formal complaints, L. 1913
complaints which were conducted b. cor
respondsnce. and u orders TO show cause.
Five hundred and seventy-two public hear
ings were given. as against 554 for the year
1910 and as for the year 1900. The number
Of days occupied by hearings was cS5. as
against 1a6 in 1910.
During the year the commission has au-
thorIzed the issuance Of stock, bonds and
other evidences of indebtedness 10 the
amount Of s1s25s1.71s 81 as against s15i OOO.-
90 in 1910, S143ooo.0o0 In 1909 and $4,000 900 In
1905 The total amount authorized is in ex-
cess Of a half billion dollars, or 10 be ex-
sct, 1856, .5o7 Sc.
Attention is called to the progress being
made as to the necessity Of establishing a
heat unit standard for the measurement Of
us The inquiry In this stare is in the
hands Of a Joint committee comprising rep
ressntatives OF the commission and of the
sss companies. In its statement OF work
for the year this committee. referring TO
the tests which are being made by the COM
psnies under its auspices. SAYS:
1T Is the most thorough piece Of prac-
teal experimentation that has ever been
undertaken. and cannot fail to be Of coun-
try-wide interest"
Telephone Companies.
During the year 424 central telephone Of
fees. serving 372, $50 slib-stations, have been
inspected. Attention is called to the exemp-
ton Of telephone companies having prop
erty Of less than $4,000 in value. which do
not come within the Jurisdiction OF the
commission. The commission has no power
IN make an examination Of the property OF
a company which claims TO be without its
jurisdiction. and II is possible for com
panies 10 organize with less than $4,000 OF
stock and obtain foothold In communi-
ties without any regulation OF supervision
whatever by the commission, and thereby
defeat the real purpose of telephone regu-
iation. The commission says It should have
sufficient power TO ascertain its jurisdic-
ton and TO close the door to those evils
which will in time inevitably spring up
from the legal permission TO authorize COM
panies with less than $4,000 of property
which will ultimately acquire property
above the iurisdictional point without
knowledge or authorization Of the commits
sion.
.Eurther attention is called TO the fact
that under the law as It stands the stock OF
one telephone corporation can be purchased
nv another without application to or au-
thorization by the commission. or local
plsnts can be transferred in the same man
nor Companies in most cases can be con-
solidated or merged In precisely the same
manner as before telephone companies were
placed under the jurisdiction OF the CONT
mission.
Attention is also called TO the tendency TO
consolidation among telephone companies
o, importance, and 1t Is clearly apparent
that the New York Telephone Company VIII
sooner or later absorb all of the so-called
Bell companies existing in the state ana
that in the western part of the state the
Federal company is assuming the same
policy with It's subsidiary and ahifated
corporations. The Legislature is asked 10
note that If any evil is in this pohcy meas
,res IN correct the same should be taken.