The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-12
GLYNN HITS UPSTATE
SERVICE COMMISSION
Opposes Decker From the Chair
manship and Puts In
Van SantvOOrd.
ACTION ON PHONE RATES
Board Asks State to Pay for
Investigation-Foley Com
mittee Protests.

ALBANY, March ll.-Gov Glynn shook
up the upstate Public Service Commits
sion to-day and designated Commissioner
Seymour Van Santvoord Of Troy chair
man in place Of Martin &. Decker.
This was promptly followed by a break
Ing Of the deadlock which has ex-
listed for two months In the commission on
account Of the investigation Of the tele-
phone rates In New York and In upstate
cities. The commiss on refused the $780,
900 offer Of the telephone company to meet
the expenses Of such an investigation and
asked the Legislature to appropriate
100000 for this purpose.
This action Of the Public Service Com
mission 10 incensed the Foley joint COM
mittee appointed last year to investigate
the telephone rate question that II
adopted resolutions notifying Gov. 0lynn
that the commission should not get the
State appropriation to conduct this In
vestigation and that the Public Service
Commission was a judicial rather thar
an investigating body. This situation may
result In u legislative deadlock and no
State appropriation unless Gov. Giynn and
his State Public Service Commission back
down or the legislative committee does So
Assembiyman Mark Goldberg. Demo-
crat Of New York. declared to-day that
the Legislature should pass his bill pro-
vidinE a Ave cent rate between boroughs
in New York city. and put the burden OF
proof on tho telephone company to show
whether the rate Ii unfair.
He succeeded to-day in having the As
sembly discharge his bill from the com
mittee, which had already voted II down.
and In having Il advanced to the order
Of Anal passage He will attempt to have
the bill passed Tuesday.
Van santvooPd InvestiGates.
Recently Gov. Giynn appointed Seymour
Van Santvoord Of Troy as one OF the
f,ve members Of the upstate Public Ser
vice Commission. Mr.. Van Santvoord
began an Investigation. which. he says.
showed him that there was really no
head to the commission and no concerted
action among the commissioners that
there were more than 100 complaints.
some Of them more than two years old.
Enacted upon and that many or the I'M
portant papers In these complaints were
locked up In the private desk OF Mr..
Decker. who has been acting as Chairman
for some months.
Commissioner Decker was designated as
chairman last year about the same time
that he issued an order permitting the
Troy and Albany GAs companies 10 dis
pose Of their big surplus. and his designa-
ton as chairman by Gov. SulEer at that
time created much comment. Mr. Van
Santvoord after his investigations notified
Gov. Giynn that he would not remain a
member OF the commission. Gov. Glynn
sent for Chairman Decker and the latter's
resignation as chairman followed.
Mr. Decker's term as commissioner
does not expire until February next year.
and ne will continue to serve
There was a conference this afternoon
between Gov. GIynn and Chairman Van
Santvoord, and Gov. Glynn agreed to send
a special message to the Legislature ask
ing for an immediate appropriation OF
800. 900 for the appraisal OF the telephone
company's property. Gov. Glynn said to-
night that he still believed a fair valua-
ton could be secured under the plan by
which the company was to furnish the
money, but that the plan TO have the
Legislature appropriate for this purpose
was less open to criticism.
Foley Committee VIII Fight.
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