New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-03
MALTBIE STICKS
TO FIGHT TAMMANY
Rejects Mitchell Offer SO
Tiger Can't Gobble Pub
lie Service Board.
WAS SLATED FOR
WATER SUPPLY HEAD
Murphy Men in Commission Have
Made His Life Miserable.
but He Won't Quit.

one OF the friends of Commissioner
Maltbie. of the Public Service Commits
sion. said last night that he would most
assuredly have accepted the post OF 'oIh-
missioner 81 Water supply in the Cabinet
Of MAYOR Mitchell except for the iact 'ha'
il would have left the Public service
Commission at the mercy Of the ram
many organization. This friend said MI
Maltbie was plumb weary and dlscoui
aged with the waging of pracucaIly
lone night against the raids of Murphy
representatives in the commission lie
added:
He has not. however accepted Mayor
Nitchels request that he come over W
the city service. for the reason that he
has not been able 10 see any way Dut
that his resignation would finally sur
render the commission created by GOV
ernor Hughes to the unrestrained and I'M
challenged manipulate ton of the Four-
teenth Street organization
I'm addition TO being close personal
friend Of Mayor Mitchell, Commissioner
Maltbie has come to be known as one OF
the leading experts i'm the country on the
rates Of gas and electric lighting com
panies
Mayor Mitchell has emphatic ideas as TO
what should be done I'm the Department
OF Water Supply. Gas and Electricity not
only in the way Of reorganization anu
retreuchment as to construction work
now nearing completion, but also aiohs
the line Of stihening the attitude OF the
city I'm its contractual relations with the
lighting companies and the Development
OF a vigorous policy of municipal resuiS-
ton and supervision over the companies
under the jurisdiction Of the department
There are three out and out Tammany
commissioners I'm the Public Service COM
mission now. Chairman Mccall, Commls-
sioner Cram and Commissioner Williams
Of Brooklyn The term Of Commissioner
Eustis. the only Republican now on the
board. expires in February. An attempt
was made TO get assurances from Gov
ernor Glynn that he would appoint an III
dependent and vigorous man TO succeed
commissioners Eustis and Maltble' II the
latter should retire. II is UNDERSTOOD these
efforts were in vain.
Believing il TO be his duty TO remain III
the board for no other reason than 10 De
an aggressive thorn in the side OF the
majority, Mr.. Maltbie decided he coulu
not 20 into the Cabinet Of Mayor Mitchell
IL is believed the Tammany members 81
the commission would be glad TO get rld
Of Mr. Maltbie.
1T is known that since election Matt
bies post on the commission has Deeh
made about as uncongenial and disagree
able as three Tammany men could MAKE
it," said Mr.. Maltbies friend last light
His carefully prepared opinions, on SUD-
iects on which he is the foremost Aheil-
can expert have been brutally voted
down. without even the courtesy OF a
statement Of reasons for their reJectloh.
Opinions Of counsel have been houted ana
disregarded as to what it was legal LOT
the commission to do. In the interests Vi
the traction companies. and the Tammah!
majority has zone ahead with arrange
ments submitted by the companies not
ably the marlborough.
commissioner Maltbies fight to com
pei transfers as On express condition OF
approval of the purchase of the Coney
island & ProoSl,n Railroad Company by
the Brooklyn Rapid Transit system "ds
overruled. and a verbal assurance ac-
cepted which has not been fulfilled.
"A more serious and stubborn contest
has come over several important STOCK
and bond issue cases. in which security
issues i'm violation OF the letter or PLAIN
purpose of the Public Service Commis-
sons law. as interpreted by the courts
are being put through by the Tammany
majority. over Commissioner Maltoie
nell rooconad prOtestS'