Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-03
SENATORS FAIL TO
. CONFIRM DANIELS
AS COMMISSIONER
Marines Opposition Creates
Surprise-WiIson May With
draw Jersey Nominee.
IFrom n STAFF Correspondent

WASHINGTON, April 3.-The Sem
ate again went into executive sess' on
today and resumed its discussion of
the fate of Winthrop Moore Daniels
for membership of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, AT this writ
ing it looks very much as If Mr.. Dan
iels will be turned down. 1t is conf
dently predicted that the outcome of
the secret session today will be the
withdrawal of his name.
For the third time Senator MARITIME
has taken q stand against the Presi-
dent. 1t is free,y given out that he
was among the senators who spoke
against the confirmation OF Dapiels.
This report astonished the ffien1s OF
the administration because the sena-
tor from Plainfield gave no indication
prior to the executive session that he
was anything but friendly to the man
selected by Woodrow Wilson TO be a
member of the most important com
mission in the federal government.
When Mr.. Daniels's name was con-
sidered before and was opposed by
Senator LaFollette's proxy, Senator
MARITIME made one of his most glow
ing speeches in favor of the we'll
known member of the New Jersey
Utilities Commission, who was chosen
for transfer from that body to the
Interstate Commerce Commission by
the President of the United States.
AT that time Senator MARITIME paid a
glowing tribute to the ability and in
tegrity of Mr.. Daniels and urged upon
his colleagues his confirmation.
Marines Attitude Surprising.
The fact that Senator MARITIME in
executive session today took back
what he had said before and aligned
himself with Senators LaFollette and
Cummins practically makes the ad-
ministration's selection impossible.
The adherents of the administration
may gather enough votes together
before today's executive SESSION
closes to force through the confirma-
ton. But this is doubted. Senator
Thomas and Senator Walsh are also
understood to be opposed to Mr.. DAN
iels becoming a commissioner OF in
terState commerce.
Senator MARITIME cited as the basic
objection to the confirmation the find
ing of Professor Daniels in the mat
ter of the Passaic gas rate case. In
this instance Professor Daniels had,
after an investigation covering the
period from 1911 to 1913, decided that,
in addition to the actual naked phys
ical value of the real estate, pipe
lines. machinery, buildings and sup
plies of the Passaic concern, the in
tangible assets" of the corporation,
under which were included franchise,
good will certain methods of singu
lar and specific value in the conduct
of the business, should add to the
strictly physical value an additional
17.6 per cent. of actual inherent worth.
Further, he set the fact that as "a
going concern" it was worth an ad-
ditional 80 per cent.
Passaic Gas Company Case.
Previous to the investigation and
valuation the Passaic company had
been selling gas to the consumers at
S1.1O per LOCO feet, with certain cash
discounts which brought the net cost
to the consumer to 81 per 1000 feet.
Following the establishment of the
Daniels valuation the price, II was
found, could be cut to ninety cents
per 1000 feet, and the return repain-
ing to the corporation would still be
per cent. per annum. This, Pro-
fessor Daniels held, was a reasona-
BILE return upon the investment.
Senator MARITIME expressed the view
that a man who could take this po-
sition was united to help decide the
greater problem of physical Valua-
tion of the railroads now pending be-
fore the commission. He deplored the
necessity of thus disagreeing with the
President, but he could not see his
way clear to accept any other course.
The absence of Senator Hughes,
who is the administra tion's spokes-
man in this case has left the presi-
Dental appointee practically without
a champion Ordinarily his confir-
nation would not be considered in
the absence of bis senatorial sponsor,
but prior to going away the senator
from Paterson made an arrangement
with Senator La Toilette whereby in
the absence of either or both the
matter could be attended to by their
conferees. From the leakages of the
closed Senate doors it looks as if
they We're attending to Mr.. Daniels
good and proper.
Want Railroad Authority.
The fight against him was led off
by Senator Cummins, who took up
the old case of the Passaic Gas Com
pany, when the citizens Of Passaic
We're appealing TO the New Jer-
sey Public Utility Commission for a
reduction in the price of gas to con-
sumers. Mr.. Daniels refused to give
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