The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-31
FIND ORDERS OF
P. sc. FREELY
DISREGARDED
InQuiSitorS Learn One Faulty
Case Baked Better
Service.
TAKEN As PRECEDENT.
ADMITS WHITNEY
Charge Arbitrary Ruling
Bars Individual Com
plants.
JOHNS0N'S EFFICIENCY
AS EXPERT QUESTIONED
Only Three Penalty Suits
Completed by $5l,GA0
Legal Staff.
JOHNSON'S EFFICIENCY
AS EXPERT QUESTIONED

Fo- nearly four years, and innumer-
abe VACATIONS OF its orders by traction
companies. tho Public Service Commits
sion Of the First District has failed 10
ask the courts for relief because OF an
adverse decision in single case whica
was lost. not on its merits but because
II was badly prepared by the commits
sons own lawyers. \ decision which
in no sense established an unsurmount-
able precedent has been used as such in
nearly every subsequent instance
wherein the corporations have dlso-
beyed commands for better service.
This charge here reported as an ac-
cusation and not as a fact, was the
heaviest one fired yesterday by the leg
.sauve investigating committee of five
Senator's and six Assemblymen and
Lho.r chief counsel. William Hayward
n the first sessions of the inquiry =:
City Hall.
There were others almost as explosive.
The investigation opened with a bang
The committee seemed bent on proving
a, The outset that it intended to squelch
all rumors Of withdrawing" intentions
which have flown down the river from
Albany
whitney Gets Long Drilling.
Travis II. Whitney. secretary OF tho
commission since its formation by Gov.
Hughes, was an al day witness. Most
Of the time he was explaining the
routine Of MS organization. but ne was
led into a few side issues that developed
flashes which seemed to interest the
ihquisitors. Mr.. Hayward was cool and
searching. Some of the committeeman
when they took hand in the question
'ng were sarcastic and seemed hostile TO
the commission. The upstate members
found 1t hard to grasp all the details OF
Nhat is going on in New Yorks SUBJ
way work.
IN addition 20 failure 10 prosecute for
Violations or orders these are the main
points which, from the viewpcln of the
@mmlltee, were established yesterday:
!. That individuals asking for re-
hef from excessive rates for gas and
he commission because of the law
mat an investigation must be made
upon the request of the Mayor or
100 customers OF lighting company.
Inc commission has made 1t a rule In
most cases to compel the collection of
100 signatures. although 1t has the
alternative power under the same law
OF starting an inquiry OF its own in
NATIVE or upon single complaint,
salary Roll s2.DO2,32I.
: That starting with 40S employees
ana salaries Of S724,2l6 in 1907, the
commission last year had 2.097 en-
ploytes with salaries OF $2.9O2,32i
and expenses OF S2.971, 900. Secretary
whitney pointed out that the increase
NaS due TO the building of the new
subway system and that the average
annual salary had fallen In the seven
years from sl,775 10 Sl,3S4
8. That eN-Fire Commissioner Jo-
tsph johnson gets $1,000 a year as
thlet or the transit bureau. but before
he took the job the man who was
Gong similar work got $500. Mr.
Johnson who managed Edward Il.
McCal's campaign for Mayor was
Inscribed by Senator George Thcmp-
ton, chairman of the committee, as
good newspaper man but poor
politician.
D. nat the commission mas twelve
lawyers Of its own, hut has spent
s'',s26 for special counsel since the
Year 1907
Ih' committee also seemed 10 suspect
mat The commission had tinkered with
'"e c'N!l service, but Mr.. Whitney as
.Wed them that, except Cor few exempt
positions, appointments and promotions
''%i ably were made from the top OF
Ii' list Thanks to the promotion system
'Ht commission several former office
ooSs have risen to good jobs At least
on Is an engineer getting several thou
sand dollars u year,
Violated orders Admitted.
>, The big drive OF the day resulted from
or Nmtneys examination IS to orders
C IN" commission that have been vio-
u is II conceivable" asked Mr.. Hayward
mat the commission could be dcadlocked
WIN a company and that its orders could
continue TO be violated"
Yes said Mr.. Whitney. lie eM-
""aed that in such cases the commits
s''N could 20 to the courts tor a man