New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-20
Committee Merely Finds
Members "More or
Less Inefficient"
PUTS THE MATTER
UP TO GOVERNOR
Minority Will Condemn Recon-.
mendations of Majority for
Changes in Law.
From A STAFF corrc1pondcn, Of Tic Tribuns)


Albany, April 19.-No charges will
be filed by the Thompson committee
against any of the members OF the
Public Service Commission of either
the First or Second district.
The report of the committee, an abb
stract of which was made public to-
night by Senator George F. Thompson,
chairman, states that there is no basis
for charges of misconduct in Office or
neglect of duty.
1.-THE only ground Of complaint
against the commissioners for which
there is substantial evidence in the
record" says the abstract, sis that they
are more or less inefficient in the ad-
ministration in their dealings with the
corporations"
The report itself has not yet been
agreed to by oil the members Of the
majority. There may be a meeting to-
morrow morning before the Legisla-
ture meets, at which the report will be
adopted.
The Thompson committee, TO use a
poker expression, passes the buck" TO
the Governor. 1t will be for him to
determine whether the more or less
ineificiency is even basis for mild
censure Of any of the commissioners.
VIII Not Remove Board.
Governor Whitman has decided that
there is no ground for finding any of
the four members of the New York
City Commission guilty Of any charges
The pleadings of certain members OF
his party 20 remove Messrs. Mccall
Cram, Williams and Wood have fallen
on deaf ears
The Thompson report criticises the
present law as unwieldy and unscien-
tifc. 1t suggests that the Legislature
continue the Thompson committee for
another year.
There are so many matters which
should have had the attention of the
committee and which, because of the
brief time available, have not had
proper consideration" says the report
chat the committee has determined to
recommend that its existence be con-
tinued for the purpose of making fur
Their study.
THE law as it stands to-day was not
drawn scientifically. IL can be amply
reduced in volume and materially sim
plified The work should be done
however. with great care, and Mt the
same time the provisions of the rail
road law should be revised, and such
portions Of the transportation corpora
tions law, the general corporations law
and the stock corporations law as are
applicable to public service corpora
tions should also be revised.
1.-THE question of separating the
transportation problems Of New York
City from the problems properly under
the jurisdiction of the Public Service
Commission is one which should also
have careful study
Capital Par Value Question.
"The question of no par value of cap
ital stock is also ono which may be
very probably studied. The law as II
stands to-day in this state permits the
issue Of capital stock without having
a capital par value appearing thereon
as 10 all corporations except moneyec
corporations and public service corpo.
rations. II seems desirable to extend
this provision to public service corpo'
rations. The question also of the un-
restricted issue of capital stock based
upon patents. copyrights, good Will
etc, may be the subject of careful IN
vestigation and reflection"
When the majority report is otfere7
Senator Foley will offer minority re
port. signed also by Assemblyman Burr
! of Kings, and Donohue, of New DIRK. II
/ will criticise the finding of ineffciency
/ against the commissions and condemn
/ the recommendations of the majority
report as reactiOnary and destructive
IF public utility regulation.
Senator Thompson introduced to
night a bill providing for single
headed public service commission OF
seven members. 1t provides that three
members shall supervise the public ser
vice corporations upstate and three
those of New York City. The chairman
NAV sit with either three. The bill has
little chance of passing