New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-26
Guard Service Board
Laws, Roofs Warning

lFrom q SIAN Correspondent OF Ino iHoWhe'I
Albany, Aug. 25.-In a speech In the
Constitutional Convention this evening
wherein he called a spade spade,
Elihu Root declared that too much tin
kering with the public service COM
missions would lead to a return of
the days of the "black horse cavalry"
when bills were introduced in the
Legislature holding up corporations
holding them up and shaking them
down"
Mr.. Root warned against an amend
ment which would permit the Legisla-
ture to destroy entirely the functions
of the public service commissions. He
urged that the constitution define the
powers Of the commissions.
Until Mr.. Root spoke there was a
feeling among other leaders Of tie con-
vention against the proposed article,
which, they said, would make the COM
missions too independent.
81 do not think we should lose the
opportunity we have to make it i'm
possible for any Legislature ever to
abandon the system Of regulating such
corporations through commissions Of
thi, kind, and 90 back to the old meth
cd of leaving such corporations unregu-
lated. save for the passage of laws by
the Legislature.
"The burden of holding these cor
porations accountable to the people
was a burden on the Legislature which
il should never have been made to bear.
1t resulted also, in a number Of states,
including our own, in bills holding up
rporations-holding them up and
shaking them down. Many of US can
remember the dreadful days of the
black horse cavalry an incident due
purely to this sort OF legislation.
"The fact that the corporations were
singled out for unfair attacks in the
Legislature gave the managers of these
big corporations justification, in their
own minds and in the eyes Of the di-
rectorates, which approved expendit-
ures made for this purpose, for going
into politics and spending the money
of the stockholders for the election OF
Senators and Assemblymen who would
protect their interests in the Legisla-
ture-protect them against so-called
strike legislation. The whole system
became a scandal and a disgrace, and
it was to correct this that these COM
missions were established.
1--WE will be in a position to regard
our state with greater respect If we do
nothing here TO open the way for re-
turn to the old methods. We must
remember what the people forget. A
generation will rise which will know
nothing about the evils attending the
black horse cavalry days, and, not
knowing them, unwittingly may consent
to wiping out these commissions. For
IL oh
just enough-in this article 20 protect
these commissions"
George w. Wickersham offered a
substitute proposal which would per-
nit the Governor TO remove the Public
Service Commissioners on charges
without the concurrence of the Senate
This power he now exercises. The
amendment as proposed by the Public
Utilities Committee would make il
necessary for the Governor to obtain
the consent of the Senate before re-
moving the commissioners. Mr.. Wick
ershar. said this was too rigid, as the
next twenty years might bring about
conditions making necessary new regu-
lations, whic' the committee proposal
would prevent.
Another feature of the proposal
which has met with objection was the
provision restraining the Legislature
from enacting rate legislation until
after a public service commission had
investigated and reported to the Legis-
lature. Many saw in this an opportu-
nifty for harassing public utility cor
porations.
Mr. Wickersham's substitute leaving
to the Legislature the right to abolish
one of the two commissions was criti.
cised. This, it was said would make
the commissions the football of poll
tics.
Senator James A. Foley offered an
amendment to Mr.. Wickersham's sub
sttute continuing the two commits
sions. This was carried by vote OF
SO 10 80.
The Wickersham substitute, as
amended by Mr.. Foley, and which has
the approval Of Mr.. Root, was then ad-
vanced to the order Of final passage by
a vote of 81 70 30. 1t perpetuates the
commissions, as now constituted, and
its adoption by the convention is as
sured.