New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-13
WHITMAN AXE
READY FOR P.S.
COMMISSIONERS
Findings of Quiz May
Doom Officials Now
Under Fire.
HARD TO GET GOOD
MEN, SAYS GOVERNOR
Paw Boost Hint-Added
Powers Planned-Tube
Work Changes.

WOTk SildiiSSo'
: Governor Whitman in his suite u"
N. St. Regis Hotel yesterday gov
report OF the progress Of the fupl''
Service Commission inquiry from Colo'
mel William Hayward, counsel OF INV
legislative committee.
While neither would indicate the
character Of their discussion II Is u"-
A.,..ood the Governor has diheren'
: angle on the remedies necessary 10Y
the situation than he had before 'he
investigation started. II has pee"
brought out clearly in the investigs-
80, a. the satisfaction Of many mem
her, o. the committee, that the Puol'c
servi,e commissions law has plenty OF
teeth and that il would be unwise 10
tanner with IL too much
n Ia quite possible that before inc
end of the investigation charges VIII
be brought against some OF 'he oo"
mj.sioners, and that the Governor u
he finds the complaints sustained .!
the record, will remove them' lne"
the committee in its report can recon-
snd some few changes in the law,
! surh. for instance, as giving the com
njssion In this district jurisdiction
over the entire territory OF Long Isl,
.nd and over the suburban service ot
: the steam railroads in Westminster
= County.
Whitman Seeks New Aids.
N This commission has entire juriisdlc-
,,ion already over such street railways
as have lines running into II lro"
! Westchester and Long Island
y Mr.. Whitman, IL is believed, mas
: started 10 look around for good men
: ~ snpoint 20 the commission mere
He realizes il will be hard task
While ne probably did not have these
: rlaces in mind altogether II was sig
!. rihcant Yesterday when he sald;
81 do not believe the people general
: " realize how hard II is to get eHoiehl
: and honest men TO tll appoln'Ne stste
: Jobs. The trouble is that the saIaries
: are too small 10 attract the KIND oil
Z men We want. But thIhk so 'ai We
: have done WELL ,..
: Then Il may have been q thought
( Of the pressure that might be brought
: 70 bear on him in naming men Tor the
8 Public Service commissions came 10
his mind. for he added with a sudden
set of his jaw: -.
, my disposal :.L
tho wav in which the Public Service
Investigation has progressed lie mas
sbeen amazed at some OF the reveal
stions. although he knew that com
gplaints Of the progress Of the WORK IN
tthe commission here had been mace
ffor some time.
"Coloncl HAYWARD as counsel 10 the
!committee has done good work. said
mir. Whitman. Gle is my personal
gcounsel. and the fact that his services
eare being given 10 the committee VIII
fsove the state about $4,000 in counsel
fees. That is a considerable economy.
Phone Problem UnsOlved.
As 10 whether it would he wise to
place the regulation Of the telephones
in this district in the hands OF the
commission here IS a mooted matter
with .he Governor. There as a num-
Der Of points Of this nature which VIII
be considered most seriously before
any decision is reached.
There arc members of the committee
who at present are of the opinion that
il would he good thing to take the
subway construction work out oil the
hands Of the commission here. Some
of them favor creating city depart
ment with a head appointed by the
MAYOR and subject to the regulation OF
the Board of Estimate in financial mat
tiers.
Another suggestion is that a sepa-
rate commission or board be created
for the construction Of rapid transit
lines. Such a body would be in way
like the Board Of Water Supply, How
ever. there is much opposition 20 tax
ing the completion Of the dual transit
system out of the hands Of the organi-
cation which has il we'll under way.
Commissioner Wood said yesterday
n. had nothing 10 add 10 his state
, ment in regard 20 the letting of the
signal contracts. which was brought out
by the investigating committee on
Thursday. He had not read the record,
When he does he may ask 10 20 on the
stand 20 make a statement for the rec
ord.
Williams on Stand To-day.
Wood and Commissioner Williams
were at the Offices of the commission
Yesterday The latter will resume the
stand at 10 O'Clock this morning. II
the committee decides TO hold an after
noon session it may reach Commits
sioner Maltbie
The committee took a trip around
the harbor with Dock Commissioner
Smith yesterday.
The Governor talked with Mr.. Hay
ward about a number Of other impor-
tant matters. including the bill reor'
ganixing the tax system of The state
and taking the collection OF corporation
taxes out Of the hands Of the Con-
troller. In spite Of the rumors that
he had capitulated in his fight with