The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-08
FIGHT ON SEMPLE
AS MEMBER OF
SERVICE BOARD
Senators Thompson and Law
son Tell Whitman Lawyer
Should Not BE Named.
MCCALL STILL SILENT
ABOUT HIS REMOVAL

Gov. whitman's decision to remove
him was officially brought to Chairman
Edward r. Mccall Of the Public Service
Commission yesterday afternoon In the
form Of a memorandum and order from
the ONCE Of the Secretary Of State car
lied by special messenger to Judge Nc
Calls Office. The chairman nae already
left for the day and by arrangement
the order was received by his secre-
tary. Charles Hickey.
Mr.. Hickey said last night he would
not hand the order to Judge Mccall until
this morning. He did not know whether
or not Judge Mccall. who busted himself
all day getting together his personal
effects at his offtce. be at the
ONCE to-day. Judge Mccall will take
4 short vacation before beginning such
work as he has In view. He would not
say yesterday what that new work Is.
when reporters called upon him yes
terday morning. Judge Mccall appeared
more than usually good humored. Asked
n he would test the validity OF his re-
moval. he said:
81 can't say as to that now. ] refuse
20 conjecture until I have read an OFF,
ciai copy Of the Governors memoran-
dunn
This intimation that Judge Mccall
might contest his removal In the courts
was brought to the attention of Com
missioner Hayward, whom Gov. Whit
man Is expected to designate as chair.
man. Col Hayward said that the Pub
lie Service Commission law provided for
no appeal from the decision OF the Gov
ernor. but that the question OF whether
or not such decision IL final Is one FOR
the courts to determine.
Successor Not Yet Named.
The Governor announced yesterday
that he was not ready to name Judge
McCalls successor. and his designation
OF Col. Hayward as temporary chairman
was also delayed. william A. orr. he
Governors secretary, came TO tow last
night and had "A talk with Commits
sioner HAYWARD. II II expected that the
designation of Commissioner Hayward
will be made to-day.
The removal Of Chairman Mccall and
the gossip concerning his possible sue
cessor attracted the attention of Senator
George r. Thompson and other members
Of his legislative IN Yesterday.
About the first thing Senate Thompson
did Yesterday morning was Ia despatch
telegram to Gov. Whitman congratu-
hating him upon his decision In the Nc
Call matter n urging him to be eau
tlous III i1llthiHS ga dpIoih'hNhs W 80
the vacancy.
The principal criticism here has been
Of the Public Service Commission ms a
WHOLE ne said. investigation disclOses
It's k re n body. The appoint
nent OF col Hayward has been an i'm
provement and his experience both in
Investigating and rs n member In my
Judgment. creates an inexorab.e demand
that he be designated as chairman. h
aap,a ansit.rlfinn a1Sp make IN I'm UAf "A =
tive that you should continue to select
new men from outside the Public Ser
vice organization.
I'm light of the published suggestions
that you are considering names OF sub
ordlnates for promotion to office OF Com
missioner. ! an led to urge you against
his course Mt this time. one name mem
TONED is OF counsel who tried "A gas rate
case now under investigation. His recoe-
milton now would. ] believe, be highly
Improper
oliver L. sempie the Man.
The counsel who tried a gas rate case
referred to by the senator is oliver G..
Semple. who for several years has been
an assistant counsel to the commits
sion. Senator Lawson went further
than Senator Thompson in advising Gov.
Whitman as Ia whom ne should appoint.
nc VI s'Vs'Ali' ~ "Aii' NM
protested with equal fervor against the
naming of Travis Il. Whitney. sec etary
to the commission since It's or glniZatlon.
Senator I.aws5n's particular objection to
Mr.. Semple is, he said IN his telegram.
that Mr.. Semple helped COMMISSIONS
williams To write an opinion that the
King County Lighting Company should
be permitted To charge 95 cents per
thousand cubic feet for its gas.
Whpfher ar not IL was To bolster I'M
this charge against MI. Semple the
Thompson committee shifted yesterday
Afternoon from its attack upon Com
missioner Wood and brought both Com
missioner Williams and Mr.. Semple be-
fore 1t to air again this particular case.
The results appeared to be unexpected.
Commissioner Williams took upon
himself the full responsibility for the
opinion. He said that Mr.. Senple did
help him 20 write it, but that the in
formation furnished by Mr.. Semple was
based on -four propositions that Comm!s-
sioner Williams insisted should be taken
as matters OF fact. These propositions
were that the Kinss County Lighting
Company was to be allowed nothing for
going value that 1t must be given a
return Of IN per cent. o n an appraised
value of $3,O5O, 900 that II per cent
must be allowed for gas leakage. and
that the company's contract for oil. ad
mittedly ar improvident contract. ~
be taken at Its face value.
Agrees with Hayward.
Mr.. Semple admitted that he had given
to Commissioner Williams certain data
based on the -four propositions, but he
averred that his conclusions We're not
based on his own opinions of what was
right and fair, and declared that his