The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-20
FIND CAUSE TO
REMOVE BOTH
P. s. BOARDS
legislative Investigators
Assail Mccall. Cram. Wood
and Williams.
FAILED TO SEE THAT
ORDERS WERE OBEYED

Atp,Ny. April 30 Tuesday A. NJ.
The Thompson Public Service Inves-
,,sa,ion Committee At ESQ o'clock this
morning completed its report and recon-
nendcd the removal Of the Public Ser
vice Commissioners of the First and
Second districts. The report said
II the commissions Of the First and
Second districts OF this State are to
carry cut the purposes for which they
were created. 6, the public service cor
variations Of the state are TO respect
ire law aud obey the mandates Of the
commission created for their rcgula-
ton. il will be necessary TO place the
administration of the Public Service
Commissions law in the hands of COM
uissiouer- who have clear conception
n, the provisions of the law and a
keener sense Of their responsibilities
than has been shown by the records of
the hearings in either the First or Sec
ord district commissions.
Your committee after a careful eS-
ANIMATION 81 the evidence is forced 10 tho
conclulson that Commissioners Mccall.
Wood. Cram ard Williams have. for UNI
reasonable periods Of time. permitted the
orders Of the Commission to be ignored,
that they failed IN many instances Of
substantial public concern, TO render
Their determinations upon matters sub
mi,ted 10 them with reasonable prompt
ress that they failed TO supervise prop
e-ly and Within the intent of the law the
activities of their subordinates that
they failed TO adequately inform them
selves of the essential powers conferred
upon them by the law and they have
neglected and refused TO avail them
selves OF the remedies provided BY the
law for the enforcement of the manda-
toy provisions of the law.
"But the Governor having preferred
charges based upon such report against
Commiss oncrs Mccall. Cram, Williams
and Wood. and the answers OF such
Commissioners having been presented to
the Governor and a hearing had thereon
before him and the Governor having
taken the matter under advisement and
not yet having rendered his decision
upon such charges. while this COMMITTEES.
upon tho testimony taken before them
without turther explanation or denial,
md them inefficient as defined in this
report. II appears to this committee in
adv sable Il not improper to express any
opinion as to whether the charges so
preferred have been sustained. The
Governor should he left free, without
action by his committee in any way, to
FENDER such decisions as in his judgment
m,y SEEM just and proper.
The cases ruught to our attention. in
the opinion Of your committee. disclose
colhr't uu the part Of the commission
- Tho Second district. which IL is i'm
possible for your committee TO har-
monte with rational conception OF the
men Of the word efficiency,
They have failed adequately TO in
form Themselves upon the provisions of
the public service commissions law.
r''y have failed to give prompt and In
te!ls'nt attention to some of the COM
plants fled with the commission and
have failed 10 render decisions promptly
Npon such complaints and when rendered
lney have failed 20 enforce reasonable
compliance herewith"
'tlilmdu Thompson introduced I'LL
last nigh, logislating the two publc Ser
wee Commissions out OF existence and
PROVIDING for the appointment Of com
mission of seven members, With state
v1r powers
ne proposes TO reduce the salaries OF
he ''mm'~Sl from $1,000 "A year
10 Sl".0"n. but gives them seven year
e.ms instead of 'vc. AS At present
senate" Thompsons hill creates the
comm Ssiou Of seven with statewide
po"tr, And then divides this board into
Nv" commissions Of tire" each, with a
!,ht chairman. Provision Is made that
~ least three shall be from New York
n.y. VINO SHdl serve on the New York
wy .p'niNss.ou, and three from up
''"f 20 serve as members Of the up
N''" Ns'rlct commission. Mr. Thomp-
70 also would provide for the appoint
men OF 'Wp additional members to the
'N l'.f city commission TO aid the
'oa.o N rapid transit matters only.
N"'n Senator Thompson introduced
wv '.l %" stated that II represented his
'' IDEAS. and was not framed as a
" "' any action by his committee
w. yea a. have the bill advanced "a
''0' ~ ilnal passage, but Demo
/, .' Leader Wagner objected. The
wont 20 tine Public Service Commit
D. Hrt. ~. ,r