The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-28

From another source. however, an
other version of the quarrel In the
committee that to a certain extent
aroused the displcasure of Gov. Whit
man WAS obtained. 1t seems that when
the state Legislature voted for AN in
v%estlgation of the Public Service COM
missions and the committee was ap-
pointed Senators Mills and Thompson,
among others. had a talk with Gov.
Whitman.
1t that time. the second story goes,
GOV. whitman agreed with the plan out
lined by Senator Mills that the com
mittee should make a thorough investi-
CATION of the two commissions and
when the inquiry was ended a report
should be presented To the Legislature
giving conclusions as to The facts con-
corning the efficacy of the public service
act and also in regard TO the Commits
sioners.
II il understood that the committee
would not he expected TO make any
charges against the Commissioners even
If neglect and ineincienCy might seem
! manifest from the testimony. Such
| charges. it WAS agreed. lay within the
jurisdiction of the Governor. who would
be the trial. judge and jury and could
afford the Commissioners an opportunity
TO enter a defence.
az Nv ~ - NV ~
mis- city. hut. within "a short time. there
came q him that haste was necessary.
! Then came the report, through col Hay
ward. that the Governor wanted a pro
liminary report concerning the Public
Service Commission OF the First Dis
trict containing charges against the
Commissioners. Instantly Senators
Thompson and Mills b,lkcd, II is said.
and announced fatty in the committee
meetings that they would not make II
report until the entire investigation had
been finished.
Both Thompson and Mills argued that
their duty lay entirely to the Legislature .
that they should report, to that body
th,ir findings Of fact tina, II was not
Incumbent upon them to make any
charges against the Commissioners, but
thai after the report was fled the Gov
ernor. under the law, could do so II he
chose.
The result WAS. il is said. that an in.
vitation reached the two senators t.
visit the Governor, They did so and
there. IN the presence OF col Hayward
the matter was arcued out. Finally
both Senators Thompson and Mills con
scented to sign a preliminary report 81
tic end Of the investigation in this city
but insisted that the Governor must
request such a report in a letter adj
dressed TO the committee
Thu phrdsrologN of the letter WAS as
cuSsed and II was agreed that the lot
tor TO tho committee should he slm'la'
to the one that had been sent To- pubic
officials OF this city. including the
Mayor. asking their opinion about th'
=. efficiency OF the commission. There the
matter was left At the conference.
When. however, senator Thompson
made a study Of the .iOVeruors Request
and found that t. answer II fully th'
committee would hav" t. make q charge
Of iucihcitncy against certain commits
sioners, he decided that such a repor'
E would mean going beyond the duty o.
/, the committee. lie conferred viii
Sontto' Mills and both agreed that they
would not he parties to any charges o
I neglect and inefiic.cuCy.
More wrargl's IN committee meeting.
followed. according To the second yer
sion, with COT HAYWARD seeking t. Re
the committee to agree To- MAXIM,
, charges in the preliminary r,pprt. Sen
; a'or Thompson had several heated ar
guuouts with col. Hayward. but tn
senator could not he moved
The argument At times took the turi
tNl' tho Governor was irving "a pas.
the buck to IN" l"cislaturc' that IN
wanted to place upon the ~lcgislativ,
committee The Ouus Of bong ,pupell,'
10y their report To dismiss re Demo
cratic Public Service Commissioners