New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-05
Continued from page I

vate law work and let the commissions
work slide. The probers were still put
:.ng in the record cases IN which he
acted as counsel, or referee. when the
committee adjourned last night. Pri-
vstely the chairman said he would
have nothing to say in explanation I'M
ii! Il came from the stand.
Business First. His Slogan.
seems that al the very time the
public Service Commissio n was holding
stated meetings Chairman Mccall was
hearing testimony in the course of hrs
nriysfc law practice. The hearings OF
The hoard were on the third floor Of the
Tribune Building, IN which the ices
OF the commission are situated. Al the
came time the chairman was presiding
as referee in his private ga matters
in the room set aside for his own use
as chairman.
According TO the partia. record Of MS
lay work put IN yesterday. McCail
snept in all ffty-thrce days I'D court or
taking testimony as cicrec. hen
h was SO engaged he missed nine
stated meetings OF the commission, IN
which important regulatory aud transit
construction matter we're acted upon.
- one meeting about S3,OU0,0oO wort"
oE vouchers were passed.
\, hcn pressed about In pwIedgc as TO
the details of the comm ssion. Mccall
said that Edward r. Boyle had been APP
pointed 10 give him that very lnforma.
tion Bowie is the Tammany leader OF
the 10th Assembly District and was out
Of lob on January |, 1914. He was
appointed confidential inspector IN the
commission. He was there eight months,
and il was brought out that IN all that
time he never made report. ne com
missioner could not remember that
Bowie had ever told him about the way
the transit companies ere violating
n orders. He did recommend that
r. ..lar head OF the transit bureau be
appointed. Thus was made the JOB 20
which Joseph Johnson, who managed
IN, Mccall Mayoralty campaign, was
snpointed at s., 800. Boyles salary was
$4,000.
Although he said he had read the
nublic service law, Mccall proved weak
on some of its provisions. when ne
talked about the recent fire in the spllc-
inc chambers in the subway It was WITH
much more hucncy than about other
matters. Evidently he was prepared TO
answer questions about IT,
Would Increase Power.
However. he spoke in such way as
90 r;ve the impress he was SPEAK
- ~ "slcing" chambers. No ques-
%, yss asked 10 show whether he
new lust what the chambers were
for -,.....
AeLad his views as 20 what changes
:, ;urisdirtion between the commission
IN this department and that IN the
Cocord Department he would recon-
n,erd Mccall said he would give the
.o,,r,ission here control Of all pubic
service matters on Long Island. lie
uould also extend its jurisdiction 10
s,ree, railroads and suburban service
IN Westchester County. Although ne
,,as somewhat hazy as 10 just no"
n,rcb jurisdiction he would give TINS
cor,mission over the telephone com
nsnv in this district, in a genera! way
h. seemed to favor letting IT TX the
rates. with some consideration for "has
the toll service cost in other parts o.
From questions asked by various
members of the committee u was inaGe
clear they have in mind the possible
consolidation Of regulatory WORK o, tne
entire state in the commission and tne
handing Of the construction work on
the dual transit system TO the Board
Of Estimate OF this city. In theory
Mccall declared the city should nave
charge OF this construction WORK, pu'
II would be fatal TO take this nail
completed system out of the super
vision Of the Public Service Commis-
sion. which was familiar with all us
details.
There were more in attendance than
sL previous sessions, but all the seats
in the Board of Estimate chamber were
not occupied. There were few minor
Tammany politicians in the back OF
nc room. but Senator Foley, the Tiger
senator on the committee. was not IN
bis.sest until later in the afternoon.
Even ther ne did not attempt TO break
The force OF the testimony by leading
the chairman into more favorable
statements.
II was evident that Mccall expected
= hard session when he took the wit
ness stpnd the first thing in the morn
ING but he tried 10 assume jaunty