New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-23
P. S. c. QUIZ TO
Be THOROUGH
Committee Wants to Find
Out What Commissions
Have Done.
COMPLAINTS TURNED
OVER BY GOVERNOR
Maltbie Likely To Be First Wit
Some Carlisle Re-
ports May BE Used.

With an open mind and no precon-
ceived notion as 70 what legislation or
other remedial action should be under
taken. according to the members here
yesterday. the leg slativc committee 20
investigate the Public Service commits
sions will begin hearings IN the Isl
District on Wednesday.
Senator George +. Thompson, OF Nj
agars. chairman. William Hayward.
counsel. and several other members OF
the committee opened headquarters At
the Hotel Biltmore yesterday and made
preliminary arrangements for the work.
Governor Whitman wants the inyes-
tigation TO he thorough, 20 reveal just
how the present commissioners are do
ing their duty. as we'll as TO discover
what has been accomplished by the
commissions since they we're estab'
lshed
The members Of the committee thai
met 10 outline their work were, m add
ton 20 Senator Thompson and Mr..
HayV Senators ogden !. NILS, Of
New York: George Cromwell, OF Rich
mond. and Robert r. lawson. Of Kings.
and Asscmblyman Maier, OF Seneca.
Mr.. Hayward said the committee had
a number OF complaints transferred 20
them By Governor Whitman, but fur
ther than that mad not gathered much
data. Up to last night no request mad
becn made OF the commission for m
formation OF any character.
Although the resolution creating the
committee provides IT, shall report not
later than February 10. few OF the
members believe il will be possible 20
get through by that time, but do not
anticipate any trouble in getting an
extension OF time.
Members Of the commission are
awaiting the Investigation with seren-
ity. They believe they will be able TO
justify their existence. and everything
will be done 10 aid the work. II the
committee is banking on the fact that
harmony has not always existed among
the members Of the commission TO add
10 their stock of information they are
doomed to disappointment. 1t IS be-
lieved. However. there seems 20 be a
prevalent impression that Commis-
sioner Maltbe, whose term expires on
February !. will be the first witness.
The commission has practically
stopped all its routine work to devote
its time to preparing transcripts OF
records and other data for consioara-
ton by the committee. Each depart
ment Is preparing an analysis OF what
las been accomplished, and as these
records will go back for the seven
years Of th- commissions existence the
task is no small one.
Some Of the reports prepared fof
John y. Carlisle. who investigated the
commissions for Governor Dix in 1911,
will be used.
OF all the complaints before the com
mittee ct present the most tangible are
in the formal charges presented BY
John Holley Clarke on behalf OF the
Flushing association. The commission
is charged with having shown discrlm-
ination in favor OF the Queens County
& Suburban Railway in permitting II
TO disobey the orders OF the commls-
sion and OF other derelictions In duty.
Among the things that sill probably
be investigated by The commission are
the delays in the settlement OF the
electric light rate cases, the ward &
Cow advertising contract IN the sub
way. the Consolidated Gas bond issue
the reorganization OF the Dry Dock
Railway and the bond issue OF the Man
haitian & Queens Traction Company.
Other matters that will be subjects
OF investigation in all probability will
be the time Chairman Mccall has gwen
20 his private law practice. the actual
number of hours Commissioner Cram
has spent al the Offices OF the commits
sion and the alleged partiality Of Com
missioner Williams for the Bloohlyr
Rapid Transit COMPANY.