New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-23
Light Company Cases Specified.

The various cases affecting the Kings
County Light and Power Company, IN
which Mccall owned stock, ana lts SUP
salaries having cases pending before
the commission are specified, and the
committee then goes on to charge that
Mccall. among other things, has neg
lected and failed to attend scheduled
meetings and hearings on important
matters pending before the commits
sion.
THAT he has accepted in at least one
instance 3 retainer from. and rendered
legal services TO, a corporation seeking
TO evade in the courts the payment OF
taxes claimed by the state to be owing
bv such corporation to the state. The
chief owner of the stock OF such cor
poration is also commonly reputed 10
be a controlling factor in the manage
ment of the PETERBOROUGH Rapid Tran
sit Company, one Of the corporal IS
subject 10 the supervision OF the COM
mission of which he is chairman.
"That in another case he has accepe-
ed retainer in an action now pending
in the Supreme Court, in which action
the engineers in the employ OF the fup-
lie Service Commission Will be neces-
sarv and material witnesses.
"That he has favored the public ser
vice corporations and that his official
cctions have been consistently preJu-
dicial to the interests of the people OF
the city and state.
Used City Auto, Is One Charge.
"That he has appropriated to his own
use an automobile belonging 10 the
CITY of New York, and that the ex-
pense of the operation of such auto
mobile for the convenience Of himself
and his family has been charged TO anu
paid bv the City of New York.
"Tbat in the matter of the Third Ave-
nue. Railway Company and the Forty
second Street, Manhattanville & st.
Nicholas Avenue Railway Company
Chairman Mccall has not only neglect
ed 10 enforce the commissions orders,
hut has used his influence TO prevent
the commencement of legal proceedings
for the enforcement Of such orders and
for the collection of the penalties which
the law imposes for the violation OF
such orders.
"That in the negotiation and execu-
ton of the so-caled dual contracts and
certificates he surrendered and failed
TO exercise his powers and duties as
Public Service Commissioner OF the
State of New York"
Chairman Thompson decided yester-
day to give Frank L. Polk, counsellor
10 the State Department at Washing
ton, an opportunity 10 be heard IN the
Edison Amsterdam stock sale case. lie
said that if Mr.. Polk appeared on
Wednesday morning the committee
would be glad to hear his explanation
Denie, Advising Maltbie.
Former Commissioner Maltbie had
testified on Friday that he had voted
for the sale of 100 shares OF Amster-
dam stock to the Edison Company be-
cause MIR. Polk. then Corporation Coun-
sci. had told him that the city's inter
est would be protected If the order APP
provinp the sale provided that no mer-
ger Of the two companies was recog-
nized thereby.
Mr. Polk, in a telegram TO the COM
mittee asking to be allowed 10 appear
said: AIN order to avoid further false
imnressions being created, let me as
sure YOU that did not advise Mr.. Malt
bic or any one else TO permit the
merger. nor did | withdraw the formal
objections Of the city
The importance Of the case lies IN
the fact that the city was suing TO an
null the franchise OF the Amsterdam
Company on the ground Of non-use, and
that the Edison Company contends ina,
tho approval OF the sale of stock car
ried with il a transfer of the franchise
which the Edison Company is now US
ing. The result is, Of course, that the
city has apparently no case.