New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-07
LEGISLATORS TURN
ON P. 5. MEMBERS
Subway Disaster Brings
Demand for Inquiry
from Albany.

Albany, Jan. 6-New York's subway
disaster to-day brought the question
of the supervision of public utilities
to the fore. Among the first resolu-
tions introduced in the Legislature was
one by Senator William NJ. Bennett, of
New York, calling for an investigation
of the accident and of the Public Ser
vice Commission Of the LIST District.
cumstances of the accident and said
sit called attention to the use Of
wooden cars in the subway and the
chaotic condition of Public Service
Commission regulation in the LIST Dis
trict."
1t provided further for the appoint
ment of committee of three Senators
and five Assemblymen TO investigate
the accident, the Public Service Com
sion, and to recommend legislation for
the reorganization of the commission"
1t carried with it an appropriation of
5000. The resolution was laid on the
table for the present and will be re-
ferred to the Finance Committee when
the Legislature reconvenes Wednesday
and appoints that body. In consequence
of the Governors determination TO IN
uuire into both commissions the Ben
nett resolution may not be pressed.
At a conference between the Gov
ernor. Speaker Sweet and Majority
Leader Brown late to-day the public
service commissions, especially the
downstate one, were discussed at
length. and it was decided that an in
auiry into their workings should be
made and some remedial legislation af-
fecting them passed.
There will be an investigation and
there will be legislation in relation TO
the commissions" Governor Whitman
said tonight. "Of course, LIDO not leg
islate, but | can safely say that GER
tain changes in the public service law
will be made at this session"
One proposition that the Governor
and Republican leaders have discussed
is the advisability Of recognizing the
two present commissions into one body.
Mr.. Whitman said tonight that he was
undecided as TO the merit OF this plan.
In this connection, however, he placed
emphasis on the fact that the Inter
state Commerce Commission was SIN
gle body and that its jurisdiction was
greater than that of the two New York
state commissions.
A non-partisan commission plan ap-
peais strongly TO Governor Whitman,
and he asserted that il is certain one
amendment 10 the statute under which
the Public Service Commission was
organized would provide for this. lie
has spoken favorably of a single BIZ
partisan commission of seven mem
bers.
Thorough investigation is desired
before any definite plan of reorganlza-
ton is determined upon. The Governor
would like the Legislature TO appoint
an investigating committee OF five SEN
ators and five Assemblymen who met
his approval, and he will insist on Sc
Letting the counsel 10 the committee.
Unlimited power, including the sub
nnnaing of witnesses and documents,
would be given this body. II the Leg
islature fails 20 meet Mr.. Whitman's
wishes in this matter he will probably
appoint commission of his own, as he
is empowered 10 do under the Morelsnd
act.
Governor Whitman said the Public
Service investigation would be broad
He said he had received already re-
ports Of the workings OF the commits
sions in other states, notably Illinois.
where there is but one commission for
the whole state. He said that numer-
Gus complaints from various sources
had been lodged against the Public
Service commissions, and that they re-
ferred to traffic regulation, operation,
construction and all sorts of subway
matters.