New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-21
M'CALL CHARGES
TO BE AMPLFIED
More Will Be Made If
Necessary, Says Sena-
tor Thompson.
TO MEET CHAIRMAN'S
DEMAND FOR DETAIL
Maltbie's Testimony Not to Dr.
vert Inquiry TO Corporation
Counsel's Office. II Is Said.

Senator George F. Thompson, chair
man Of the legislative committee which
filed charges with Governor Whitman
against Chairman Edward L. Mccall OF
the Public Service Commission, calling
for his removal, spent the day yester-
day sharpening up the charges, 80 they
would meet McCalPs complaint tnat
they were not specific enough. Senator
Thompson was assisted in his task by
Merton L. Lewis, counsel Of the COM
mittee. and J. Frank Smith, assistant
counsel.
Although the Senator refused TO say
lust how the charges would be ampil-
fed. he promised that on Monday, when
the bill OF particulars would be made
public and sent 10 Governor Whitman,
there would be no further grounds FOR
captiousness on McCall's part at It's
lack OF detail.
"If necessary there will be more
charges added TO those already hied
with the Governor" Thompson said.
I've are going over the many thou
sands of words of the record. and they
are full of meat. We are doing this so
that Mccall can have no basis to his
complaint that there is nothing DEN
mite for him to answer. We consider
that the charges already filed are
amply specific, but we will give nm
more if he wants it, Well cross all
the is and dot the is for him"
Polk Not To Be Called.
Senator Thompson said there was no
intention of calling Frank L. Polk, for
mer Corporation Counsel, before the
commission to testify This question
was raised by the remark Thompson
made at the hearing Friday, during
Commissioner Milo K. Maltbe's testi-
mony regarding the purchase OF Am
sterdam company stock by the Edison
company, that it appeared the Corpora
ton Counsels Office was more TO blame
than the Public Service Commission.
Il was during the administration as
CORPORATION Counsel Of Mr.. Polk, VINO
is now Assistant Secretary of State,
succeeding Robert Lansing when he
took Bryan's place, that the Edison
company bought the Amsterdam com
pany stock. The purchase had pre-
yiously been opposed by the city
through William Burr, Assistant Cor
poration Counsel, who took the stand
that the purchase would create
monopoly.
The Thompson committee has
charged that Mccall and the other
commissioners allowed the Edison com
pany TO make the purchase over the
city's protest, but Maltbie testified FRI
day he voted as he did only after FOLK
assured them there was clause IN the
order which protected the clty's rights.
Thompson said yesterday that despite
this different complexion apparently
put on the matter by Maltbie ne did
not intend TO let the committees aim
be diverted TO Polk.
viii Not BE Sidetracked.
II see no necessity for calling Mr..
Polk TO testify" he said. 1--WE under
stand the Amsterdam matter thorough
IL and have all the facts before us.
Anyway, il is not our province 10 IN
yestigate the Corporation CounsePs of
flee. OF course. it has been subjected
10 some criticism, but We came TO in
vestigate the Public Service Commis-
sion law and will not allow ourselves
TO be sidetracked
Burr and Victory already have told
US all about the case and the connec-
ton OF the Corporation CounseIs Of
fee with it. In regard TO formulating
the charges against the other commits
sioners, in which we are more inter
ested lust at present. We deem It our
duty TO submit such charges as soon
as evidence shall warrant it."
He was asked whether the fact that
the term of J. Sergeant Cram as com
missioner would expire IN February
would have any influence on action in
regard TO him
ar any acts of these mon should
show sufficiently definitely any ques-
ton Of incfficency we will certify the
charges soon enough" he said. at is
not up TO us to take notice of when =
commissioners term expires. ! don't
sec why a commissioner who has done,
or permitted to be done. any wrong
action should be permitted to serve
longer than necessary.
Gram has been more circumspect IN
his vote than the others. In many in
stances ne did not vote with them. His
votes have been fairly well balanced
with and against them. We shall be
thorough. ] have no idea how long
the investigation will continue, but we
are ready to take up anything. You
fellows down here in New York go so
fast that no one can say what might