New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-29
WILLIAMS Just
ESCAPED CHARGES
Committee Had Intended
to Prefer Them, Thomp-
son Announces.
WOOD COMPLAINT
TO BE FILED TO-DAY
Commissioners Resignation Was
a Service to the State, SEN
ator Asserts.

By his resignation last Monday Pub
ro Service Commissioner G. V. s.
williams avoided having charges fled
against him by the Thompson legisla-
tive committee. which is investigating
the commission. This announcement
WAS made yesterday afternoon when
In. committee convened by Senator
George F. Thompson, chairman.
Senator Thompson acknowledged the
ability of Mr. Williams and criticised
him chiefly for apparent disregard OF
nublio sentiment and interest, as shown
On Mia stand for 95-cent gas in the case
Of the Kings County Lighting Com
pany.
Charles against Commissioner Rob
art G. Wood will be filed to-day, the
Senator announced. Following this the
coro r,ittee will investigate the engl-
n.erinp. legal and secretary's oflces OF
thu Public Service Commission. IL ls
nrobsble that Oliver C. Semple and
Trevis II. Whitney, both candidates 1or
a commissionership. will be concerned
In this branch of the inquiry.
"This is in no way a personal maj
ter" Senator Thompson SAID IN lssuIIs
q statement. ut is SIMPLY hoSe =
on the record of the case, Shu 10 .he
committees opinion OF the resuiCI ~
tanned TO date, expressed oy 'he 'N"-'
man.
Senator Thompson's Statement
The statement follows: -.
"Wbile I think It my duty to stste
that our Investigations have deVeIoPeI
nothing detrimental 10 the PERSONA
character of Mr.. Williams, yet l pc
Neye his attitude SIS Pubic service
Commissioner and his personal view
as 10 the manner Of administrator VI
The Public Service law was wrong anu
that his resignation has oeSh se
vice to the state. persona'ly oeLre ot
that his services would be OF great
value as an advocate IN behaii Oh any
public utility corporation.
"Tbe handling of the rate case OF inc
Vtncs County Lighting Company, wnlch
Nos allowed TO remain pending before
,ha commission and the courts for
mora than five years, was not adequate
iy tried on behalf of the consumers
bv the attorneys for the Public Service
Commission. and although the company
Itself offered to reduce its rates so that
thew would now have been 80 cents
the same as other companies charge IN
the CITY of Brooklyn, COMMISSIONS,
Williams had written his opinion ana
distributed the same among the other
commissioners advocating the rate
which the company now charges-to
wit, 95 cents.
Had Intended to Make Charges.
at was the intention of our commit
Tee TO prefer charges against Commits
sioner Williams, based on his action
IN the Kings County Lighting case, and
other cases of like nature which we had
in contemplation, for the very purpose
Of assuring more satisfactory admin
istration Of the law in New York upon
original principles, but in view OF the
resignation our committee will not feel
called upon now 70 make any charges
nor 10 investigate further with partlc-
ulsr reference to Commissioner Will
Jams, but will probably call the atten-
ton of the new commission 20 matters
which have come 20 our knowledge IN
this connection and those found IN our
former charges"