New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-02
Committee Ends Investi-
CATION, but Will Hold
POst-MOrtem Sessions.
RATES
ARE CALLED UNFAIR
Chairman Suggests Public rorce
Reduction-Hits at "Ineffi-
cient" Legislature.

The Thompson legislative coihihi''''
went out Of existence yesterday by leg
islative enactment. Senator George r.
Thompson in a valedictory declared
that the Public Service Commission
had the power and should continue the
investigation from where his commit
tee left off. The committee Will holo
post-mortem executive sessions anu
take further testimony, and eventua"S
mn extensive report will be made to the
LEGISLATURE. Senator Thompson wouhu
up the festivities last night with
complimentary dinner at the ho'''
Fillmore 10 he newspaper men VINO
have reported the hearings
Concerning the committees WORN
Senator Thompson said;
81 think the people of New York CITY
should bring a real action. with rca'
LAWYERS. to set aside the dual subway
contracts. on the ground that those
contract. are against public policy and
foil N give due consideration to the
lights OF the people. We have estab-
Isbod that thorough investigate
can he conducted without the invest
eetors being killed. which was entire'y
Contrary 10 what we had been told De
fore we came down here.
"The Public Service Commission h''
all tho mower and facilities for follow
inc up and concluding this COMMITTEE
investigation. II should employ speee'a'
counsel and continue the probe. IL Is
its duty TO 60 on with the WORK VIC nave
me Of the biggest things the com
mittee has accomplished, senator
Thompson said, was TO convince itselI
of the inefliciency OF the legislature
He declared the committee hsd Deen
running without sufficient real power
and had not been backed by the Legs,
Iature. Whatever it had done and
whatever power it had came entirely
through public opinion IN New forA'
Public Should Act.
The chairman urged that the electric
LIGHT situation in this city be taken up
bv public spirited citizens. The people
do not know what they are paying OF
what they are paying for. he declared
and the profits Of the New York EDISON
Company are enormous.
The electric light situation was
brought up at the last hearing yester
dav. principally for the purpose OF
erousinp the small consumers TO exist
ing conditions. Henry II. Edgerton, ga.
and electricity expert, was the cnleI
witness. He testified that the cry
bills for lighting had increased greatiy'
despite the attempted saving by the IN
stallation Of new type lamps. me
auctions which should have been maze
on account of the economy OF the ne"
lamps have been taken up by the RAJ
son Company by increasing the price
Of current. he declared. The poilcy OF
the electric companies generally ne
said. had been to absorb the advantages
OF the lamp improvement:
Referring TO the gas Lighting sltua-
ton. Mr. Edgerton declared tha' IHe
reduction in gas to 50 cents IS actuai.y
moro nroftable to the companies sup
niv;nc il than when they were receiv-
no 81 per 1000 cubic feet. The wit
ness said 70 cents would be sufficient
nrico He asserted that zone OF the
Standard oil president" had told him
That the companies could sell gas al
so cents and still make proht. nc
declined to give the name OF the OIL
man.
No Use for 3. T. |.
Mr. Edeerton severely criticised the
b. T. L. British thermal unit tes'
which the gas companies are endeaVor,
ing 10 employ. and in the interests oil
wbicb they have a proposition before
the Public Service Commission. ms
test. as the name implies, is heat, no.
a LIGHT. test. Its employment IN gas
cpciitv gauging would cost the con
euner great deal more per unit, for
the reason that a surplus OF gas Is
renuired TO obtain the average amount
Of light The witness said that some
OF the city departments were IN favor
of the system.
Have you noticed any particular
control Of the lighting bureau Of TINS
citv by the Edison Company" tire wit
ness was asked.
81 have noticed nothing else he
Mr. Edgerton declared that the De
rartment Of Water Supply, Gas and
Electricity favored the British thermal
unit test. 49,,
Referring 10 various ways in which
he thinks the electric light company
gets the better of the city, the witness
pointed out that in most OF the public
buildings the lights arc hung so high
that about twice as many lamps are
needed as would be if the lights were
hung nearer the floor.
And you will notice also that there
is a practice of placing the lights close
to the ceiling and covering them 20
that the light is detected from the
ceiling" said Mr. Edgerton. This is
called indirect lighting. 1t is. II costs
the city twice a much
The witness was asked II non-pol-
sonous gas could not be used. lie said
il could The gas now in use. the wit
i L III