New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-03
Secretary Will Be Named
for Full Term of
Five Years.
HERVEY'S FATE
STILL IN DOUBT
Irvine to Stay on Upstate Com
mission-FavOrable Report
on Straus and Hodge.
lrrcr st,r co1,,,rona,n, .. n. r-Ihnn.1

Public Service Commission Of the LIST
Distric. has been decided on by Gov
ernor Whitman. according TO an an
nounccment made by the Governor to
night. Mr.. Whitney will succeed J.
Sergeant Cram whose term expired
yesterday, and his appointment will be
for tho full term o. five years.
Mr.. Whitney has been secretary OF
the commission since its creation dur
ing The administration % Governor
Hughes, md his selection BY Governor
Whitman Was not unexpected
The selection of Charles F. Hervey,
deputy in Controller prendorgast's
Office, for the vacancy due 10 the re-
'ircmen. Of George \. S. Williams, is
still IN doubt. For time today Mr..
Hervey's selection appeared 10 be Ger
tain, but toward nightfall some one
threw a monkey wrench into the ma
chinery. The result was that the Gov
crnor declared tonight that he had
not yet reached Il decision.
The principal opposition 70 the ap-
pointmcnt Of Mr.. Hervey came from
tho Republican faction iu Brooklyn
controlled by Jacob Livingston and
Controller Travis II - believed, now
ever, that the Deputy Controller will
finally land the appointment. lie has
strong support from independent Dem
ocrats and Republicans. Il was said
that one OF the reasons FOR holding
up his name was that the Governor
wanted to pave The way for favorable
ac;ion by the Senate.
Wanted TO Give II to Aldridge.
The Governor will also roappoin'
Frank Irvine TO the upstate Public
Service Commission. For time the
iattcr's reappointment was in doubt,
the understanding being that the Gov
ernor wanted to give the place 90
George ". Aldridge. the Republican
"stabilizer" OF Rochester. Commits
sioner Irvine ia q former Cornell pro
lessor
Mr. Whitney's appointment was or
posed by Senator Lawson ard other
members Of the Thompson committee
on tho ground that the records Of the
committee showed good and suiiicien'
reasons against Il Colonel William
Hayward. n member of the commission,
had urged the Governor 20 name both
Mr.. Whitney and Mr. fleryey. When
he learned Of the protest o. Senator
lawson he at once got in touch with
Deputy Attorney General Lewis. vi no
was counsel for the Thompson commit
tee. and learned that Senator Lawson's
charges were unfounded
Governor Whitman sent for the
Deputy ATTORNEY General. and. after
chat. Mr. Lewis sent a letter 70 the
Governor generating Mr. whitney. In
part. tie letter follows:
"I have served since June last and
until very recently az counsel 20 the
Joint committee Of the Senate and
Assembly engaged in the investigation
Of the Public Service Commission Of
the ia. District have met Mr.. Whit
ney from time 70 time IN connection
Nth that investigation. have had
no personal relations with him what
ever.
81 cannot agree with Senator Lawson
that the record OF the investigation
contains anything which IN an way
reflects upon Mr. Whitney. On the
contrary. | found Mr.. Whitney wonder
fully we'll informed on public service
matters and ready at all times ard
willing 20 cooperate with the commit
tee in the performance Of its duty.
Nor can | agree that Mr.. Whitney -
logically responsible for the state o.
chaos into which the Public service
Commission Of the lst District has
fallen.
'That condition was brought abCu'
by the neglect of duty and ineiiicienc{
in Office or commissioners appointed
during the last four years, the appoint
ment Of whom should, IN my opinion,
never have been made.
Kracke Disappointed.
Mr.. Whitney is Republican ana
Mr. Hervey is a Democrat. II the lat-
ter should be named by Governor "nlt.
man. the commission will consist OF
three straight Republicans. one Pro.
gressiye and one Democrat. Some OF
the Democratic Senators here Tonight
DISPUTED this latter statement. ne
selection Of Mr. Whitney Is disap-
pointment 20 the followers OF Bridge
Commissioner +. J. II. kracSe. ne
latter. up TO a couple OF weeks ago, ne
lieved he was sure 70 be appointed
Mr.. Whitney lived in the Assembly
district Of which the Bridge Comln's-
sioner ia the Republican leader. .,
Lemuel Ely Quigg will not be called
before the Senate Finance Comm!t'ee
after all. thanks 20 the efforts o. me
Republican stabilizers. ms comm
tee reported favorably to-day the an,
pointraents OF Oscar ). Straus ana
Henry ". Hodge 10 the Public Service
Commission. When Governor V mt
man made the latter appointment sen
ator Thompson declared that the par,
Nr. Quigg played IN II warrante@ an
investigation. lie has changed ms
mind since.
The Governor said that he had no'
determined on the successor 70 John Is:
Pile as STATE Superintendent o.
orisous or whether he would reappoIn;
he present Industrial Commissioners.
10 indicated. however. that the com
missjoners. John Mitchell. James VI:
lynch. william II. II. Rogers, Edward
?. LYON and Louis Ward, whose re
cess designations expired last week.
would be renamed.
Governor Whitman's denomination o.
Fred b. Parker. OF Batavia, a. a mem
her Of the State Fair Commission was
favorably reported by the finance
Committee OF the Senate today.
No report vas made o. the nom na-
ton Of DR.. Leland Il. Cofer a. Health
Ofrcer M the Port Of New York. pend
ing the proposed transfer OF quarantine
supervision from the state TO the red
oral government Some question has
arisen AZ 10 DR.. Cofer's eligibility, and
the committee wishes 20 determine
whether he is a resident OF New forA
or Washington. and whether also MS
sppointment is for full or an uneX-
pired term.