New-York tribune., 1916-03-07
GETS
TIME HE ASKED
Assembly Unanimously
Grants Extension for
Hearings Till July.
lfrom s,a- corre.pondsn, o. The Tnbun.

lFrom s,a- Correspondent o. The Tribune
Albany. March 6. The resolution ex-
| tending the life Of the Thompson com
mittee. investigating the Public Service
/ Commissions, was adopted in the AS
sembly tonight without a dissenting
voice. When it was handed down from
the Senate its adoption was moved by
Assemblyman McQuistion, the member
of the Thompson committee, VINO start
ed the trouble several weeks ago over
the committees vouchers. The COM
mittee now has until July TO hold hear
ings and take testimony, and until Jan
uary 10. next, to make its final report.
Speaker Sweet. who had originally
opposed giving the committee any more
time or money, said tonight that Sen
ator Thompson had assured him that
he would make full report OF row the
$4,000 the committee already has had
was spent. On this condition the
Thompson resolution was not opposed
in the Assembly. The committee Will
need considerable more money before
It completes its work. and measure
providing for it will be introduced Just
as soon as Senator Thompson ias fig
ured out how much more will be neces-
sCry.
Contempt Proceedings Likely.
If the resolution had not passed the
A. sembly the life OF the Thompson
committee would have expired at mid
night tonight. As soon as the chair
man OF the committee learned Of the
action of the Assembly he said that his
committee would Immediately start on
work bringing TO time recalcltrant wit
nesses. Contempt proceedings Will be
started against them, and IL necessary,
they will be brought before the bar OF
the Senate.
Among those likely to be acted
against for contempt are George W.
Young. former lnterborough director;
ID. L. Gillespie. lnterborough contract
or and Arthur J. Baldwin, attorney for
signal contractors.
Senator Thompson said he intends 10
press for passage later a bill he intro
GLCed several weeks ago, providing for
conferences with the authorities of
ether states for the purpose of secur-
ing documentary evidence outside OF
! this state. The committee will also
meet the latter part Of the week TO
frame a preliminary report to the
present Legislature.
The Senate Finance Committee to-
morrow will give its hearing on Gov
ernor Whitman's nominations of Travis
! II. Whitney and Charles 5. Hervey for
! Public Service Commissioners for the
First District. Senator Thompson will
remain in Albany to oppose favorable
report on both OF them.
IL expect TO show" he said that big
corporations have been the recipients
Of easy fsvors at the Office Of the First
District Public Service Commission.
while private citizens have been denied
even common courtesies."
Fights Whitney and Hcrvcy.
II is understood that an inyestga-
tion of certain activities of Mr.. Her
vey as Deputy Controller of New York
will be asked for, one report being that
he had requested campaign contribu-
tions from employees under Controller
Prendergast
Senator Lawson will also oppose the
nominations Of Whitney and Hervey.
but he will direct his attentions prin-
cipally against the confirmation Of the
recess appointments of Industrial Com
missioners Lynch. Wizard and Lyon. He
charged that they have shown inef'i-
cheney in office, particularly in the in
vestigation of the Diamond factory fire,
in Brooklyn, in which sixteen lives
were lost.