The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-07
80 CENT GAS FOR
ALL OF BROOKLYN
Legislature Fixes Rate for FIX.
cepted Wards and Over
rides Service Board.


ALBANY. April 6.-For the first time
since the creation Of the Public Service
Commissions Of the state by Gov.
the Legislature to-day when the Senate
passed the Thompson committee bill
extending the SO cent gas rate to the
two exempted wards OF Brooklyn. the
Thirtieth and T~hirty-irst.
Fol six years the representatives. In
the Legislature Of the districts affected
have been upon the heels Of the First
District Public Service Commission, pro-
testing against these wards paying VI
Tor gas while the rate prevailing else
where in New York city was 20 Ocnts
less.
The crisis IN the situation was reached
to-day following a recent telegram from
Oscar s. Straus. chairman OF the New
York city commission, which Senator
Thompson read on the floor Of the Sem
ate. IL provoked severe criticism OF the
| commission. Senator Brown said he
would remain consistent with his posi-
tlon not to favor legislation proposing TO
exercise functions already vested In the
commission. lie was inclined to prolong
the legislative session another month.
he said. and advocate legislation ABOLISH
ing the two Public Service Commissions
Held q Confession Of Weak meas.
II was pointed out that Chairman
strauss statement that the commission
was not opposed to the Legislature Civ
ing the complaining Brooklynites the re-
lief they sought was "A confession OF
weakness on the part Of the commission
Senator Brown characterized II as IA
scandal In the administration OF efficient
government" He insisted that IL the
people could not find the remedy for
such defects "a existed in the tribunals
properly vested with authority to act
they should clean out the tribunals The
Democratic Senator's made much out OF
Senator Browns criticism OF h com
mission. Senator Wagner urged him to
put into effect his idea OF prolonging the
session.
III the plan is to stay here four weeks
more and put the commissions out OF
business altogether and do business az
was Home before they we're created. the
Democrats will support IL insisted
Senator Wagner.
The overhauling Of the First District
commission started when Senator
Thompson called up his motion TO sus-
pend the rules TO permit the passage OF
his committees bill. senator Brown
was the only one TO oppose this motion,
While forty-hve senators voted FOR II,
with the bill before the Senate for final
passage "A dozen or more Senators on
both sides OF the House attacked the
commission.
Senator Brown insisted that the Leg
i~slature would he in better business
working on u scheme for the establish
ment Of "A new system to take the place
Of the Public Service Commissions than
TO spend time rcmedying complaints
which established boards had failed to
dispose OF.
Senator sage declared that he was as
consistent as Senator Brown IN support
ing the Public Service COMMISSION. hut
the manner in which the Flint District
COMMISSION had been conducting its
business had made him 80 disguised that
for the hrst time. and ! hope the last.
he would vote 10 override the commis-
sion and let the Legislature go into the
rate fixing business.
Mr.. Sage added hat he believed the
commission was utterly Incompetent
Only recently he had written skiing
for certain information from the com
mission relative 10 the Brown bill ar
fecting its regulatory powers.
II haven't received the Information
vet" continued Senator Sage, but |
will probably get II in the usual course
az time-ahout three or four years. II
Is not a question Of the commission haN-
/ ing a lack OF power. II IL n question
of utter incompetence Now ih,t 'otne
to the Senate AS fearful children might,
seeking To- he relieved OF "A uuty which is
clearly their own. II is IN" fault Of the
Senate Itself for the personnel OF this
commission"
The vote on the final passage Of the
till wa a. TO 3. senators Ag.tsinger,
Brown and Mullen We're IN the mega
tive. Senator's Doll and Newton were
absent.
Queens Rate HcNrinx.
No sooner had the Senate passed the
80 cent gas bill for Brooklyn than
Senator ThouTsou. chairman 90 the
Public Service Committee, Withdrew
from the Senate and gave a hca,in- on
Senator Patterns bill reducing from $,
TO so cents the price Of gas IN IN,
Second and Fourth wards Or Ouceu'
borough. Originally this bin also mad,
the price so cents in the Tuird ward
but yesterday Senator TatteH amended
the bill 10 permit the rate TO continue
there.
Judge William y. Dykmau az Brook.
lNn, representing the gas companies IN
Queens, said that to reduce the price &c
50 cents would he confiscatiun. aud hs
pointed out that Public Service Commits
eioncr Hay ward had rendered an opinion
that the price of gas IN tn. Second ward
should not he reduced below ~ tents
while W. T., Hine. the chief Ias engineer
Of the New York rity Public Service
Commission, after an investigation re.
ported that the evidence does not justify
any reduction In the present rates IN In,
Fourth ward OF Queens,