New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-07
Threaten to Abolish First
District Board for
Incompetency.
THEN PASS S0-CENT
GAS FOR BROOKLYN
Debate on Measure Causes Sharp
Clash Over Commissions
Failure to Act.
From SAT cou..ponaen, o, IL, Tribune

From a SAT Correspondent o. Tie lr0uneI
Albany. April 6.-Republican and
Democratic Senators joined in sharp
attack on the .'irst District Public
Service Commission this afternoon,
just before passing the bill designed TO
give sO-cent gas to the residents Of the
Both and 3lst wards OF Brooklyn.
Charges Of incompetency and threats
to abolish the commission were freely
made. and it was declared that the
dlatory methods resorted to had be
come a public scandal.
The gas bill was introduced by Sena-
tor George f. Thompson. chairman o.
the committee which Investigated the
Public Service Commissions. and 1t
was on his motion that it was made
a special order for to-day.
The ire Of many members WAS
aroused when Mr. Thompson read
telegram sent 10 some Senators by
Oscar S. Straus, chairman Of the First
District Commission, stating that the
commission favored the SO-cent gas
bill. Senator'S Wagner and Cullen de
clared that it was confession OF IN
competency, while Senator Brown, the
majority leader, held that rather than
20 over the heads OF the Public Ser
vice Commissioners in fixing rates the
Legislature might better create
tribunal of competent Jurisd ction.
While the majority OF Senators
favored the bill. they held that the
Public Service Commission was lax in
it's duty in having TO come TO the Legs.
lature to settle the Brooklyn gas ques-
ton.
Straus Telegram Read.
Senator Thompson told how for six
years the people Of South Brooklyn
had sought relief. but were continually
held up by technicalities md delays.
lie then read Chairman Strauss tele-
gram, which read. IN part:
This commission wishes 10 10 be un-
derstood as not interposing any objec-
tion to action by the Leglslai which
will secure 10 the people OF I..ese Sec
tons reductions in rates that have been
delayed by the technical provisions OF
the law as il stands. This commission
intends shortly TO submit bills propos
ing amendments that will expedite the
making and enforcement of decisions"
THE man who sent that telegram
here" shouted Senator, James A. Foley,
should be removed from office, The
trouble with these Public Service Com
missoners is that they have the hook
worm disease"
Senator Brown, who opposed the
Thompson bill, did not believe that any
exception should be made in this case,
as other cases would surely be brought
70 the attention Of the Legislature.
"This is a scandal in the administra-
ton Of justice" said Mr. Brown, land
| do not believe that scandals IN court
should be corrected by legislation
cleaning out the court. ! would rather
keep the Legislature here another
month and see il we cannot inaugurate
a tribunal OF competent jurisdiction
than make such departure as Is here
contemplated.
"The minority is ready to stay a
month 20 remedy this scandal re
piled the minority leader, Mr.. Wagner
"Thc Legislature is the authority IN all
these cases, and. while we have dele
gated power TO the Public Service COM
missions. we retain supreme control.
Attacks Commissioner Hayward.
Senator Wagner attacked Commits
sioner Hayward whom. he said, the
Governor had called an ideal man for
the place in appointing him year ago.
yet" he added. after he has struggled
with this question for more than a
year ne appeals to the Legislature and
says: Please. Mr. Legislators, come
and help u.s..
Others who attacked the commission
as incompetent were Senator'S Sage, of
Albany; Walker. Burlingame. and Law
son. Of New York. and Slater. of West
chester. Senator Wellington was prac-
ticaly the only ono who defended the
commission. lie said that the present
commissioners had held office for only
short time, and that If they tried to
go over the eighty-cent gas cases that
had been tried out by their predcces-
sors long delay would result.
They realize the merit OF SO
cent gas for South Brooklyn Mr.
Wellington said. "and in view OF the
long delays the Legislature should help
IN bringing about short cut in Sc
curing it,"
The vote on the bill was 80 TO 3,
those voting in the negative being
Senators Brown, Argetsinger and