The sun., 1916-01-08
THOMPSON DROPS ROW.
Wsnt Press Inquiry Into service
Board Appointment.

Public Service Commissioner William
Hayward went 10 the support OF Gov.
Whitman yesterday in his contention
that the appointment OF Henry W.
Hodge to the Public Service Commission
to take the place Of Commissioner Wood
was n strictly 3, -sonal matter with the
Governor This declaration by col Hay
ward who used TO be course. for the
Thompsou legislative committee. was
made about the time that senator
Thompson was telling reporters that he
had no intention Of having his committee
inquire into the circumstances OF the
Hodge appointment
Commissioner Hayward said that Gov.
Whitman. knowing that Commissioned
Grams term would expire on February
I. long ago spoke OF his desire 10 get
Nr. Hodge TO take place OF the COM
mission.
when Judge Mccall. was removed"
said the Commissioner. ";he Governor
sent me 20 see Mr.. Hodge again. The
understa nding was that Il ne would con.
sent was 20 be made chairman. Mr..
Hodge again declined Then came the
unexpected rest lgna,lon os Commissioner
williams. The Governor again pressed
the offer. Mr.. Hodge went 20 Albany
and saw the Governor lie said he would
consider serving only for sho., term
to take the place OF Commissioner Will
Jams on February L.
Senator Thompson took a somewha,
different view OF the case. H sad il
vas probably true enough that the Gov
oSnor had tried TO get Mr.. Hodge and
that Mr. Hodge declined because ne
could not AFFORD 20 give up h.s private
work fo- $4,000 year JOB.
Yet OF Thursday. December so" said
the Senator. My. Hodge o: his o~r
volition calls Col Hayward on the ,ele
phone and says, i've made w. my mind
20 take the appoirrr ert And see Nha'
happens On Frlday the 'accelerato-
sees the Governor al Albany on Satur
day some body telephones senator Law
son that Wood i out and that Hodg.
viii succeed him. Lawson tells ne or
Monday afternoon. and on Tu-sda
morning ! read n THE SyH that ,h
whole progremMe has gone through al
predicted.
suasive than Col. Hayward IN gettiul
Mr.. Hodge 10 accept The whole tru'l
ought TO ne brought out"
Commission N'llitI Williams o. n
Department Of Water supply. Gas am
Electricity Was oetore tce Thorpso'
committee yesterday. telling o! the cas-
q the Public Lighting Service Corpora
ton. Managers Of this company. haviU4
failed 10 get the contract .or stree
lighting from The city, charged tina
Commissioner Wiil!srs had not trsate
them fairly and had shown somath.r
more than a judicial attitude toward N
Welsbach Company, wh.cn has ..ghte
the streets for sixteen wears.
Arthur j. BAdw!n. responding 20
subpoena duses tecum issued by the com
mittee, again refused to produce all Q
his bank hooks and other papers and sc
counts.
Senator Thompson again thr-ate ed :
hale him before the bar - the L-g.>la
ture. Mr.. Baldwin calmly announce
that the Senator could do 50 II n. de
sired.
senator Thompson left the commi',e
hearing yesterday to have lunch VII
District Attorney swami. He decline
t. talk about this meeting. but II was a:
Osmed and not denied that tie ,harge
made 10y the committee aga.ns, Comm,
sioner Wood We're the chief topic OF d.,
cussion. GOV. Whitman sent the charge
10 the District Attorney yesterday.
The Thompson committee Will not r.
sumo its Investigation until ."x, Thur,
day.