New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-17
Action on Phone Demand
Is Up to Kings or
Albany County.
DID DUTY TO PUBLIC,
SAYS F. H. BETHEL
Senate Not Inclined 10 Act-Hint
p. S. Intrigue TO Aid Whit
ney and Hervey.

Two provisions Of law. one from the
Public Service law and the other from
the Penal Code. were read eagerly by
those interested in Senator Lswson's
letters TO the New York Telephone
Company threatening 70 introduce in
imical legislation If be did not get an
extension telephone installed III his
home free Of charge. II the company
agreed 70 Senator LAwson's request he
would save So year, or. 80 cents a
month.
Section 1928 or the Penal Code,
headed Receiving Brides by Mem
Der Of the Legislature" reads:
"A member o. either Of the houses
com posing the Legislature Of this state
who asks, receives or agrees 70 receive
any bride. upon any understanding
that his official vote, opinion, judgment
or action shall be given in any particu-
lar manner, or upon any question or
matter upon which he may be required
to act in his official capacity, or who
gives or offers or promises 20 give any
official vote in consideration that an
other member Of the Legislature shall
give any such vote, either upon the
same or another question, is punish
able By Imprisonment IN the state
prison for period not exceeding ten
years and be subject 70 fine not eN-
ceeding $4,000, or both"
Phone Company Stopped.
Sections 81 and az Of the Public Ser
vice law prohibit the telephone com
panv. in the opinion Of its lawyers,
from doing that which Senator Lawson
asked.
In the latter section occurs the fol-
lowing: .,.
shall charge. demand. collect or re-
ceive different compensation, rem
dered or TO be rendered than the
charge applicable 20 such service as
specified in its schedule on file and
in effect at that time nor
extend 20 any person any form or con
tract or agreement or any rule or reg
ulation or any privilege or facility eX-
cept such rs is specified in its schedule
filed and in effect az the time and reg
ularly and uniformly extended TO all
persons and corporations under Ike
circumstances for the Ike or substan-
TALLY similar service.
II any law was violated by Senator
Lawson, jurisdiction would lie IN
either Kings or Albany county. In
the latter county he wrote the letter
requesting he be favored with free
extension.
District Attorney Cropsey OF Kings
County said yesterday that he had
taken no action because the matter had
not been brought 20 his attention II
was in Brooklyn that Senator Lawson
had the talk on December with +. r.
Reuter-, an agent OF the telephone
companv. that he referred 70 in his
letter Of February l.
F. II. Bethel, vice-president OF the
New York Telephone Company, said
Yesterday. answering Senator LaTsons
charge chat the letters we're given out
N Aid the confirmation of Travis
Whitney's and Charles Hervey's nomi-
nations for Public Service Commits
sionerships:
"As A matter of fact, did not know
when / decided TO give out those let
ters what matters were up Tor con
alteration by the Senate I do not
follow such matters very closely.
simply considered IL my plain duty 70
the public
Il was learned yesterday that the
heads Of the telephone company dld
not know OF the existence Of the LEI,
ters until after Senator Lawson talked
about his anxiety 70 get free extern
sion telephone TO Edward Beatty,
lawyer in the company's employ
rp-,-, s,,r co--,spond-n, n IT'S rrbun,l
Albany. March 16-It is improbable
that any action will be taken by the
senate regarding the letter written ny
Senator Robert lawson 70 the New
York Telephone Company snent me
installation OF an extension ID MS
home. -.
one Of the chief reasons for the dis-
in.erestedness OF the Senators Is the
belief that the letters were gwen OUT
AZ a time when they were obviously IN
tended 70 influence the consideraton
Of Travis II. Whitney and Charles :.
Uervey. Governor Whitman's appoint
ments 10 the Public Service Comnis-
sion. Had the letters been made pune
at some other time, they would have
caused serious weight. .
Senator Lawson, on question OF
personal privilege to-day, denied mat
he had any intention when he wrote
the letters Of introducing legislation
hostile TO the telephone company.
Senator Thompson supported Senator
Lawson BY declaring that the letters
had been made public by the Public Ser
vice Commission System" for the our-
pose OF embarrassing his colleague. lie
said that he agreed with Senator Law
son that the charge for extensions was
an outrage. and that he had two eN-
tensions in his Office at Lockport lot
which he paid nothing and that ne did
not care who knew IT,