New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-11
New Jersey Member OF
Interstate Commission
Wins in Bitter Fight
CUMMINS ATTACKS
HIS PUBLIC RECORD
Saws officials Policies
Are Injurious to Fed
eral Regulation

Washington. Jan. lO.-Conhrmation
OF Winthrop NJ. Daniels. Of New Jersey
TO succeed himself as member OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission was
voted by the Senate tonight, and con-
trary TO custom. a part Of the debate
on the nomination was made pubic
revealing the bitterness OF the hght
vaged against it in executive sessions
The vote, taken after opposition had
DELAYED action for nearly month,
stood AZ to 10. All of the Senator'S oil
the so-called Progressive wing OF the
Republican party and one Democrat
Senator Hollis. voted in the negative
Fourteen Republicans Joined the Demo
Gratis voting for confirmation.
Excerpts from the executive deosIe
made public include speech by Seha-
tor Cummins attacking commissioner
Daniels's fitness for place on the
commission because of rulings he mana
cd down as Public Utilities Commls-
sioner of New Jersey, and declaring
that in granting increases to the ran
roads in the advance rae case Ihs
Interstate Commerce Commission ied
bv Mr.. Daniels. ignored the law ana
cxercised an authority which never mas
been Md never will be conferred OF
any commission"
Newlands Defends Daniels
4 replv by Senator Ncwlands. de-
fcndine the commissioners part IN potn
If these cases. also was given out. =,
The debate recalled the sensational
attack on rules OF secrecy MADE py
nroqressivc Republicans when mr'
naniols frat was nominated to the
commission in 1913. H.
~ believe that our system o. lhc
oo,troI and regulation Of common car
rive il on final trial. and II the com.
Mission is to be made up Of men OF
Wr Daniels's trend of mind the system
rnnsf be abandoned" said Senator
Cummins. "For one, | have no hesita-
ton in declaring that II ms views
are 10 prevail | am for absolute anu
immediate government ownership ara ar.
operation Of our transportation fscli'-
ties. n-,,.. r-.;,;
ties Commissioner Of New Jersey, IN
case relating to rates charged for gas
bv the New Jersey Public Gas COm,
panv. Mr. Daniels had made a iatai
departure from sound principles IN
estimating the value OF the company
property by adding no per cent ior
"overhead charges" and holding tnat
return Of 8 per cent on thus imaginary
value" amounting to S542,fi4, was rea-
sonablc.
Attacks His Opinion
opoting Mr.. Daniels's dissenting
oninion in the Western advance rate
case. which said that expected earn
&c constitute the bid which
the carriers must make for new capital,
for needed improvement, extensions,
new rolling stock and similar pur--
noses" the Senator declared this meant
that rates must be such as will keep
the stocks of railway corporations Ia
vorites in the market; that Is 70 say
the people must pay for all the imam
cial mistakes, crimes and mismanage-
ment Of half century OF conscience
less promotion"
In reply. Senator Newlands pointed
out that in the New Jersey gas case
cited "the outcome was reduction IT,
the price 10 consumers" and declared
that overhead charges similar TO those
attacked by Senator Cummins ARE reg.
ularly made in making valuations OF
the plants of public service corpora
tons"
The Senator said that the Western
advance decision had been a defeat
for the carriers and had resulted IN
no increases on commodities where any
considerable amount Of revenue was IN
volyed.