New-York tribune., 1919-01-15
Utilities Measures
Facing Defeat in
Assembly Fight
Senator Thompson's Bill to
Meet Combined Opposi-
ton From Supporters of
at Least 2 Other Proposals

STAFF Correspondence
ALBANY, Jan. 14.-Senator George
+. Thompson, of Niagara, to-day in
troduced legislation empowering mu-
inequalities to acquire. own, and oper-
ate their own public utilities. The bill
Is similar TO his measure of 1918.
II introduced it," said Senator
Thompson, because there is a cry in
certain quarters for municipal owner
ship legislation. This bill gives that,
anG at the same time protects lnunici-
palities from having unloaded on them
the stock OF quasi bankrupt corpora
tons at an excessive figure or being
inUlcted in All other fashion,"
james A. Foley, minority leader OF
the upper house, said the Democrats
would not introduce any municipal
ownership bill until after the state
conference OF Mayors introduced its
bill.
All here agree that there will be a
hot, three coruered fight among the ad-
yocates of the Thompson bill, the sup
porters of the Democratic measure, and
those behind the Mayors measure.
Little Chance of Passage
The Tribune correspondent. after III
terviewing most of the Legislative
there is little chance of any municipal
ownership legislation being passed at
this session. One well-informed leader
said
Some municipal ownership legisla
ton may be passed by one house, but
it will be beaten in the other"
1t is the opinion of the leaders here
that before any legislation Of this sort
is passed committee should be ap-
pointed TO investigate the subject and
report back to the Legislature of 1920.
The Thompson bill provides that the
value of public utility which a mu-
nicipality may take over shall be de-
termined by the Appellate Division of
the Supreme Court
Another protective clause provides
that the action of a municipality with
respect to the taking over of any utl-
ity may be negatived by vote of the
people.
Before any municipality may engage
in its own operation of public utility,
the Thompson bill sets forth that
certificate of public convenience and
necessity shall be obtained from the
Public Service Commission.
City Could Operate Plants
The measure would permit munich
pality, by itself or jointly with other
municipalities, to build, equip, own,
purchase, lease or acquire street sur
face roads, cars, motors, omnibuses and
omnibus lines, gas and electric works,
ferries, steamboats,, steamboat lines or
canal boats and canal boat lines.
Two hydro-electric power bills were
introduced in the Legislature to day.
The one by Senator Thompson provides
for the creation of commits sion to
formulate a definite and fixed policy
for the development and distribution
Of the states water power.
The other bill, which would enable
the state to 60 into the hydro-electric
power business, was drafted by COM
mittee Of the state conference of may
ors and was introduced by Senator
Ross Graves, of Buffalo, and Assembly,
man Joseph A. McGinness, of Chau-
tauqua, both Republicans. 1t provides
for a n-salaried state hydro-electric
commission of three members appoint
ed by the Governor from state officials.
The commission is to act as an agency
of the state in acquiring and develop
ing the states water power and is to
sell or lease it to municipalities, indi-
viduals or corporations, giving prefer
cnce to municipalities.
Senator John J. Boylan, of New York,
introduced bill abolishing the death
penalty in case of minors and making
the punishment Imprisonment for life
Mrs. Mary NJ. Lilly introduced SINH
lar bill last night. The measure grows
out of the case of the Brooklyn choir
boy, Paul Chapman, whose death
penalty was recently committed by
Governor Whitman to life imprison-