The sun., 1919-05-04
VIII Take Up Duties at Once.

1t Is said that Commissioner Nixon,
who took the oath Of office from Deputy
Secretary of State Taft in Albany last
night. will enter upon his new duties
Tomorrow morning. In addition to the
appointment of three deputies. Commits
eioner Nixon has the selection OF a
counsel and secretary. There is rea-
son to believe that Commissioner Nixon
will retain James Blaine Walker. who
has been secretary of the old commits
sion for several years and assistant sec
rotary for many years prior to assuming
the former office. He may also retain
Frank n. Robinson, assistant secretary.
There are a number of fine bits of pat
ronage as heads of bureaus and assist
ant engineers. but most OF the other
places, outside the legal stan. are under
the protection of the civil service.
Only three Of the five members OF the
Public Service Commission remained
when 1t was legislated out OF office yes
terday-Travis H. Whitney. acting
chairman: r. J. H. Kracke and Charles
8. Hervey Samuel II. Ordway and
Charles Buckley Rubbell resigned at the
end Of last year and Gov. Smith did not
NIL their places.
The three retiring Commissioners had
mad their effects packed up for several
days and were anxious to get away.
They had no comment to make on the
appointment of Commissioner Nixon but
will be on hand to greet him tomorrow
morning. A light calendar was cleaned
up at the last meeting held yesterday
morning.
When Mayor Hylan, one OF whose
chief sports has been strafng the COM
mission, particularly Acting Chairman
Whitney, was told of the appointment,
OF Commissioner Nixon he remarked:
Gov. Smiths Statement.
Lewis Nixon is a good man, a very
good man. He Is capable and his heart
10 with the people. There could not
have been better selection"
The Governor made the following
statement in Albany last night:
Il have this day signed one OF the
bills for the reorg anization Of the Public
Service Commission in the First District
l am gratif1ed that my recommendation.
have been enacted into law, but at tht
same time l am fully sensible Of the re
sponsibility that rests upon my shoulder:
In bringing about this reorganization.
my policy provided for the appoint
ment of one commissioner on the regu
latory side and one commissioner on tn.
side OF construction. am firmly Of tn,
opinion that the single-headed commits
SiOii iurd HAeS TeSpOnSlDlllty ana Will
secure definite and quick action.
For the position of regulatory Com
missioner have given a great deal Of
time and thought to the selection and
feel convinced that have arrived at a
solution of it by the appointment OF
Lewis Nixon. the State Superintendent
OK Public Works He is a man Of un.
questioned ability and integrity, but his
dhief qualifications lie in the fact thai
his broad experience in the handling OF
large projects. He is without interest
nnrrclally In any OF the great corpora.
tons that he Is 70 supervise: he is a
judge of men and methods and he knows
the city of New York, and I believe
that he can so shape the service OF gu,
great public utilities that they may serve
the growth OF the commercial and man,
ufacturing interests. not TO speak of the
interests of all the people themselves.
He was four years president OF the
East River Bridge Commission anC
carried on that great enterprise with
q single regard for the city's intere ST