The sun., 1919-01-06
CITY OWNERSHIP
BILL NOW READY
Measure Affecting All NUM-
cipalities to Be Offered
Next Wednesday.
GOV. SMITH FAvORS 1T
Majority Of Senate Said to Be
in Line With New Whit
ney Plan.
GOV. SMITH FAvORS 1T
Special Despoteh to TIE suy.

Special Despdfch TO THE Sun.
ALBANY. Jan. 5.--A bill permitting
each city In the State to purchase and
operate every public utility within the
city limits which is favored by the
state Conference OF Mayors. has been
drafted and perfected and will be In
troduced in the Legisla ture next wednes-
day, according to present plans. Gov
ernor Smith also favors such Iegi.la-
ton
Some public officials who believe there
Is a public sentiment for municipal
ownership. but who are personally op-
posed to this new departure. justify
heir advocacy OF this scheme upon the
ground that New York city and other
big cities could not put II into opera
tioN because the city debt limit stands
IN the way. They will be disappointed
over one provision of the Mayors con-
ference bill, which avoids the debt limit
prohibition by permitting a city to issue
public utility securities which would not
he included in computations of a city's
debt limit. This Is now the rule con-
corning New York city subway bonds
and water and dock bonds
Where city's debt limit does not
interfere. city may issue the usual
obligations OF municipality to pur-
chase public utilities
bill Drawn by whitney.
Travis H. Whitney. a Public Service
commissioner in New York city. was
one OF the committee which drew the
hill favored by the Mayors conference
nlcipalty shall not commence the ac-
qnisiton or establish or begin the op-
grafton or public utility without first
occurring the consent of the Public Ser
We Commission. and all municipal pub
'H service corporations would be un-
Ger the jurisdiction OF the public SER
Voc commissions, the same as when they
were under private control.
Each city is to create a municipal
director OF public utilities with power
10 appoint and remove employees. who
would nave the power TO provide ade-
rnate and continuous service at rea-
sonable rates without undue discrini-
nation.
Another provision would permit sew
era municipalities or political divisions
o. the State to organize into a single
utility district and jointly acquire and
operate public utilities. as is now the
ODerateS
trolley roads in Albany, Troy. Rensse-
laer. Watervliet Cohoes ard Green
Island
Passage Seems Assured.
When introduced in the Legislature the
bill will be referred to the cities Com
"'ittee in each house When Senator
WaRners municipal ownership bill came
W in the Senate last year fifteen Demo-
rats and eight Republican Senators
voted for It. which was three votes less
than the twenty-six needed to pass it,
This year there are twenty-five Demo-
r-at'c Senators. and Senato- James A.
ro'eH, the Democratic leader. says that
very one of them will vote for the mu-
1f.ral ownership OF all public utili-
les and that more than enough Republic
can Senator's will vote for It to insure
'is passage in the Senate II the bill does
not become a. law this year it must be
defeated in the Assembly. because II it
passes that house, Governor Smith has
announced in advance that he will sign
A. the end Of the last Senate session
senator George T. Argetsinger was ap-
pointed chairman of a special committee
70 investigate the question OF municipal
ownership and report back to this Legis
Eture. Senator Argetsinger is now in
business in Chicago and such an invcsti-
cation was not undertaken as he was In
war work in Washington all of last year.
He declined denomination for the SEN
ste
The new Senate rules adopted on
Wednesday abolish the standing commit
ZEE OIL affairs of the city of New York.
This means that all New York city leg
station will go to the regular Senate
Committee on Cities The special CON-
nittee TO consider New York legisla ton
vas newly established two years ago
Or the purpose OF providing an impor-
t5nt Craftsmanship for Senator Ogden L
Mills. who retired from the Senate for
service in France. When the committee
Mas first established there were eight
Republican Senators from New York city
among its members OF this number
only two have been returned to the pres
ert Senate, all the other Senator's from
New York city now being Democrats
~ the Republican leaders decided to
abolish the committee. as there were not
enough Republican Senators from New
York city to provide a majority OF the
committee.
This means that New York city 1egis-
'5ton will be disposed of by a general
cities committee dominated by up State
lApuhican Senator's and 1t il this COM
r'ttce which will dispose of the munich
pal ownership legislation.