The New York herald., 1921-12-20
SAYS CLYNN FIGHTS
LOWER PHONE RATES.
Utica Counsel Accuses Him
of Interfering at P. s. c.
Hearings.
HYLAN IS MAYORS HOST
Lunn Warns of Attempt to
Rob Cities of Their
Powers.
FEARS CORPORATIONS
FEARS CORPORATIONS
Ennublican State Chairman
Denies Accusations of
William r. Goldbas.

Sensational charges that George A.
Glynn as chairman of the Republican
State Committee had attempted to call
off representatives of cities fighting
before the Public Service Commission
,or lower telephone rates were made
yesterday - william r. Goldbas. Cor
poration Counsel of Utica, speaking at
the conference of Mayors and others
called by Mayor Hylan to organize for
the purpose OF safeguarding the inter-
ests OF cities before the Legislature.
who declared he had never interfered
IN any way in cases before the Public
Service Commission.
II say the commission is aiming to
help Gov. Miller in his next candi-
dacy," declared Mr.. Goldbas. "and ! am
an enrolled Republican, holding office
under man elected on the Republican
ticket for Mavor of the city of Utica"
Which reference served to recall 70
those familiar with organization affairs
in Utica that the Goldbas faction of the
party was defeated in the recent pri-
maries and is bitter against the powers
that be. James r. O'Connor. former
Democrat is the present Mayor. He
was defeated for denomination after
bitter Republican primary fight by DR..
Fred J. Douglas, who was elected. Cor
poration Counsel Scanlon sent his resig-
nation TO Mayor O'Connor a month ago
and Goldbas. an assistant. was named to
serve until January l. when Henry d.
Williams, Republican chairman of Onei-
da county. becomes Corporation Coun-
sci by appointment of DR.. Douglas.
No Benefit TO Subscribers.
Asserting that the present telephone
rate case now being heard before the
Public Service Commission would re-
suit in no benefit to telephone users, Mr..
Goldbas said:
"I say the Republican State Commit
tee Is endeavoring to influence men who
are representing their constituents be-
fore the Public Service Commission. and
I say that Chairman Glynn of the Re
publican State Committee Is in attend
ance at times in an anteroom at the
hearings before the Public Service Com
mission IN an endeavor to influence some
of the Corporation Counsel in an en-
deavor 70 help the public to be mulcted
and assess rates that are beyond the
actual returns that should be given by
the telephone company on it's property
used and useful in the public service OF
the State"
Mayor Hylan beamed when he heard
these words and got UP 70 make this
short speech:
IT am glad to hear the last speaker
talk so plainly OF conditions that exist.
We find these kind of n-en in both par
ties"
When Chairman Glynn's attention was
called TO the remarks of the Utica man
he said:
"My understanding was that telephone
rates upstate were raised by the old
Second District Commission. which was
controlled by the Democrats. and that
their action FASTENED the reorganiza-
tion Of the Public Service Commissions
BY Gov. Miller.
"Of the present commission ] have
known Chairman Prendergast a long
time. have met Commissioners Sem
pie. Blakeslee and Van Toorhis once
IN an open gathering and I do not en-
10Y the acquaintance OF Commissioner
Pooley. I have not been in the Public
Service Commissions Office in three
years. nor have had any relations
whatever with the Public Service Com
mission. which regards itself as a court.
nor have I heard of him before"
Mayor George r. Lunn OF Schenec-
tady said he did not want to picture
n legislature elected on any kind OF
hysteria. hut you can rob the cities OF
their power until there will be a political
revolution" and he add ed:
"If such a time comes and you have
a legislature that Is unsafely radical
OF without experience so they may be
inclined TO do things that would no
ultimately be for the best interests OF
the state. and II Is said But these inter-
ests are protected. we have contracts
they can say: TO hell with your con-
tracts.' think the most fearful thing
done in the state in the last twenty
years Is legislation that drives at the
inviolability Of contracts"
Reached Danger stage.
We had already come to the dangerous
stage, Mayor Tunn said whom tho con-