New-York tribune., 1921-02-07
90 Assembly Members
and Same Senate Ratio
VIII Back Measures To
Be Presented This Week
Many From City
To Support Then,
Symposium of Views of
35 Governors for Con
troll of Utilities by State
Fron a ster Corresporataf

lions tor solving New York City's
transit muddle will be introduced in
both the Assembly and Senate either
on Tuesday or Wednesday of this
week. They will be offered in the
upper house by Senator John Knight,
of Wyoming, chairman of the Com
mitee on Public Service, and in the
Assembly by Assemblyman Louis NJ.
Martin, chairman of the Judiciary
Committee.
Governor Miller and those who are
behind him in his program-which they
declare has been misunderstood by its
honest opponents and deliberately mis-
represented by those who are trying Co
make political capital out of it-de-
clared that before the bills are debated
majority of the Legislature, in
cluding a considerable number of mem
bers from New York City, will be for
the plan.
To date several Of the New York
City members who have studied the
plan declare their unqualified approval
of the Governors recommendations.
Already there has been a counting of
noses, and there are more than ninety
members of the Assembly. or fourteen
more than the required majority.
pledged to the bills. This includes sew
eral New York City men. The same
proportion holds true in the Senate.
Some Tammany Men Approve
The line of opposition to che Cover
nor's program is more clearly drawn
than the support. Tammany, Of course,
insists that the issue be treated politi-
cally rather than ON an economic basis.
and win throw all its legislative weight
against the measuress Even here. how
ever, there is considerable informal
comniendation of the Governors plan
among the more intelligent Democrats.
though thsy will probably vote with
their party.
Among the majority the Governors
support has daily become stronger and
more outspoken. After the smoke of
the first confused debate following
Governor Miller's message cleared
away calmer consideration of the
legislation brought many ad-
herents, and o great MANY nublic
Endorsement.
1t is now admitted by many oe those,
who first opposed the executive trac~
tion legislation that it has much merit
and at least deserves a fair discussion
1t is realized that Governor Miller,
although his proposals SO soon fol-
lowed his inauguration, did not act
hastily nor without mature considera-
tion and that he had already antici-
pated most of the objections that will
be raised
Views Of IS Governors
A symposium of the views Of thIrsy-
five governors given last December, in
cluding that of the then Governors AL
fred II. Smith and James NJ. Cox of
Ohio, the Democratic nominee for Pres
ident, was made public to-day by W.
Ward Smith, secretary to Governor
Miller.
''This symposium said Mr.. Smith,
Consists of kilograms from thirty-fve
governors, Democrats and Republicans,
who were asked toward the end of LAST
year by Governor Charles II. Bfough
of Arkansas to give the experience OF
their respective states in the regula-
tion of public utilities by state com
mission.
''The governors almost unanimously
indorse a single public service COM
mission of three members, with abso-
lutte power to investigate and regulate
public utilities, thereby sustaining Gov
ernor Miller's recommendations to the
Legislature"
Governor Brougfl's inquiry follows:
"Our General Assembly three years
ago created Corporation Commission,
consisting OF three members, to regu-
late public utilities. Kindly wire AT
my expense experience your state has
had with this kind OF commission. !
favor retention Of commission and be
lieve that state regulation should be
perpetuated."
The following governors replied:
Governor James NJ. Cox Of Ohio.
"We have had q most satisfactory
experience with cur Public Utilities
Commission. In fact, our state could
not have done without it."
Henry T. Long, secretary to the thep
Governor Calvin Coolidge of Massaehu-
sets:
"No intention in Massachusetts, Of
doing away with this commission, which
has proved it's usefulness"
Governor Albert E. Sleeper, Of
Michigan:
Believe our commission created in
1919 has been almost Indispensable
TO welfare of the state"
Smith for Regulation of Utilities
Governor Alfred E. Smith, of New
York:
"The State of New York has been
committed to the policy of regulating
public utilities by commission since
July, 1907. With comparatively few
exceptions, lis policy has worked
very satisfactorily. | think I am jus
tilted in saying that the system has
worked very satisfactorily in this
state
Governor Hugh Dorsey, of Georgia.
"our commission, the first ever
created in the Union, functions well
We would not consider repeating the
law"
Governor John r. Bartlett. OF New
Hanpshire:
Ne sre well satisfied with our Pub
lie Service Commission and believe
that il is the best way to regulate
utilities"
Governor Lynn J. Frazier. Of North
Il believe that it is necessary se