The New York herald., 1921-02-16
Plenary Powers Given in
Bill to Fix Charges of
Railways and Other
Corporations.
MADE FINAL ARBITERS
Can Remodel Any Enter
prise, Transit, Light OF
Power, or Abrogate
Any Franchise.
MAY ANNUL STATUTES
Terms Is Years, but Legisla-
ture Can Remove - City
Traction Board Subject to
Governors Wishes.
Special Despatch 10 THE New YORK HExALp.
New York Herald Bureau.
Feb <

Special Despatch TO THE New YORK HExAp
New York Herald Bureau.
| Albany. Feb. l5.
| Complete and final authority over
the rates and charges of all public
service corporations in this State, in
cluding all railways and common
carriers, lighting and heating com
panies. would rest with the two com
missions to he created by Gov. Miller's
| bill. which will be introduced in the
| Legislature tomorrow.
Further information concerning
this document, given to-day at the
Governors office, shows that it is the
most sweeping and far-reaching in
strument dealing with public service
affairs ever prepared in this State,
or probably in this country.
1t will make the new commissioners
absolute dictators over every corpor-
alton in any way touching the life
and welfare Of the public. 1t viii
make possible the entire remodeling
and reconstruction of public utilities
of every variety.
Subdivision ] of section 40 of the
bill provides that If the commissions,
including both the city and State
bodies, shall determine that any fare
or rate charged by q transit line or
common carrier is unfair and dis
criminatory that rate may be re-
vised. Notwithstanding that n higher
or lower rate has been prescribed By
general or special statute. contract.
grant, franchise or agreement
Broad Revocation Power Given.
In other words, all existing fran
chises and grants may be cancelled
or annulled by the commission. The
commissions may even take action
without giving the thirty days notice
specified in provisions of the bill, Us
made public last night.
Regarding the organization Of the
commission which shall have author
! ity over all utilities in the State.
excepting transit In New York city. n
! Is provided by section 4 that the five
members appointed by the Governor
shall hold office for fifteen years.
The first commissioner appointed will
serve for three years, and the term
Of one commissioner shall expire each
third year thereafter until the full
fifteen years commissioners have been
nameN a commissioner may be re-
moved by two-thlrds vote Of both
Houses Of the Legislature, but only
for cause.
The transit commission for New
York can he removed by the Governor
for misconduct, and the three mem.
bers must be residents Of New York
city.
Defining the jurisdiction of tho
State commission (Which does not
mean the New York city transit
commission) section OF the bill
names the following concerns which
shall he placed under the law:
Common carriers, railroads. street
railroads, and stage or omnibus-iines.
or routes. and the persons or corpor-
ations owning. leasing or operating
the same.
THE manufacture. holding distri-
button. transmission. sale or furnish
ing Of steam for heat or power: steam
plants
Every telephone md telegraph line
which lies wholly within the state OF
New York and that part within tho
State of New York and every, tcie-
phone limo which lies partly Within
and partly without the State.
Every stock yard within tho state
and the stock yard company owiNng,
leasing or operating the same: de-
pots. fret yht houses and shipping sta-
tons Of a common carrier
"A corporation or person owning or
holding a majority Of the stock Of
common carrier. gas corporation or
electrical corporation"
Transit hoard. Powers.
Tho jurisdiction OF the commission
which has the task OF rehabilitating
the transit system in New York city
is defined in Section ga as extending
TO the following corporations and per-
sons:
ITO railroads. street railroads lnd
STAGE or omnibus lines or routes lying
exclusively within a city coutalnirs
a population Of over ono million 10
habitants according to the last prsa
ceding Federal census or State enu,-
THE PLAZA
pirncr dances frum 80 ociock
d.r,. L., tt. r,tfi ttoor,