New York State Commission to Recodify the Public Service Law Transcripts of Proceedings and Public Hearings

Laws of 1929, Chapter 673 established a temporary commission to examine the operation and effectiveness of the State's public service commission law and to propose legislation aimed at remedying any deficiencies. The commission consisted of the temporary president of the State Senate and two members of his choosing; the speaker of the State Assembly and two members of his choosing; and three additional members appointed by the governor. Enabling legislation directed the commission to make a report of its proceedings, together with its recommendations to the State Legislature by March 1, 1930. The Commission held forty-three days of public hearings and presented seventeen recommendations to the State Legislature. Recommendations addressed such topics as public utility valuation; state regulatory authority; reparation payments in response to unreasonable or unjust utility rates; interstate cooperation and compacts; powers of state courts in rate cases; creation of a division of rural electrification within the Public Service Commission; and creation of a peoples counsel in the Department of Law to represent the people in Public Service Commission and court proceedings.

This series contains transcripts of the initial organization meeting and forty-three days of public hearings held by the Commission to Recodify the Public Service Law. The transcripts document the examination of ninety-five witnesses, including all members of the New York State Public Service Commission and relevant commission staff; members of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities; members of the Public Service Commission of Indiana; representatives of municipalities and civic organizations; technical experts and advisors; representatives of the utilities; and members of the public.

An index of public hearing witnesses is included at the beginning of Volume 1.

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