The evening world., 1908-02-03
Chairman Wilcox Admits 1t
Has Power to Stop B. R.
rs Overctarge.
NO COMPLAINT, HE SAYS
The Commission Hasn't Heard
About the Public Outcry
Against Extortion.

From correspondence made public to-
day ii appears that the Public Service
Commission has power to establish and
order a through 1ve-cent fare on all
lines running to Coney Island. but the
Public Service Commission is not aware
Of any dissatisfaction over the present
rate of 10 cents.
1t seems that uhe members OF the Pub
lic Service Commission have not heard
OF the riots that attended the 1O-cent
fare imposition year ago last sum-
mer. and are in ignorance of the manner
in which the B. r. T. with the aid Of
plant Senators. killed The Evening
Worlds Five-Cent Fare bill in the Leg
islature last winter.
Everybody Else Knows
Everybody else in New York but the
members of the Public Service Com
mission knows that the rate of 10 cents
10 Coney Island is an imposition. Ev-
erybody else knows that pending the
settlement of the question by the courts
the B. r. T. gave TO all passengers who
paid the lo-cent fare slips emitting
them TO REIN m5ursement OF half OF each
fare paid should the five-cent rate be
upheld. Everybody outside the Public
Service Commission knows that the 10
,ent rate was upheld by law on a tech
nicality and that the technlcality was
clearly pointed out.
But. Chairman WILCOX explains in a
letter to Senator Mccall. who has in
troduced five-cent fare bill. the Pub
lie Service Commission. while 1t has
power TO order a five-cent rate. must
have complaints fled in writing by per-
son. aggrieved or imposed upon by the
ten-cent rate. These complaints must
be specific and apply to each and every
line and part OF a line over which cars
are operated to Concy Island.
Then there must be a public hearing
on each complaint and an exhaustive IN
vestia,ation. The Public Service Com
mission mas given an example OF its
speed in holding public hearings N the
Metropolitan matter, which progressed
nohly until 1t got 10 the vicinity OF the
yitals of the situation. and has not
been heard of further for months.
As Slow as Old Board.
The attitude of the Public Service
Commission indicates that in urgent
matters affecting the rights and COM
fort OF the people It Is aHout on
plane with the old Rapid Transit Com
mission. Consequently The Eveoins
Worlds fve-cent fare measures will he
pushed through the legislature and the
duty OF holding the o. r. I. TO an
honest and reasonable service In tho
transportation OF passengers to coney
Island will be SHIFTED from the over
worked Public Service Commission.
Assemb!ym-n Wagner's bill will soon
he acted upon by the Assembly and
will pass. The Senate bill will be re-
ported out of the Committee on Rail-
roads probably this week. and the mat
ter will be up TO Gov. Hughes in
short time. Action by the Legislature
is necessary. because the Public Service
Commission plainly takes the stand
that what is everybody's business is
nobody's business.
What Wilcox Says.
H>re is Chairman willcoxs letter 10
Senator Mccall:
Il am in receipt OF your letter of
Jan. 80. referring to bills in the Senate
and the Assembly fixing at Ave cents
the rate Of fnre upon railroads. appar-
emily with particular reference to the
service to Coney Island
In your letter you refer to public
hearing before the Committee of the
Assembly scheduled for Jan. %. al
which you say 1t was stated by the At
torrey for the Public Service Commis-
sioners that the Commission had the
authority TO fix the rate OF fare on all
railroads operating II the city OF New
York and you ask II | was correctly
quoted at the meet 10 the effect that
the Commission has tuN power 10 fix a
running to Coney Island, and If so you
inquire whether the Commission has
not had this power since its creation.
In reply ! would say ttlat no attor-
nev or person representing the Commits
sior was az the hearing referred 10, or
made any statement whatsoever. and /
have not stated that the Cou!nI SIS lon
! had full power TO fix a hve-cent rate OF
| fare upon railroads TO Coney Island.
Wainwright's Inquiry.
Prior to the hearing before the COM
mittec Of which you speak Mr. VAIN
/
! Railroads of the Assembly made in
/ qI!ry of the commission in regard to the
bi'l Of Asscmbiyman Wagner, No 80,
/ Under date or Jan. 20 the secretary to
the commission wrote Mr.. Wainwright
a letter, Of which a copy is herewith
transmitted to you. in which letter were
! the following words;
! In s. far as The proposed bill hears
/ upon existing rates and obligations
, under contracts between companies
/ ne lthe counsel to the Commi ssionJ
IS o. tie opinion that tho Commission
/ IS gwen sufficient power to do after
a Nearing all that the proposed bill
can accomplish and possibly more"
since tie passage Of the Public Ser.
vice Commission law and the appoint.
ment OF the commission on July last
the comm ss!on has had power. under
Section ~ of the act, after hearing
upon = comp.s INT IN writing tSectiou is'
made by some person aggrieved tim,
rates charged by railroad or street
railroad for the transports ;ion 80 per,
soma within TIC state are unjust in.
-ea.onahle or n violation ., law - q.
-erniln. the tust and reasonable rate,
10 le thers tfrc- IN FORCE as the r1.Ni,
nlu4n 10 - cNnrrcl ror tho service r.
h.. r.rsorrp.f nnl ~ the Sorne NV or.