Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-06-14

CONTINUED from First nge
apprehension Of the view of the board
as to the extent. Of the power which it
possesses in this investigation the
board at the outset
THAT In Its Judgment no power is
vested IN tho board to issue al order
respecting tho subject matter of the
inquiry ano that its power is limited
to tho maaing> OF recommendations.
'"rhis Judgment Is backed upon a
careful study Of the provisions of the
statute creating the board and of two
opinions submitted to the board by
the then encouragement Of the State
under date Of September 10. 1907. and
September 80, 1907. and published in
the first annual report of the board
at pages 81 and 377. That the scope
Of this Investigation may be clearly
defined the board u
Il. That the investigation is confined
to the Increased rates Of passenger
fares forstransportation between points
within this State
20. That the authority of the board
does moi extend to the increased rates
of passenger fares for transportation
from points in this State to points in
another State.
"s. That the transportation Of pas
sengers from points In this State to an
other State Is interstate commerce, and
that this Is so as to that part of the
trip which is wholly within either
State or where the transportation is
under an entire contract for a con-
tinuous trip.
-. That power to regulate commerce
between the States Is by the provisions
of the Federal constitution vested In
the Congress of the United States and
that the power of Congress Is exclu-
sive.
"5. That. the State is without power
to regulate such commerce. and the
Legislature of the State a neither
exercise such power directly nor can
It confer 1T upon the board.
&c. That, therefore. all complaints of
increased rates of passenger fares from
points In this State to the points of
New York "a been referred by this
board directly TO the Interstate Com
merce Commission, in which commits
sion Congress has vested Jurisdiction.
AActP
~gust how hard the railroads are hit
by the plan to gain the amount In
vested did not show in the faces of the
stolid men who listened TO the item and
the subsequent resolutions and motions.
You see, the railroads are conservative
to say the least, when they admit the
possession of any property to the State
Board of Assessors.
proceeding on the theory tina the
law las been observed and the true
value Of railroad property ascertained,
the railroad commission now proposes
that the reasonableness OF the rates
of fares shall be determined upon a
basis of taxable property. Now. the
railroads naturally would like to have
the physical valuation OF their prop
erty as high as possible If they are tc
charge rates of fare that will represent
a reasonable profit , the invest
ment.
whichever way the cat Jumps tbs
issue made in today's quiet meeting
means that ultimately the people vii
gain something of what is coming e
them. 1t means al increase In la,
payments by the railroads and prob
ably a reduction In fares. Not thai
present laws make this possible, bu'
that the aroused State will force tit.
Legislature to and make law
to meet the situation. is as sure al
the sur is shining. or II will choose
a new Legislature this fall that vii
dc the bidding of the people"
The railroad representatives on tn
witness-stand in every case insisted
that passenger traffic income fell shor
Of what they had a right tc expect.
For the Central, Mr.. Reynolds salt
that the passenger business was nov
being run at a loss.
In the face of this allegation tn
Central railroad today declared al
extra dividend of 2 per cent. on IL