Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-06-24
PUBLIC IS BUNCOEO
IN RATE FIGHT

III tttseG s0sbs
If that status is established the com
mission will consider application tor
for permission to extend Van Wrinkle
avenue
Consent was given for a single-track
Central railroad spur at oak street,
Jersey city. The commission refused
to order more trains on the Delaware
and Raritan branch of the Lackawan-
ma to supply Murray Hill.
Governor Fort today denied that any
committee ever waited upon him from
Boonton asking him to attend h fes-
tiyities there yesterday. He wrote Il
sharp letter to the mayor. He said he
received a stereotyped typewriter or
printed invitation to be present, but
was not asked to speak.
Commuters Are nisheartenef
The New jersey representatives, in
GLIDING Acknowledgement Edmund Will
son, and the delegation of commuters
who sought aid from the Interstate
Commerce Commission returned from
Washington today thoroughly disheart-
ened. They fully realized that there
was little or nothing to be hoped for
from the Federal commission. How
ever, the commissioners were SO i'm
pressed with the showing made that
they issued the following statement:
The Statement.
"FoIIouing the presentation this
morning by the attorney-geuerel ana
the Railroad Commission of New Jer-
sey of complaints against advances 1"
communication rates between New YORK
city and New Jersey points the Inter
state Commerce Commission has nd
dressed the following telegram TO the
presidents of the Erie, Pennsylvania,
Delaware. Lacknwanna and Westerns;
Central. Railroad, of New Jersey, Le-
high valley, New York Central and
philadelphia and Reading Railroad
companies;
several other complaints have been
filed against advances In c~oniEnufafton
rates between New Jersey points and
New York city and the commission lis
urged 10 suspend the same. The new
law has not been carefully examined
and some Of my associates are absent.
Under the circumstances, and to afford
mn opportunity for proper consideration
both rs regards our power md the pro-
priety of its exercise, the commission
requests your compnn, to postpone I'M
III August 4, the effective date of tariffs
announcing these advances. Your COM
piiance with this request will. he highly
gratifying, end permission to postpone
will be granted on application.
,sfgned) "MARTIN A. KNAPP.
"'Chairrnan.'v
Acknowledgement Wilson filed sever
petitions on behalf of the New Jersey
Railroad Commission with the Inter
state Commerce Commission asking that
body to suspend the increased railroad
rates that are scheduled to go into
effect on July /. TIL petitions apply
! against the Pennsylvania, Lehigh Val
ley, Lackawanna, Erie, West Shore,
Jersey Central and the Philadelphia
and Reading railroads. Each petition
urges the commission to suspend the
proposed increased rates until an inves-'
tigation is made.
The petitions presented to the
commissioners are the first un-t
| der the new law. which was signed by
President Taft last Saturday. Accord
ing to the provisions of this law power.
is given to the commission to suspend
a new or increased rate for 100 days,
Under the new law where a COM
plant is lodged on new rates 1t is up
to the railroad company to present
proof that it is not unreasonable. Mr..
Wilson informed his petitioners at the
hearing that 90 per cent. or more OF
Increased rates apply to interstate
trafic, over which the State commits
sion has no jurisdiction. and that the
cnly possibility of relief for the petit
TONERS lies with the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
The proposed increase. said Mr.. Will
son, is likely to handicap the growth
of certain sections of the State. He
characterized the situation in New Jer-
sey as acute. and referred to the many
protests made by civic and other or
CARNATIONS throughout the State.
eff the railroads claim that they are
doing business at a loss under the old
rates, it is apparent that they have
beer doing. so for years, and they can't
be hurt much by continuing at the old
rates for 100 days longer, or until they
can prove that the new rates are rea-
%sonable,'' added the encouragement.
what Knapp Said.
In giving his opinion, Mr.. Knapp,
chairman of the Federal Commission.
"There will be no beneht to your
people if the commission makes an or
der which is Immediately enjoined by
the courts. Speaking for myself, and
not for my colleagues, I have grave
doubt as to the jurisdiction of the COM
mission over Communication rates.
THE presumption Is that there is a