Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-06-23

ineton to exercise the authority that is
conferred by the new federal railroad
law. The Governor realizes that II the
immediate relief does not come to the
ommute the people will blame him
and regard the whole proceeding as a
bunco game. Switching the RESPONSE
bility from the State to the federal au-
thorities will be all right, If the desired
results are accomplished.
Rates May He Suspended.
The federal railroad law, under which
the Interstate Commerce Commission
will sit as an equity court, provides
that the proposed rates may be sus-
pended for a period not exceeding 1zo
days, four months. pending investlga-
ton of complaints, and that in event of
the inquiry taking a longer period or
time. there may be a further suspension
ofssix months. In other words, 1t Is pos
sible for the federal commission TO pre-
vent the rate Increase until April, 1911,
IL the commissioners see fit so to do.
81 President VIII Help.
President Taft has assured the resi-
dents of this State who have appealed
to him that he will do all he can to see
that there Is a fair hearing of the COM
plant against the railroads. Whle
that isn't taken very seriously, the ac-
tiyities of Congressman Eugen h. I'm
kead and others who are in Wasnlns-
ton, and who have already put the
question informally before the Inter
state Commerce Commissioners, are
looked upon as likely to bear fruit.
Mr.. Kinkead has already informed
Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Knapp of the situation in this state,
and others have placed the facts III
the case before Commissioner Lane
People Are Discouraged.
Those who have been hoping without
encouragement except in rather loud
generalities that a special session OF
the Legislature would be called and
that a law would be passed comforting
rate making power on the State Public
Utilities Comissicn, are almost dis
c~ouraged. 1t is politically inexpedient
to call the Legislature back because
Champaign contributions will be wanted
by the majority party from the corpo-
rstions. including the railroads, this
fall. So the arguments OF the railroads
have proven, at this time, more potent
tEan the arguments of the 1000 COM
niuters who control the political des-
TIMES of this State.
= Appeal Is Compromise.
Instead of settling the question on a
broad business basis, getting down to
fundamental weaknesses and correct
ing them by the enactment of a genu-
Inc public utilities law. the State Is
meeting the situation with an appeal to
the Federal authorities as q compro-
mise. 1t Is true, as was stated In these
columns yesterday. that the appeal may
result In the increased rates being tenn
porarily suspended, but IL the railroads
desire to increase their tariffs, they will
ultimately do so. Governor Fort can
save the day by doing the brave thing
that Governor Hughes has done In New
York State.
Legislation Is Needed.
If the communication rates are sus"
pended or set aside, there will remain
the many increases in rates between
points in New Jersey. The State has
no authority to make rates or to regu-
late them. Only by legislation. strong
and straight to the point can the Rail-
rpad Commission, soon to be known as
the Public Utilities Commission, deal
with the question of increased rates,
determine whether the proposed In
creases are reasonable or otherwise, set
them aside II they are unreasonable.
Doing All Law Allows. ~
President Frank H. Sommer and
&c commissioners Thomas j. Hillery and
Robert Williams, who make .up the
State railroad board. are going just as
Tar as the law will allow and farther
than laymen believed vas possible.
fertilizer than the men who permitted
the railroad law to pass In 1907 intended
they ever should They have taken
steps to get to the physical valuation
sof the property n hope thereby that
they may rouse the State to back up a
Recommendation as to rates based upon
Such valuation. In Trenton tomorrow
the commission will resume its inquiry
into the rate increases. .
Railroads Must Prove Necessity.
There are a number of hopeful things
In the rather complex situation NO far
as immediate relief from railroad OPP
preston is concerned. For n thing,
the railroads must prove h a their
rates are reasonable. the burden being
upon them under this general provision
gof the new national railroad law:
Whenever there shall be filed with the
rcommission any schedule stating a new
Individual or joint rate, fare or charge,
or any new Individual or joint classified
ton, or any new Individual or Joint regu-
.lation or practise affecting any rate, fare
or charge, the commission shall have, and
~ Is hereby given, authority, either upon
complaint or upon Its own initiative with
out complaint. at once and. II II so orders,
without answer or other formal pleading
by the Interested carrier of carriers, but
npon reasonable notice to enter upon q
hearing concerning the ~propriety OF such
rate. fare, charge. classification. regulation
or practise, and pending such hearing and
the decision thereon, the commission. upon
filing with such schedule and delivering to
the carrier or carriers affected thereby a
statement In. writing OF Its reasons for
such suspension, may suspend the opera,
ton of such schedule and defer the use OF
such rate. fare, charge. classification. reg
Mlation or practise, but not for a longer
period than 100 days beyond the time when
such rate. fare. charge, classification reg
ulation or practise would otherwise &c
into effect, and after full hearing. whether
completed before or after the rate, fare,
charge. classification, regulation or prao-
tse goes into effect, the commission may
make such order In reference to such rate,
fare, charge, classification. regulation OF
practise as would be proper In a proceed
Ing Initiated after the rate, fare, charge,
classification, regulation or practise had
become effective.
May Extend Time Six Months.
Provided, That II any such hearing ram
not be concluded within the period OF sus-
pension. as above stated. the Interstate
Commerce Commission may, in Its discre-
ton, extend the time of suspension for a
further period, not exceeding six months.
aud mt any hearing iIivolving a rate Ia.
creased after January !, 1910. or of a rate