New-York tribune., 1910-06-10
SETBACK FOR COMMUTERS
New York Hard Hit. Both at
Washington and Albany.
STATE PETITION NOT LEGAL
Also Decided That Taft Pact Has
No Effect Except as to
Freight Rates.

signed the petitions of the Westchester
Chamber of Commerce requesting the Pub
lie Service Commission Of the I'd District
10 determine whether the rates Of fare
and proposed increases are reasonable and
just" have signed their names in vain, un-
less the commission allows them TO tack
their petitions TO some petition which has
legal standing with the commission
This complication in the growing cam
paign against the railroads is due TO the
fact that the Chamber of Commerce petit
tions ke no formal complaint stating q
cause OF action and giving essential facts,
that the commission, which is judicial
tribunal rather than a prosecuting body,
can recognize.
A new and energetic attempt 10 form an
effective orga nizaticn OF Connecticut com
muters. with power TO act. will be made
Immediately by Lemon Rrundage. the
Mayor of Norvalk. Conn Mr.. Brundase,
Hho has already sent protest against the
New Haven roads increased fares to the
Interstate Commerce Commission IN be-
half Of the Norwalk commuters. has Sc
cured the co operation of the Mayor Of
New Haven. who has written that he IS
willing TO Join with the mayors of other
cities in any reasonable plan of action.
Loss of 100000 . Year.
Mr. Brundage said Yesterday that the
increased rates mean a loss Of st least
$4,000 year to twenty thousand com
1nuters living between Norwalk and New
York City en- the New Haven line, 10 say
nothing of the thousands of commuters on
other railroads
DR. r. NJ Wolfe Mayor Of South Nor
walk. has also sent protest to the Inter
state Commerce Commission. and is eN-
pected to aid the new organization
A formidable legal petition was sent yes
terday to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission by Percy Adams, representing the
Improvement League of Sound Beach
Some commuters have no doubt that the
commission will grant a hearing as 10 the
reasonableness of the New Haven road s
new rates in Connecticut. but others be
lieve that an organization as effective as
that of the shippers, who enlisted the
aid Of President Taft, is necessary to get
the best results.
William L. Ransom 4 New York attor-
nev. who has been consulted by some New
Jersey commuters said yesterday that the
situations in New jersey and Connecticut
are much alike and the Interstate Com
rnerce Commission is the only source of
relief to commuters OF both states. The
New Jersey Railroad Commission he
stated has power TO recommend rates, not
10 fix them but under one section of the
state constitution statute giving relief
may be enacted by the Legislature. Many
commuters have urged Governor Fort to
call a special session of the Legislature
that this may be done at once.
4 representative Of the Erie said yester-
day that the discover by certain COM
nuters Of law limiting Erie rates. which
was passed when it vas thought the Erie
would lease the Susquehanna road ten
years ago. would not help the commuters
case, because the Erie bought a controlling
interest in the stock of the Susquehanna
instead Of leasing it.
W c. Hope. general passenger agent
Of the Jersey Central. is perhaps the only
agent in New York who can say that he
has not received q single complaint from
a commuter.
WHY should any one compialn?" he
asked yesterday. "A 25-cent increase in
fare won't break any Pocketbook."
Want Only Fair Rate.
Hugh NJ Hewson attorney for the West
chester commuters said yesterday that
nothing of advantage TO the commuters on
the New Haven and New York Central
roads can come Of President Tafts ar
rangement with the railroad managers,
except possibly indirectly in the case of
the West Shore road"
..As to the New York Central" he con-
tinued. President Brown is quoted spe-
cifcally as saving that only small part
[part of the West shoreI came under fed
H.
attitude of Mr.. Brown and other railroad
presidents, President Mellen OF the New
Haven road, has not changed his beIliger-
ent attitude toward toward the patrons of
his road It does not seem 10 be clearly
understood that the commuters do not wish
10 get something unfair from the railroad
company but to get a rate proved 70 be
fair before the Public Service Commission
and the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Secondly. to get this it Will be necessary
to form more effective organization
Mr.. Hewsou has received several COM
plants from persons who paid stretched
mileage on the New Haven road on June
5. before the rubber railroad" snapped
back.
Washington. June a.-Tncreases in COM
mutation passenger fares made recently by
the railway lines operating out of New
York city will not be affected bv the YER
bal agreement reached by the railway Off
cials and President Taft. This announce
rrent vas made to-day al the offices Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
In the Judgment Of the officers OF the
commission the rates discussed by the
President and the railroad officials we're
freight rates Those are the only rates
that generally have been increased.
L is held that the commission is bound
70 recognize the tariffs making the pas
senzer increases. they we're filed in the
regular way provided by the statute, the
railroads being entirely within their rights
in making the increases. Whether the
interstate communication rates fixed by the
new tariffs arc reasonable or not is
question for future determine ton. 1t is
pointed out, however, as unlikely that the
commission would regard as unreasonable
rate-betWeen New York and New
Haven. for instance-that is approximately
= half cent a mile. when the straight fare
between the two cities IS two cents a mile.
Sooner or later. however II is expected
that the New York communication question
will come before the commission here
MORE COMMUTERS SEEK AID