New-York tribune., 1910-07-20
JERSEY RATES Up TODAY
Nearly Every Conmuter Affected
by Higher Railroad Fares.
WILL CONTINUE THE FIGHT
State Wide Movement On to
Convince Interstate Board
Charges Are Unreasonable.

Practically every New Jersey commuter
VIII take his medicine to-day in the shape
Of an increased fare. July 20, the fateful
day, has arrived, and since the Interstate
Commerce Commission has refused 10 or
DER the increased rates suspended, pending
investiga ton, and the possibility of injunc-
ton proceedings was thought of too late, It
is a case Of pay more or wa1k-or fly.
There is considerable soreness, and coun-
ter accusations of Indifference and iQcom-
petence were in circulation among the
commuters interested in the fight against
the railroads. as a result of their inability
TO postpone further or prevent the arrival
Of the evil day
In East Orange. where Terry Parker,
counsel for the Commuters League, is the
spokesman. Governor Fort is being crit-
ctsed for his refusal TO call a special ses-
sion Of the Legislature to deal with the
problem. The Board of Trade of New
Brunswick has il in for the Interstate
Commerce Commission because, its mem
bers say, that body misled them, caught
their counsel unprepared, and then gave
the railroads the benefit of the doubt.
Other commuters are complaining that Lne
leaders in the fight took too much time
playing politics
But out Of it all there will probably arise
a stronger organizatio of commuters ca
pabIe Of a statewide movement 10 demon
state the unreasona bleness of the increased
rares before the commission in Washing
ton. The commuters of New Brunswick,
Metucher and similarly situated points
along the Pennsylvania Railroad will cen
tre their energies and pool their resources
in pressing before the commission the com
plant ard petition filed by the Board Of
Trade Of New Brunswick. the first passen-
ger rate complaint fled with the commits
sion under the recent amendment to the
Interstate commerce law.
At q meeting of the executive officers Of
the New Brunswick Board Of Trade. the
Commuters League OF New Brunswick and
the Commuters League Of Metuchen, held
on Monday night, it was decided that in
junction proceedings in the courts would
be OF doubtful validity and that the ef-
fecttve prosecution OF the pending proceed
ings was the wiser course. The active CO
operation of Railway, Elizabeth and other
towns is counted upon
Terry Parker said yesterday that he had
dropped the fight. convinced that there
was not another step to take that prom
ised even fair hope Of relief
I'VE have made every effort" said he,
and though we say it with much reluc-
tance we are forced to cease our efforts
TO hold Up the advances any further"
But all Jersey commuters see encourage
nent in the fact that they were able 10
postpone the increase in the rates on all
the roads for three weeks. This was ac-
complished through the Interstate Com
merce Commission at the eleventh hour
by the New Brunswtck. complaint and those
fled with the commission by Attorney Gen
eraI Wilson Of New Jersey On some OF the
roads the new rates were scheduled 10 take
effect on June Is and on others on July L
The commission got the roads 10 postpone
the advances until July 20
In instituting an investigation of the rea-
soma bleness OF the advances, probably early
in the fall. the commission will proceed on
It's own initiative as permitted under the
new law