New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-07
COMMUTERS UP IN ARMS
Prepare for Legal Fight on New
Ravens Fare Increase.
GATHER AT MOUNT VERNON
Appeal To Be Made to Public
Service and Interstate Com
merce Commissions.

To try to force the New York New
Haven & Hartford Railroad Company to
change its proposed policy OF increasing it's
Communication as well as it's mileage passen-
ger rates on June I, representatives of the
different towns and cities along the north
shore of the road. together with many
commuters, met last night in the office
of Mayor Fiske of Mount Vernon and
passed resolutions denouncing the increase
and directing the employment of counsel
to fight the company.
Among those who attended the meeting
were Mayor ColwelI OF New Rochelle, AL
dermen j. H. Troy, E. w. Davidson and
E. ]. Cordial, of New Rochelle: Aldermen
George Hermes and James Packman, of
Mount Vernon, and Corporation Counsel
Harry Anderson. representing the village
of North Pelham.
Mayor Fiske was chosen chairman of the
meeting and Harry Anderson was made
secretary. Before the meeting the South
Side Taxpayers Association of Mount Yer
non reported TO Mayor Fiske that 1t had
also passed resolutions declaring the action
of the company to be arbitrary and against
the welfare of the city. At the session OF
the different officials the following was
adopted unanimously:
Hartford Railroad Company has announced
arbitrary advance in its communication
rates affecting 10000 persons VINO Wt1, nave ave
Whereas, This advance in rate amounts
to from 20 to 80 per cent, in the face or
vastly increased traffic; and
Whereas, Any advance in expenses OF
the said railroad during the term or the
last ten years cannot amount TO more
than 10 per cent of its entire expenses;
Whereas. The increased cost of operating
the railroad involving higher wages pc
cause of the increased cost of living aHects
the patrons of the road as strongly as the
road be affected; and
Whereas In the face of the increase IN
rates the railroad has greatly reduced the
cost of its operating expenses by the IN
PRODUCTION of electricity and the reduction
Of the number of men in its train crews
from nine TO three; therefore, be 1t
of the citizens and taxpayers living along
the line of the said railroad, do protest
that the proposed increase is unWarranted
and economically absurd.
Resolved, That we agree to proVlde
means for a legal inquiry before the PUBIC
Service Commission and the lnteTstate
the road to make the proposed raise IN
rates in view of it's constantly increasing
receipts from passengers along its SUD-
urban lines
Resolved. That we request that any
hearing upon the matter by the Puonc
Service or Interstate Commerce commls-
Si0nS De nelO III A1OuIL NSlhOAb ~
or New Rochelle, where the members or
the commissions can see for themselves
the existing conditions. -., 90 ot4t
Resolved, That a mass meeting of cit.
gems Of Westchester County be held at
the call of the chairman formally TO regis
ter their united protest against this arol-
trary action OF the railroad.
Mayor ColweI has arranged for a mass
meeting of commuters to be held at Ger
mania Hall, New Rochelle, on Wednesday
evening.
Mount Vernon was the first IN the field
to fight the New Haven's increase in fares,
as two local commuters took up the
Cudgels yesterday, with the result that a
petition and complaint have already been
lodged with the Public Service Commission
OF the I'd District which will, they say. act
as a stay upon the increase going into eff
feet on June l. The men who have fired the
first gun in the coming big fight are Will
lam P Hickok of Valentine street, and B.
G. Talman, of Sidney avenue. Their attor-
ney is Hugh NJ. Hewson.