New-York tribune., 1910-06-24
COMMUTERS GAIN APPOINT
Railroads Asked to Postpone
Advances Until August |.
COMMISSION TAKES ACTION
Sends Request to Presidents
After Hearing New Jersey
Delegations Complaint.

! Washington, June 2a.-The Interstate
Commerce Commission to-day requested
the railroads fling communication rates ou
| OF New York City to postpone the date
When the advanced tariffs take effect unit
| August l. in consequence of the commits
| sion's consideration of complaints against
| the proposed rates.
formal proceeding was instituted be.
fore the commission this morning attack.
ing the advances in communication rates At
| torney General Wilson, of New Jersey
Senator Briggs. P. f. Backus. of the At
torney Generals office, and Alfred N Bar
ker. secretary of the New Jersey Railroad
Commission, appeared to urge suspension
OF the new tariffs They desired to file
complaints against the advances to be
made by the Pennsylvania, the Erie, the
Philadelphia e. Reading, the Delaware
Lackawanna & Western. the Central OF
New Jersey. the Lehigh Valley and the
West Shore Railroad
The delegation was informed that il was
questionable whether the commission
would accept the complaints as 1t was
doubtful of it's Jurisdiction over commuta-
ton rates An informal hearing was held
at which Mr.. Wilson presented the views
| of the delegation.
| This condition is SO acute and SO i'm
| perative,' he said, that the commission
ought TO exercise the discretion given 1t by
| the new law to suspend these rates until
the reasonabIeness of the proposed ad-
! vances can be determined
He pointed out among other things that
under the law. the burden of proof of the
reasonableness OF the increases was or
! the railroads.
| Doubtful of its Jurisdiction.
Speaking for myself" said Chairman
Knapp. Il do not think it would do your
| people any good for this commission tc
| enter order that Immediately might bt
| enjoined by the courts. Personally, L hav.
grave doubt about our jurisdiction over
communication rates.
! After the conference the commission wen
| into executive session and it finally wa.
! determined that Chairman Knapp Should
send the following telegram to the presi
| dents Of the railroads named:
| Several complaints have been filed agains
| advances in communication rates between
New Jersey points and New York City, anC
| the commission is urged to suspend the
same The new law has not been carefully
| examined, and some of my associates are
absent Under the circumstances, and tt
afford opportunity Tor proper consloeraI1oI
| both as regards our power and the propri
| ETY. OF its exercise, the commission request!
| your company to postpone until August
| the effective date Of tariffs announclnE
| these advances. Your compliance with thi:
request will be highly gratifying. and per
! mission TO postpone will be granted on ap
| plication.
| 1t is expected that the railroads will com
| ply with the request Of the commission
! as a determination of the whole matter ii
/ likely to be reached, so far as the com
| mission is concerred in the course Of the
next month.
! About the middle of July the commission
| will hold a conference at which action vii
| be taken looking to the suspension OF tbs
| freight rates already fled and to De nice
| effective on August /. This Will be s. specia
| conference to attend which several com
| missioners will return to Washington IRON
| vacation trips.