Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-06-03
POLICE,
F|REMEN,
Winners
Free Rides While on
Duty Not Violating
Utilities Law.
COMMISSION RENDERS
IMPORTANT DECISION
Matter of School Fares Not ID
cluded in Action Made
Public.
COMMISSION RENDERS
IMPORTANT DECISION

The State Board of Public Utility
Commissioners announced Its decision
today that the free riding of policemen.
nremen and inspectors of boards of
health, without discrimination. In the
violation OF the new public utility law.
The text of the decision is as fol-
lows:
THE board does not regard the
free transportation, without dis
elimination, on behalf of mu-
nicipality of policemen, firemen and
inspectors of boards of health in
the performance of their duties as
a violation of the provisions of P. l.
1911. chapter 1885,"
The board did not decide the ques-
tion of the right of railroad and trolley
companies to give transportation at
special reduced rates to school teach
ers and school children.
The question of the right of police
men, firemen and health inspectors to
ride free on trolley cars was raised
by the Public Service Corporation. The
company held that the new law abro-
gated this right, which the firemen
and policemen had previously enjoyed,
and that they must pay fare even when
in uniform and in the performance Of
their public duties.
Political Aspect.
The decision of the Public Service
Corporation prohibiting the free trans
portation of such officials assumed a
political aspect in some sections. nota-
bly, In Hudson county, where Assem-
blyman Charles Egan. father of the
public utility bill in the House, expects
to be candidate for another term as
a lawmaker.
Had the decision been the other way
1t would seriously have affected his
chances of election. because all the
policemen and firemen would have
campaigaed against him. Assembly
man Egan has insisted all along that it
was not the intention of the trainers
of the new law that it should prohibit
this free transportation,
While the ruling of the Public Utility
Board holds that 1t is not a violation
of the law TO give passes to policemen
firemen and health inspectors on duty
II provides no way by which the pass
privilege recently taken away may be
restored TO them, but the firemen and
policemen take it for granted the Pub
lie Service will restore their free rides.
In the case of the rates for school chill
dren, which the trolley company in
creased from three to five cents when
the new law took effect, the Public
Utility Board ordered a suspension OF
the higher rate for thirty days. The
P .blic Service Immediately sought from
the Supreme Court writ of certiorari
against this ruling, which was granted.
and its old fares were ordered main
tanned by the court in the meantime.
BY holding out no method to the po-
licemen and firemen for the restoration
of the pass privilege the utility board
apparently recognizes a difference be-
tween their case and that of the school
pupils.
John L. O'Toole, head of the public
ity department of the Public Service.
said today that the company had re-
ceived a copy of the decision and that
a statement would be given out con-
corning 1t by the corporations lawyer
The decision of the public utility
board is regarded as a Pyrrhic victory
for the police and fire departments. IL
is not against the law to give them
pass, neither is 1t against the law to
take the pass away. It is here that the
law passed by the last Legislature Is
at fault. It Is pointed out that II
would have been easy to have insertec
In the statute provision specifically
providing that the policemen and nre-
men should have the same privilege Oh
riding that was always accorded them
and which is widely recognized as their
right.