Evening journal., 1911-08-16
OPPOSE The
FARE RAISE
Utilities Commission Will Sit
on Friday to Receive Com
plants in Proper Form
BAR NEWSPAPER
MEN FROM MEETING

Reporters were barred from the
meeting Of the Public Utilities Com
mission held in the Mayors office, at
the City Hall, yesterday afternoon. At
the first meeting Of the commission it
was decided to allow newspaper men
to attend sessions and yesterdays ac-
tion was change Of front.
Before the meeting was called sew
eral of the members held whispered
conferences. following which Presi-
dent Taylor, Of the board. announced
that some Of the members we're of the
opinion that the reporters should be
excluded from the meetings, but have
access TO the minutes. They felt that
having the newspaper men present
would act as a restraint, and they
could not air their views as freely as
they might wish.
The remaining members Of the
board, with the exception of Mr..
Bacher, of the Fifth Representative
district, voiced Mr.. Taylor's senti-
ments. Mr.. Bacher thought the re-
porters should be allowed to remain.
He said he could trust them, and was
sure that they would not publish any
thing that would interfere with the
workings of the board. He was alone
in this stand, and the reporters then
retired.
Two letters were received by the
board opposing the action of the Will
mington and Philadelphia Traction
Company in abolishing the six tickets
for twenty-five cents on its lines in
this city.
Many Complaints.
Mr.. Bacher produced seventeen
postal cards from persons living in
his district, all of whom are opposed
10 the change. One was from wo-
man who characterized the company 5
action as "an internal outrage.
The letters were received from John
S. Hamilton. a coal dealer. and State
Senator Thomas NJ Monaghan, who
was father of the bill. which created
the Public Utilities Commission. Both
declared themselves as opposed to the
abolition of the strip tickets. The
board however, ruled that the COM
nlaints were not properly drawn and
instructed Secretary Bothun 10 50
notify the complainants and also that
prompt action would be taken if new
complaints we're filed in proper form
Senator Monaghan, when informed
Of the boards action, said he would
send a second complaint. He said
that when he sent the letter to the
board he had not been refused strip
tickets, but since then has made sew
eral efforts to purchase them and was
refused Mr. Hamilton today said he
would file a new complaint by Friday
City Solicitor Hastings attended the
board meeting yesterday afternoon,
and at his suggestion the members OF
the board were sworn in, Magistrate
Robertson administering the oath to
each Of them.
The commissioners wanted to kno"
lust where they stood in respect TO the
authority vested in them and were told
by the city solicitor that the striI
ticket matter was entirely within thell
province and that they could take any
action they deemed fit after investi-
CATION. He advised, however, that 9
complaint be received in proper form
before the matter is taken up.
Mr.. Peirce's Position.
Commissioner Peirce, of the Fourth
district, who claimed he was misquotec
In a newspaper recently gave out the
following statement;
"In connection with the matter o1
the abolition of the strip tickets by
the Wilmington and Philadelphia
Traction Company, and having noticed
that some of the papers have quotec
me as saying that the commission
would probably oppose the company
action. | desire to say to the boart
that what | did say or meant was that
if the matter comes before the board
the commission would probably oppose
the action of the company until sucf
time as the matter could be thorough
" investigated and the right ant
wrong determined"
Rules for Board.
The following rules were adopted
yesterday by the Board:
Il. Regular Meetings.-T first Fri
day in the month at o'clock. at th'
Mayors Office, City Hall, Whining
ton. Del.
"2. Special Meetings Specia
meetings of the board shall be called
by the president of his own initiative
or on the request of any two member.
of the board. One days notice bs
mail. telegraph or telephone shall b'
given of such special meetings.
The members all being present
4 at any time and place may resolve
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