Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-19
MAYOR IS INVITED
BY COMMUTERS TO
PROTEST MEETING
Proposed Increase in Special
School Rates by Railroads
Declared to Require City
Officials Intervention.

Mayor Blankenburg. Director Porter,
and Acting Superintendent OF Schools Dr.
| William C. Jacobs were invited today to
! attend the citizens mass meeting at Oak
| Lane tomorrow night, when representa-
! tives from all the suburban towns along
the main line of the Reading Railway will
organize TO protest against the proposed
increase in passenger rates by the Penn
sylvania, the Reading and the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroads.
Edwin NJ. Abbott, president of the Oak
Lane improvement Association, who Is
arranging the mass meeting, proposed to-
day that one central body representing
every civic, Improvement or business or
ganization within committing distance Of
Philadelphia, be formed Immediately to
assume direction of the fight against the
rate increase. Such an organization, Mr..
Abbott declares, would be far more ef-
fective than all the unafhliated organiza-
tlons working independently, as they now
are doing.
In inviting Mayor Blankenburg and the
other city officials, II was stated that
their cooperation was particularly de-
sired on account of the proposal OF the
railroads to increase the rate for the spe-
cial school tickets which are used In
large numbers in the suburbs by fami-
lies who send their children to both pub
lie and private schools in the city.
SECOND LETTER TO VOORHEES,.
Mr.. Abbott said that Mr. Voorhees,.
president Of the Reading, and the other
ofrcials had not replied as yet to the
invitation to attend the Oak Lane mass
meeting. On account of their delay an
other letter was sent to Mr.. Voorhees,,
urging again that some one represent
ing the railroad be present at the meet
ing, The letter made protest against
the proposed withdrawal of the so and
100-trip tickets and the Increase In the
60-trip and school tickets.
While waiting for some action upon his
suggestion that one central body repre-
senting all commuters be formed, Mr..
Abbott will endeaVor to have all associa-
tions along the Reading unite In one
organization to press their protest before
the Public Service Commission, and, II
necessary. take the case into the courts
to have an injunction issued restraining
the railroad from raising the fare on the
ground OF the implied contract between
the railroads and the citizens who have
purchased properties and settled along
their lines.
The basis for resisting the increase in
fare, Mr.. Abbott pointed out is to rest
upon lack OF necessity for tho increase.
The burden will be shifted TO the rail-
roads TO show that the passenger service
will not give sufficient returns for tho ex-
pense. ANY deficit arising from the
freight department or other departments
OF service. II will be contended, cannot be
shifted to the passenger service.
FRANKFORT BOARDS PROTEST.
The Transportation Committee Of the
Franktord Board of Trade today COM
pieted its resolution of protest against
the increase. Psrcival s. woodn, chair
man OF the committee, win file the reso-
luton with the Public Service Commits
sion at Harrisburg this afternoon. The
resolution follows:
Whereas. BY the public announcement
the Philadelphia and Reading Rail-
way and the Pennsylvania Railroad,
the only steam roads between Frank
ford and the City OF Philadelphia in
tend to raise their fares for passengers
December IS. 1914, and
Whereas, The citizens, OF this
community regard such a raise as
unWarranted. unjust, and an arbitrary
exercise OF power; and
Whereas. This community Is Obliged
at the present time to pay
rate OF fare increased 130 per cent
within the last 10 years time and
the proposed increase will make the
total increase over 900 per cent;
whereas this condition has bean
made possible because OF the circuit
ious route taken by the said steam
railroads. whereby the distance by
miles between stations Il more than
twice a reasonable direct route; and
Whereas the additional distance
Is disadVantage by the reason OF be-
ing longer and slower; and
Whereas the citizens OF the com
munity have, In many cases, being in
ducsd 20 reside here be the reason OF
the earfRFe established
Nov, therefore, We the F'rankford
Board OF Trade, do hereby register
our earnest protest against the pro-
nOBad Increased passenger rates OF
the aforesaid, and We respectfully psti-
ton your honorable body 70 take un-
der consideration the facts stated IN
fhis communication with the view Of
your Withholding your approval OF the
proposed increase In rate 80 Tar as II
should apply TO the station Of Frank
ford
We further respectfully represent
that the Withholding Of such approval
not only be by way or Just ana fair
treatment 10 the citizens or this COM
munity. but viii conclusivsly Be shown
70 be 10 the financial Interest Of the
railways concerned. and Ne request
thn arIV4Ieaa 81 4 hearing naforn HauF