Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-01
COMMUTERS DEVISE
STEPS IF R. R. RATES
ARE NOT SUSPENDED
Would Have Legislature
Supply Service Commits
sion With Any Lack of
Authority.

Should the Pennsylvania Public Service
Commission, In session at Harrisburg to-
day, decide II has no power to suspend
the proposed passenger rate increase.
which the railroads propose to put into
eject December Is, until the whole ques-
tion has been reviewed at a formal hear
ing, a movement will be begun at once
to have the Legislature amend the act
creating the Commission SO that this
body will be endowed with the power to
suspend rates In all future controversies
between the railroads and the public.
Further than this, should the proposed
increase become effective on December is
through the failure of either the Pennsyl-
vania or the Interstate Commerce Com
mission TO order a XmNrary suspension.
representatives OF the Pennsylvania. the
Philadelphia and Reading and the Baltl-
more and Ohio Railroad Companies in
this city in all probability will be sum-
moned before the Quarter Sessions Court
to answer charge of conspiracy
Both Of these steps in the fight OF the
commuters against the increased pas
Senger tariffs VIII Oc TAKEN uTueT Ine Ill
rection of the Transportation Committee
of the United Business Mems Associa-
tion. At this associations meeting last
night at the New Bingham Hotel an
outline OF their plans was presented In
the form OF a resolution.
Edwin NJ. Abbott, attorney for the Gem
eral Commuters Association, has argued
throughout the fight that the Pennsyl-
vania Public Service Commission has the
right to suspend the rates pending .
formal hearing. In case the commission
concurrs In Mr.. Abbott's view and orders
a suspension at their meeting today. 1t
is not likely that the business men
will act on either of their announced
plans.
DELEGATION TO WASHINGTON.
William Carey Marshall and Edward
West, attorneys for tho South Jersey
Commuters Association. left for Wash
ington this morning where they will tile
petition before the Interstate Com
merce Commission asking that the in
creased fare in New Jersey and to points
outside of the State be suspended until
an investigation shall be made to deter
mine their reasonableness.
The announcement yesterday that the
commission had under consideration an
order suspending the rates until for
NAL hearing had been given. led the New
Jersey commuters to decide upon a per-
sonal visit TO Washington to bring all
possible pressure to bear on tho body.
Before leaving Mr. Marshall said he
hopes to induce the Commission to In
stitute an inquiry into the bookkeeping
methods of the railroads In order to
show they are able to show a balance
against the passenger service when in
reality such balance does not exist.
'7 A monster mass meeting at which the
night of the New Jersey commuters will
be made a united Statewide movement,
Is being arranged for Tuesday. December
s. The meeting will be held In the city
hall at Camden and every protesting civic
and Improvement association throughout
the State will be invited to send rep
resentatives.
RAILROADS CASE DEPENDED.
The defense of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road was outlined last night in n letter
addressed to Louis B. 10 Due, president
OF the Haddonheld Political and Social
Science Club. which was read at a meet
Ing OF the club. Mr.. Lee argued that the
of the 1O-trip tickets was
justified because OF the failure OF this
class of tickets to result in revenue to
the companies.
Other protest meetings were held last
night at Hammonton, Merchantville and
Gloucester City. A meeting has been an
for Riverton tonight, when every
town between Camden and Lambertvillo
will be represented.
The news that the Communication rates OF
almost all OF the railroads running out OF
New York will remain the same served to
Incense the commuters here still more to-
day, Ohcials of the New Haven, the
Delaware, Lsckawanna and Western the
Erie, the Lehlgh Valley and the Jersey
Central have announced that their COM
pRnies viii order no increase in the COM
fares from New York city.