Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-01-21
PASS QUESTION TO
COME UP LATER ON
Public Service Commission Busy
With Hearings and Rou-
tine Matters Today

The Public Service Commission did
not reach the pass question to-day
and may not get to it until tomorrow
if then. Chairman Nathaniel Ewing
said that he could not say when the
matter would be reached or what
would be done.
No end of speculation is rife over
the State and many people seem to
be of the opinion that while the right
of wives of railroad men to enjoy
passes may be granted, there are slim
chances for anything else. Commits
sioners say such reports are conJec-
ture. The notes of the hearing yes
terday are being transcribed for the
commission. Speaker Alters argument
is believed on the Hill to be the
lines which will be seriously consid-
cred. He argued that the issuance to
families of railroad men was the de-
sire to save them expense jsut as Is
done by a merchant who gives dis
counts to employees.
The commission has not yet reached
the Camp Hill water rate case and
the Riverton Consolidated Water
Company may ask a hearing.
The Mount Joy contract for street
lighting was considered to-day.
The afternoon was devoted to the
continuation of the Bell Telephone
protest against the rate schedule.
Harry II. Murray and Clark I'll.
Toler, Pittsburgh, George G. Brown,
Ellsworth, and A. G. C. McKalip, Will
kinsburg, representing the combined
associations of engineers of Pitts
burgh, protest to the Public Service
Commission against the discrimination
in rates charged to different consum-
ers of electricity in the city of Pitts
burgh by the Duquesne Light Com
pany. They also claim that the latter
is now engaged in an effort to create a
monopoly by acquiring the plants and
equipment of many of its competitors.
Paul S. Keller, 2729 North Front
street, Philadelphia, representing the
heirs of the estate of j. X. Smith. who
have been paying taxes and water
rents to the city of Philadelphia for
the past forty years. desires to appear
before the commission on February 3
in opposition to the approval of the
contract between the city of Philadel-
phia and the Philadelphia Electric
Company. He objects to the contract
price entered into for the past ten
years.
The East Broad Top Railroad and
Coal Company informs the commits
sion that in numerous instances its
fares are only cents, and to provide
passengers with two individual cups,
without charge, i. e., one at the sta
ton and one on the train, would be
equivalent to a heavy reduction in
rate. The company says it is appar-
ent that the general intent of the sani-
tary drinking cup law will be best
served by provisions that will tend to
encourage each individual to carry a
kcup.
The Citizens Electric Illuminating
Company, of Pittston, yesterday made
protest before the Public Service
Commission against approval by the
commission of contract between the
borough of Exeter and the Consumers
Electric Company. The Citizens con.
/ tended that there had been no com.
plant as to the service it gave Exeter
or as to rates. The hearing will bt
resumed on February 3.
While the public service hearinf
was in progress two protests agains
passes or reduced rates were sub
mitted in writing. j. f. Edwards
Philadelphia, protested against issu.
ance of passes to employees OF railroads
as well as to their families, making
the remark that if they had to pay
fare there would be more room In
cars. DR.. +. II. Brobst, Reading, de-
clared it was not right to require
widows and orphans to pay full fare
and to allow ministers to ride at half
rates