Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-17
SUBURBS JOIN
In CAMPAIGN
ON RAILROADS
Commuters, Riled by In
creased Fares, Plan Boy
colt Where Trolleys Can
Be Used.
Property Owners Predict Return
to Philadelphia of Hundreds
Living Along Main Lines.
Concerted Protest Under Way.

widespread protests of suburban resi-
dents against the proposed sweeplnr in-
crease of passenger fare by the Pennsvi-
Vanie Railroad, the Baltimore and Ohio
HSilroad, and the Philadelphia and Read
ing RAILWAY companies has suddenly
grown to such volume that II prornIsea 70
take the shape Of definitely orranizsd
campaign to force the railroads to cbanqa
their position.
lnan 5000 circulars, condemning
/ the Increase and announcing n .,,hiss
meeting OF protest at the osi, Ts,ss
Lhorary on Friday night, were dIEtrih,,ted
| IN towns along the Main Line NJ ~.
Reading this morning.
CItiHehs from Oak Lane. MelroEs nj
t nlns FarK' Tabor, Fern Rock Branch
have been invited to toln In tbe s.h,
| me meeting is to be held under ~.
Son Alsee.o Oh the Oak Lane Improvement
Associatlon, Edwin NJ Abbott y,rosIds.t.
ol Ihe association, said this norniny
t,,n oliii,I.ttees n would be appointed 10 take
Lne nsht against the PhiIadeIrh;o e.ss
Readings increase TO The p,,hiip Una s, anu anu
commission of Pennsylvania instoad =, ~.
''' Ai'teFstate Commerce Commission.
COURTS MAY HEAR PROTEST
since the Reading lines arc all within
thls State, the argument is advanced tbat
the case does not come under the j,,rIs.
diction OF the Interstate Commerce coml
mission.
should the Pennsylvania Public Service
COMMISSION not give their case n hear
ing. Mr. Abbott declared that the matter
VIII be then taken into the courts.
speaking of the plans of the campaign
this morning, Mr.. Abbott said. 4
What Jurisdiction has the Intcrstate
commerce Commission in regulating
passenger rates on the Philadelphia and
Reading Railway? First, this road Is NOT
an al, Ihlerstate road. This they clearly
asserted at the time of regulating the
coal freight rates several years ago. Re
SIDES every one knows, their roads or
road lies absolutely inside this state To
New YORK, they travel the Jersey Cen
trail; 20 Baltimore and South, thev cover
the Baltimore and Ohio; their seashore
road is separately run and has no con-
neotlon. Therefore, their passenger serv
ice in Pennsylvania is separate, distinct
and intrastate
TO go to Doylestown, Reading. Nor
rlstown, Bethlehem and all Intervening
stations one takes a train which never
goes OFT Pennsylvania SOIL To go be-
yond Bethlehem you must go on The
Lehigh Valley or Jersey Central. There
Iore' the body TO regulate fares of the
NA'iiuNNAplhd anu EkGaQlnK HALLWAY In
the PUBIC Service Commission. II haa
absolute and complete power and juris-
dlctlon. To 1t the people should go.
ana without delay. Make a stong, united
ana positive denomination that will rack
the very mountains of the State
An points on the Pennsylvania Rail-
road should be united the same wav
as the same rule applies here to ali
trains not bound for some Interstate dss-
tination The Interstate Commerce Conn
mission cannot regulate or supervise
rates on purely intrastate business rha
Public Service Commission can. So ts
is up to all the citizens to get busy, and
at once"
Edison j. Weeks, general passenger
agent OF the Philadelphia and Reading
hallway, was shown Mr.. Abbott's state
ment' but refused to comment on It
An official of the Reading, after read.
ing MT. Abbott's statement. said that
MI Abbott was evidently not familiar
with the lines OF the road.
CONTENTION OF RAILROAD.
He pointed out that trains from this
city to Trenton run entirely on the Read
Ing tracks: and that trains for New York
run on the Philadelphia and Reading
tracks until they reach Bound Brook
Junction, N. j. It is believed the rail-
way company win contend that sincs
they are an interstate road and not an
road, their rates should be
by the Interstate Commeres
and not the Public Service
A boycott OF the railroads at several
stations where trolley connection with the
,ity iB regular has been suggested.
real estate dealers declare they
zee in the proposal OF the railroads ruin
% their business. and general depreeia-
ion of property values along the lines
# the railroads. where commuters are
likely to move nearer the city.
Meetings OF civic associations and citi-
ems in general along the Main Line OF
10Th the Pennsylvania and Reading lines
re being planned, AS the Interstate
Commission made a general
OF the matter OF passenger
ates in connection with its study OF the
reight rate case, its decision on the
ropOsed increase may be rendered with
mt deliberatiOn. For this reason. II IS
ointed out. prompt action Is necessary Il
he suburban residents hope for any m0di-
cation of the drastic changes made
cHooL TICKET INCREASE scoREp.
The difference in the fare for the res-
lar commuters viii not be as great as
VIII for members of their families 0r
ersons who make several trips 4 week
D the city, travelling on the lo0-tfia
ckets. which are TO Be abolished Par-
cular objection Is also voiced against
he increase IN the rates Of school tickets
Ivy Lee. executive assistant 70 Presi-
ent Rea. OF the Pennsylvania Rallrcad
as asked last night at the meeting 81
ne Ridley Park Church Club 10 explain
"a increase. He frankly told his quss-
oners the Increase IN rates WAS planned
, swell the revenue of the Companies
AT the present time, he said. the ratIr
,ads are earning less than 1 Der cent
. their passenger serFlcz. The acEea1a
3 SAID. would make each eommusar pay
bout enc cent 3 day Above Whaa 81
oW paving.
Ths Increase Nas vigorously deneoaQef