The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-11-30
CAPITOL HILL
PROTEST AGAINST Raising
4: OF THE passenger Rates
Public Service Commission At It's
IL Meeting Tomorrow VIII Probably
Fix Date For Hearing of Those
b Opposed to Increase

5 When the Public Service Commits
sion meets tomorrow it is expected a
date viii be set for hearing in the
matter of the protest that has gone up
from all over the State against the
raising of passenger rates, especially
those for commuters who use the 100
trip slips or round trip tickets, the
rates on which have been materially
advanced. The commission is expected
to disregard the plea of the railroad
companies for postponing the hearing
until january and may set an early
date.
The railroads contend that they can
not prepare such statistical matter as
the commission may require within a
month at least, but this is denied by
the commuters who ask that the rail
road companies be required to show
their books instead of charts and com
pilations. 1t is said that the commits
sion will hold its hearings in Philadel-
phia as being most convenient for all
concerned.
Edwin NJ. Abbott, attorney for the
combined committee of the United
Business Men Association of Phila-
delphia and Commuter s Association,
filed with the Public Service Commits
sion to-day complaint against the
Philadelphia and Reading and the
Baltimore and Ohio, relative to the
proposed increase of rates. 1t is urged
that an early date be set for the hear
ing and that the respondents be asked
to produce their books showing all re-
ceipts, etc., relative to the conduct of
their system between their various
terminals in Philadelphia and all other
points within the State affected by the
changes. The commission is also re-
quested to suspend the rates and to
notify the companies to withhold the
advance until after the hearing
Public Service Commission
The Public Service Commission will
resume its sittings in the Capitol to-
morrow when it is expected that one
of its first declarations will be on
whether it has the power to hold up the
proposed increased passenger rates filed
by the Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and
Reading and Northern Central railroad
companies in this State.
Contracts for approval will come up
as follows: Northern Central Railway
Company and the borough of Sunbury;
Northern Central Gas Company and
Williamsport.
The approval of the sale of the Con-
estoga Electric Light and Power Com
pany to the Edison Electric Company
will also be asked.
On Wednesday afternoon the ap-
proval of the lease between the Bell
Telephone Company of Pennsylvania
and the Harrisburg Light and Power
Company will come up for eonsidera-
tion
On Thursday morning the complaint
of Al K. Thomas against the Harris
burg Gas Company that it refuses TO
extend its main for his accommodation,
will be heard.
Charter With Governor
The charter of the Merchants Ice
Company, of Harrisburg, was sent TO
Governor Tener to-day, and it is ex-
Pected THAT he will approve of it after
examination.
Fiscal Year Closes
This is the last day of the fiscal
year in the financial operations of the
State and the clerks in the State Treas
ury and Auditor General s Departments
were busy all day arranging the totals.
Automobile Licenses
Up to the close of November, with
but one month left to issue licenses. the
State, Highway Department gives the
following figures of licenses issued for
the first eleven months of the year:
Pneumatic tire machines, 105.327:
solid tire, 6,420; traction, 1.165:
trailers, 166; motorcycles, 14,55S;
drivers, 2S,22S; dealers, 1873; opera
tors, "a, 223.
About five thousand applications for
1915 licenses have been received and
The department has been very busy get
ting them ready for shipment. 1t is ex-
Pected that by tomorrow morning the
licenses and tags will be ready to be
sent out. The tags will be sent by
parcel post in the mail.