Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-03

PROBE OF FARE
INCREASE ASKED
Jersev Commuters Also Lay
denomination" Charge Be-
fore Attorney-Ganeral.

WASHINGTON, Dec G.--Repre-
sentative William ]. Browning, OF
Camden. at the request OF New jer-
Soy commuters. viii introduce a reso-
luton in Congress on Monday to in
vestigate the relationship between the
railroads operating in New Jersey.
The resolution will charge that an
agreement. constituting a conspiracy
has been entered into by the Penn
sylvania, Philadelphia and Reading
and New Jersey Central TO increase
the Communication rates from New Jer-
sey to interstate points.
Il shall offer this resolution when
Congress opens said Mr. Browning,
land demand the appointment of a
committee to begin the inquiry al
once so that the investigation, If I'M
dertaken. may be effective before De-
cenber Is. If the lawyers represent
ing the commuters can establish their
contention that the Federal statutes
have been violated the carriers are,
Of course. subject 10 heavy penal
This is one of the three steps in
the fight against increased commu-
tation rates in New Jersey which
will be made here. 1t is proposed by
lawyers for the Commuters AsSocia-
ton to suggest TO the attorneN-gen-
eral that the Sherman act has been
violated by the carriers in the pro
posed increase. They will submit
certain evidence Of alleged collision
and Illegal combination to fix rates
contrary to the Federal statutes. and
are hopeful that the department of
Justice will act on it's own initiative.
This evidence will be presented to
the attorney general this week by
William c. Marshall and Edward
West. counsel for the South Jersey
Commuters Association, representing
citizens in thirty-four New jersey
towns. They came here last night,
and today filed a complaint with the
Interstate Commerce Commission
asking that the proposed rates be
set aside. The petition will give
these reasons for suspension OF the
proposed increases:
THAT the Interstate Commerce
Commission, in recommending that
the revenue from passenger traffic be
made to pay for itself and the reNe-
nue. from freight not bear any part 7
OF this burden, did not intend that
Communication fares should be in I
creased. That while the revenue !
from through passenger service and I
from freight service between indus /
trial centres can be kept separate. I
the committing freight rates ana tie /
committing passenger rates cannot +
be divorced, as one is dependent on I
the other. For example, there can /
be relationship between the passen
ger ard freight rates from New York
and philadelphia. but the freight re
enue between Philadelphia and ifs
suburbs is almost entirely depend
ent on a low passenger committing
rate. for without the latter tho
freight receipts would be greatly
curtailed. Low rates must be offered
10 build I'D committing towns in or
der that the freight revenues from
such commuters may be made to
pay.
"Obiection is made to permitting
the railroads to charge two and q half
cents per mile to certain places and
only one and five-eighths cents to
cther points, notably to Atlantic city
and other seashore resorts. Under /
former rulings of the Interstate Com
nsrce Commission the roads cannot
in the matter of rates.
Should an increa Sc be ordered on the /
Atlantic City division the rate of fare
on the Pennsylvania railroads eiee-
trio road to that resort would be !
about $3.50 /
In New York territory, where the |
Pennsylvania road cannot control the /
nther lines of transportation and /
where the Erie refused to enter 81 |
agreement to boost rates. the Penn /
sylvania and Jersey Central. con- /
rolled by the Reading, have not .
> holished the fifty-trip and other 1
forms of tickets that will be discon-
Iinued in Philadelphia territory. The /
srgurnent of discrimination will not /
...lv be used here. but the control of
nc policies of the railroads running |
out OF Philadelphia by the Pennsyl- |
vania will be made the object of the |
Investigation.