Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-02
STATE BOARD AIMS
TO END RATE CASE
PRIOR TO DEC. 10
This Is Commissions An
nounced Intention in Pick
ing December 10 as Date
for Formal Hearing.

The Pennsylvania Public Service Com
mission in fixing December 10 as the
date for tho formal hearing of protests
against the proposed Increase in railroad
passenger rates, did SO with the deter
mination of deciding the entire question
before December 10, the date when the
railroads announce the new rate would
become effective. This was stated at the
office of the Public Service Commission
at Harrisburg this morning.
BY deciding the case before December
10 the commission will avoid a decision
as to its power to order a suspension of
the new rates. This has been the most
mooted point in the whole case. In event
all the evidence is taken before Decem-
Der 10 and the commission still Is un-
willing to render a decision, 1t Is under
stood a suspension of the rates will then
be ordered. as the body holds II within
Its expressed power to order suspension
after full hearing.
The hearing Of evidence cannot be con-
cluded before December Is, the commits
sion will order the companies to issue
certificates Of excess fare to all pas
senGers paying the increase SO that set
tlcment can be made should the case
be decided adversely to the railroads.
PROMPT DECISION EXPECTED.
1t is said. however, at the offices of
the commission that the body hopes to
conclude the case before December 15
Tho commissions disregard of the rail-
road companies' request that the case
60 over until next year, is cited as evil
dcnce that prompt action will be taken
1t Is understood the companies will not
be allowed to introduce a mass of figures,
which has been the chief cause of delay
In the telephone and anthracite shipment
tariff cases. Only few OF the large
nj pp fs,af nN-
protests against the new rates, will be
called In order to save time.
Unlike most of the cases which have
come before the commission in the past
the passenger rate case will force the
railroads to show causes why the present
rates are not sufficient. The burden of
proof will be placed upon the railroads
and not upon the complainants and 1t
may be that the railroads will be heard
first, although this is not necessary.
The commission set the new date for the
hearing after carefully considering its
power to suspend the rates pending
hearing, It was agreed that such action
only could be taken by implied authority,
and should the commission exert such
authority the railroads Immediately would
take the matter into the courts, and in
the meantime the passengers would have
to pay the increase.
The Interstate Commerce Commission,
III a ltlAtT u EuWlH NJ AbDOII knlS MORN
Ing announced that 1t has under consid-
Grafton the matter OF suspending the pro-
posed increase until the entire case has
been heard formally The commission,
however, made 1t plain that no matter
what its decision will be. it will apply
only to interstate traffic. since traffic
wholly within any one State does not
come under Its jurisdiction.
From the statement OF the commission
1t is understood that the commuters in
Pennsylvania must look to the Pennsyl- |
yania Public Service Commission alone |
for help. In New Jersey, however, the |
Interstate Commission seems to have alb /
sOlute authority where tickets from New |
Jersey To this city are concerned.
G. c. Todd, assistant to the Attorney |
General OF the United States, this morn |
ing advised Mr.. Abbott that the Depart |
ment of Justice is considering the charge /
that the Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia & |
Reading and the Baltimore and Ohio |
Railroad Companies acted in conspiracy |
and in violation OF the Sherman anti
trust act in making the increase.
Mr. Todd requested information regard
ing the interstate operations OF the three .
and at what place, II any, their /
lines touched. A prompt reply answering /
all the questions was sent by Mr.. Abbott. /
PROBING CONSPIRACY CHARGES.
In New Jersey the interest of the COM
muters centres in the possibility of crimi- |
nal proceedings against the directors OF |
the three railroads operating in that |
state Charges OF conspiracy preferred |
against the railroads by the protesting |
commuters are now being investigated by |
United States District Attorney ]. War
rem Davis
City solicitor C. c. Bleakly. of Cam
den, told a committee OF the commuters |
yesterday he Is willing to assist in the |
night Mr. Bleakly win go to Washing |
ton late this week TO take up the ques- |
tiun before the Interstate Commerce Com |
At a mass-meetinR OF citizens at River |
ton last night, II was decided TO send a /
petition OF protest against the fare in
crease to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. Preliminary steps also were /
taken for the organization OF citizens and /
leagues In Trenton division
towns.
Resolutions were adopted last night by /
the Hunting Park Improvement Associa-
ton ia Park Mansion. York road and Ly-
coming street, and by the Central Ger
Avenue Improvement AssOcia-
tion 2s09 Germantown avenue indoFsing 1
the protest Of the United Business Mems