Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-26
NEW JERSEY BOARD
POSTPONES HEARING
OF R. R. RATES CASE
January y New Date to
Avoid Rush of Holiday
Season - Interstate Com
merce Commission Called
In.

The New Jersey Public Utilities Com
mission. It was learned today, had post
poned the public hearing on the proposed
increase In passenger rates by the rail-
roads from December % until January a.
Ralph w. Donges, of Camden, chairman
of the Commission. in explaining the
change said that It was done in order
that tho hearing might not come. In the
| rush OF tho holiday season when many
interested persons would be unable to
attend.
Mr.. Donges also explained the most inn
portant changes from the viewpoint Of
the commuter, the increase in the price
of tickets from points in New Jersey to
| Philadelphia, would have to be passed
upon by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, since the New Jersey Commits
sion has jurisdiction only in intrastate
! traffic.
While the powers of the New Jersey
Commission are defined clearly so far as
they relate to intrastate traffic tho
power OF the Pennsylvania Public Service
Commission to prevent tho increase in
rates until their justification and reason
ableness have been passed upon, is still
matter of conjecture.
POINT MAY BE CLEARED ToMoR-
ROW.
II is hoped that the preliminary meet
irg of the Commission i'm City Hall to-
morrow morning will throw some light
on this nooted point. The Commission
has indicated, however, that when 1t sits
in regular session at Harrisburg next
Tuesday 1T will take up this question OF
Its limitation of powers, and that 1t will
also set a date for the formal hearing.
Edwin M. Abbott, president of the Phil
adelphia and Reading Commuters Asso-
citation, and Edward b. Martin. chairman
OF the Executive Committee appointed at
the general meeting of commuters In the
Garrick Theatre, Thursday have been
requested formally by the Commission to
be present at the preliminary hearing to-
morrow morning in Councils Finance
Committee room
The announcement by f. d. Underwood,
president of the Erie Railroad, that the
Erie Company had decided not to in
crease the passenger rates. although the
question had been under consideration for
some time, has convinced the protesting
commuters here that the weight of pub
lie sentiment is beginning to be felt by
the railroads. The Erie has the largest
commuter service of any railroad running
out of New York city.
BOYCOTT is PLANNED.
Commuters in Jenkintown are planning
to boycott the Philadelphia and Reading
Railway provided the Rapid Transit Com
pany can be persuaded to run cars more
frequently over the Old York road route.
A petition from commuters as far north
as Willow Grove is being prepared to
present to the Rapid Transit Company
setting forth their position.
The United Mine Workers using Penn
sylvania trains between Shamokin and
Mount Carmel, at meeting in Shamokin
last night, prepared a petition protesting
against the increase. They will forward
the petition to the Public Service Com
mission at Harrisburg.
Members of the Logan Improvement As
sociation last night voted to Cooperate
with the General Executive COMMITTEES
appointed Tuesday at the Garrick Theatre
to represent all the protesting commu-
ters.
The Transportation Committee of the
Hammonton Board of Trade at a meeting
last night decided to hold a special meet
ing next Monday night. when all COM
muters in that section will be given op-
portunity to unite in the protest fight.