Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-05
DEFINITE PLEAS
OUTLINED FOR
RATE HEARING
Commuters Case Will Be
Based on Three Definite
Charges-R. R. Heads
Silent on Discrimination.

.
bated before the Pennsylvania Public
Service Commission here next Thursday
were agreed upon this morning at meet
ing of the Joint transportation and subur-
ban committee of the United Business
Mems Association in the office of Edward
B. Martin. chairman.
First, it will be shown that Philadelphia
has been the victim of unusual dscriml-
nation on the part of the railroads in that,
Y willie "A general rise In passenger tariffs
has been proposed throughout the East,
the increase in commutation service Is
directed particularly against Philadelphia
and not against New York and other
cities.
Second, attorneys for the joint commit
tee will present proof to show that the
railroad companies have not complied
with the public service company law In
that they failed to post and publish
notices of the proposed increase in the
stations along their lines, where the
changes would be effective.
Third, the commuters will contend that
the Interstate Commerce Commission In
suggesting that the railroads increase the
passenger tariffs did so with reference
to long hauls and not with any thought
that the Communication service would be
affected.
In view of the general msunderstand-
ing regarding this last point, the COM
mittee, at the conclusion of its meeting,
THE general impression which the pub
lie labors under that the Interstate Com
merce Commission directed the railroads
/ to raise the passenger rate fares Is an
erroneous one when generally considered.
"The Interstate Commerce Commission
has officially declared that they have no
authority over intrastate rates. Long
hauls covering interstate traffic has been
the service which the railroads claim is
losing venture. This is the passenger
service under the Jurisdiction of the In
terstate Commerce Commission.
Therefore. when they intimated to the
railroads that the passenger rates be
raised they only could have referred to
j those long interstate rates which come
under their supervision, and not local
commutation rates, with which they have
nothing to do"
The attorneys for the committee will
meet Wednesday morning the day before
the formal hearing, to review the final
testimony to be presented the commission.
RAILROAD HEADS SILENT.
officials of the Pennsylvania and the
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Com
panies today refused to offer any de-
Tense against the charge made by COM
muters before the Pennsylvania Public
Service Commission that their companies
were guilty Of discrimination against
Philadelphia
The protests filed with the commission
BY local cOmplainants show that, while
railroads running into Philadelphia VIII
exact a general increase in fares to all
points. they have announced an addi-
tional sweeping increase in Communication
tariffs affecting this city particularly.
AT the same time not one of the rail-
roads touching New York city has ex-
pressed intention of advancing the COM
mutation rates although each has an
nounced a general increase in regular
passenger rates.
When asked to give some explanation
of this alleged injustice to Philadelphia.
E. ]. Weeks, general passenger agent for
the Philadelphia and Reading Railway
Company. replied: II have nothing to
say"
ID. N. Bell, general passenger agent for
II the Pennsylvania Railroad, in reply to
similar question. answered that the
Pennsylvania officials would have
nothing to say for publication until the
formal hearing before the commission.
NOT ASKED TO REPLY.
mo charges OF discrimination have
been made to u.s." he added, land II the
Public Service Commission wished us to
make any reply to the complaints filed
with them they would let us know. This
consideration will probably be taken up
at the hearing next Thursday, and We
Will make all explanations there"
The Germantown and Chestnut Hill
Improvement Association, which, through
It's attorney. Ward w. Pierson, yester-
day protested against the increase along
The line of the Philadelphia and Read
lng, today filed formal complaint with
he Public Service Commission against
he increase along the lines of the Penn
Hylvapia Railroad.
The charge OF discrimination against
Philadelphia ON the part of the rail-
roads is taken up in particular in the
second complaint. The withdrawal OF
In Of mt fH.lra
and the increase in price of others near |
Philadelphia by the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Is declared to be unjust, unreason- |
able and discriminatory" because the |
eame action has not been taken in the
suburban zone near New York city.
The complaint further states II the pro-
posed increase Is allowed to become ef- |
Iective 1t will so reduce the area from |
ghich skilled artisans can be drawn here |
hat many manufacturing industries |
zocated In and near Philadelphia viii be |
compelled 10 remove to New York or |
zther Industrial centres where "indus- |
zfial workers and laborers can md con- |
#enient and ready access at reasonable |
ates OF fare to their respective plants"
CALL INCREASE "a HoLD-UP."
Commuters have united in denouneing |
fha proposed changes In suburban tarifs |
= deliberate hOld-up of Philadelphia. |
has been pointed out that the COM /
York city from points more than seven |
miles outside OF the city are lower than /
the present rates here for a corresponding /
distance, Within the seYen-mile limit the /
Now York rates are now slightly higher /
than the present Philadelphia rates But |
should the proposed Increases become ef- /
fective here, both within and without /
the seven-mile zone, the Philadelphia /
rates will be much higher than those In
New York.
The complaint OF the Germantown and |
Chestnut Hill improvement Association 1
sets forth the following;
That the defendant for a long period
OF years, has induced large number OF /
residents TO settle Ia different suburbs 4
Investing large sums Of money. with the /
result that business has been established /
and property values have been Increased,
Increasing the passenger ana freight serg-
Ice to those points
THAT among the Inducements held out /
by the railroad company was the issuance
~ certain forms of communication tickets
which they now Wish to withdraw.
That each increase Ia fare imposed
n the past has resulted IA decreases Ia
property values.
.lnet the resulting decrease ID volume