Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1915-07-24
What Has Happened?

Last weeks "Palisadian" contained
an article written by member of the
Eastern Bergen improvement Asso-
citation regarding that organizations
feat in getting a compromise meas
ure arranged with the Public Service
on the subject of ferry fares at Edge
water. The new arrangement was
heralded as great boon for COM
muters who would save something
like $4,000 year by the operation.
1t must be confessed that reading the
press agents assertions about the
great victory over the Public Service,
it listened well. But upon bit more
mature reflection and investigation
the conclusion forces itself that the
Eastern Bergen Improvement Asso
citation has misled itself. 1t really
has not accomplished anything at all
with the Public Service.
1t would be very one-sided ar
rangement indeed to make the public
believe it was riding So times for $1.75
and getting each ride for little I'M
der 3hc. The truth is, in many
cases, with the ticket holders allowed
no deduction for days missed through
sickness or absence, the holder would
lose the difference and the company
would still profit for as many SIC
fares as were not ridden out. Ten
days out would cut that much
money out of the ticket owners poe
ket, and put an equal amount into
the company's pocket. 1t requires no
stretch of imagination to see that that
would be quite percentage of gal,
for the railway and ferry company.
If the Association that claims so
much had gotten the Public Service
to make the tickets good until used
and by all members of family, it
would have been an accomplishment.
The Board of Freeholders have been
all along contending for three
cent fare, and so did the Associa-
ton, and that is what the public
wants. But wanting three cent
fare is one thing and getting it is an
other. 1t is very difficult to put any
thing through the Board of Free
holders, owing to politics, and there
is not a ghost of a chance to get
through this $1.75 ferry rate for COM
mutation monthly tickets. So all of
the press agents work goes for moth
ing. 1t was all just idle talk. The
so-called Fighting Mayors" have
met their Waterloo. All of their
fighting instinct has been taken away
at one fell swoop, their props knock
ed clean out, and they haven't leg
to stand on. By their own foolish
methods they have lost public con-
fidence, because they did not get any
where. The Freeholders are bound
NOT to accept the $1.75 compromise
because it is not what they want, and
it is not what the public wants. The
whole thing has been messed up, and
in all probability, beyond repair, for
a long time to come. AS matter of
fact. the Public Service has not real
ly taken the Association and it's COM
mittee seriously. 1t has received the
committee as a matter of courtesy, as
it would receive any one who came
in respectful manner and sought
consideration on any matter relating
to public business. But the only
legal body the Public Service has
treated with seriously on the ferry
fare is the Board of Freeholders. The
matter has been up before them for
several years, and always has met
the same fate. 1t is a case of "How
long, Oh, Isreal, how long!' so far
as the riding public is concerned.
And so, after all the Associations
press agent fairly wollowing in hap
py thoughts over the feat of getting
a compromise ferry rate, it finds it
self completely showed under, put
out of business by one wollop. 1t
is to be hoped that the antics of the
press agent are now over and that
he will devote himself to more use
full objects than reducing ferry fares.
The above is written with no cold
feeling. One is compelled to SYM
pathize with those who find them
selves led into a foolish attitude
The whole trouble with the Eastern
Bergen Improvement Association is
the everlasting blowing it has done