Evening star., 1915-02-11
NEW RATES CRIME
COMMUTERS INSIST
Tell |. c. C. Public Is Being
Made to Garry an Un-
just Burden.
PETITION FOR AN ORDER
SUSPENDING INCREASE
Assert That Homes Are Being Sold
and That Prices of Property
Have Deprecated.

Asserting that 1t is crime to per-
NIT tho Pennsylvania and Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Washington railroads to
put increased rates on the commuters
living on the route between Washing
ton and Baltimore. commuters of that
section today filed a complaint with
the interstate commerce commission.
asking that body to require tho rail-
road to desist from collecting the COM
mutation rates recently advanced. The
petition is signed by George T. Mase.
Seabrook: Daniel B. Miller. Lanha M:
Frank D. Roys. Glendale; William r.
Haynes. Ardwick: Albert E. Conover.
Springfield: Henry F, Harmon. Tuxedo:
John F. Fitzhugh, Landover-all living
ants line. The petition is filed on be-
half Of themselves 'and other persons
similarly situated"
of conditions facing the commuters
since the increased rates became ef-
fecuve last December, and furnishes an
example Of what the commuters along
the Metropolitan branch of the Balti-
more and Ohio said would happen II the
same increases went into effect on that
line.
Commuters Selling Property.
Since the effective date of the new
rates many property holdings have been
put up for sale. some have already been
sold-while all seem anxious to escape
what they term the burdens Of high rail-
road transportation.
They declare they were induced to the
section and have purchased homes, rely
ing on the good faith of the railroad to
maintain it's rates.
THE majority of the commuters"
women of modest means who are
families and themselves. and whose
mountable. and upon whose shoulders
it Is crime to permit the said de-
fendant railroad companies to rest its
burdens"
The new rates amount practically to
confiscation of,property, says the COM
plant; In fact. property has deprecated
since the rates became effective. It is
not the chief function of q public serv-
its stockholders. says the petition
further, but its first duty is to the pub
lie. In times of depression the stock
holders of such corporations should
bear their burdens along with the rest
A Comparison Of Rates.
The petition particularly. attacks the
withdrawal OF the 1s0-trip tickets, and
vide school tickets for children to come
to the District of Columbia. although
such tickets are provided in Baltimore
All the new rates are attacked as un-
reasonable, unjust and discriminatory
and attention Is called to rates prevailing
for distance Of 25.8 miles from New
york to Metuchen, N. J.. where the rate
is $500, while the rate for a similar dis
tance out of Washington is $11.20.
1t was stated on the witness stand
when the case of the Baltimore and
Ohio commuters was having its hear
ing before Interstate Commerce Com
missioner Daniels that the reason
the increased rates over the Pennsyl-
vania lines were not suspended along
with those Of the Baltimore and Ohio
was the failure of the commuters to
file complaint in time.
AS coincidence, the commission to-
day issued a statement to the public
outlining the procedure in connection
with requests for suspensions of, in
creased rates, and asking that requests
for suspensions be filed as far in ad-
vance of the proposed effective date
of a rate as possible.
Early Action Important.
while the law authorizes the COM
mission to suspend proposed increased
rates. fares or charges says the no
tice. ''it does not contemplate that such
suspension will necessarily follow
every request therefor, but does con-
template that the power will be exer-
cised with judgment and due considera-
tion for circumstances and conditions.
In ha 4F
commission desires to act fntellipentIy
and to have opportunity to exercise a
reasonable discretion in the matter be-
fore the increase in question becomes
effective. 1t is. therefore, important
and very desirable that such protests
IL made. should be made at the earliest
practicable moment so that the mem
bers of the commission can be advised
in the premises before determining what
action they will favor. In instances il
suspension because they came so late
that it was impossible to act upon
them intelligently, and sometimes they
are so late as to render affirmative ac-
tion impossible even if it were desired
to take it,
Anxious to Be Just.
"The commission wishes to exercise
this power in every case where it ought
to be exercised and to withhold exer-
else of it in every instance in which it
ought to be withheld. 1t desires to act
intelligently and to do substantial JUS
tice as nearly as that can be judged
upon a partial showing, which is all
that can be had pending full hearing.
ITO the end that this line of work
may be conducted in an orderly and
proper manner. the commission re-
quests that when such protests are
to be made they be made as far in
advance of the effective date of the
rate, fare or charge protested against
as is possible. and calls attention to the
fact that because of the short time af-
forded 1t may be necessary to deny
suspension in instances in which the
protest is not filed with the commits
sion at least ten days prior to such
effective date"
DAY IN CONGRESS.
Senate.
Met at noon.
The fight over the ship bill relaxed