Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-08
COMMUTERS CHARGE.
GETS ANGRY ANSWER
FROM PENNYPACKER
Defends Actions of State
Commission and Demands
That Lawyer Withdraw
List of Accusations.
trRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT

| Governor Samuel w. Pennypacker, act
ing chairman Of the State Public Service
Commission, was put on the defensive
today by Edwin NJ. Abbott, representing
the United Business Mems Association,
in a wordy battle over the 10 specifications
charging the commission with "miscon-
duct in office"
The acting chairman made vigorous de-
fonse of the action OF the commission
in comforting with representatives OF the
railroads prior 10 the issuance of its de-
cisions in the railroad passenger rate in
crease case
Mr.. Pennypacker declared the action of
his commission had been presented TO the
Public Service Commissions of every
State in the Union and that 10 of these
had written letters supporting the action
of the Pennsylvania body.
| No reference was made to the other
State Public Service Commissions by Mr..
Pennypacker., He did not say whether
any Of them considered the commission
to have been wrong in its action. His
statement about the 10 was made in sup
port of his assertion that the commits
sion was within it's rights in granting
bearing to the railroad men.
POUND TABLES IN ANGER.
Commissioner Pennypacker, interrupt
| ing Mr.. Abbott when he arose to speak,
asked whether or not he was willing to
withdraw the list of charges.
Immediately the storm broke. Between
the pounding of fists on the tables and
the angry exclamations of both men, it
became clear to spectators that the
charges had thoroughly aroused the ire of
time loudly insisted that he was willing |
to substantiate the charges.
Mr.. Pennypacker declared every men, |
ber of the commission WAS willing to
stand back of Commissioner Johnson,
who made the public admission that the |
railroads had been given advance notice |
of tho decision Sarcastically, he added:
Probably the serious reflections you |
have made upon the members of the COM
mission are due to your inexperience."
Angry retort by Mr.. Abbott here inter-
rupted the former Governors comments
for several minutes, despite his repeated
attempts to continue.
When order was again restored tenn
porarily, Mr.. Pennypacker demanded to |
know II the 10 questions would be with
drawn from the commissions consldera-
tion.
After a word with Edward NJ. Martin,
another of the commuters attorneys, Mr..
Abbott consented. AS a parting shot he
declared that the charges against the
commissioners would be taken up imme-
diately with the senatorial Confirmation
Committee
COMMUTERS CAMP DIVIDED.
Two distinct lines of argument were
presented to the commission for re-
hearing of the railroad passenger rate
increase case.
From the minute the session opened
it was obvious that the attorneys repre-
sentlng the commuters were divided into
two camps, none too friendly to each
other. One group of attorneys repre-
sented interests which have been fighting
for the removal of the commission the
other group took pains to explain that
they had no part in the agitation against
the commission on account of its decision
Of December 70, following the hearing in
In the first group were Mr.. Abbott, Ed
ward b. Martin, Matthew Randall and
j.. |
general modification of the recent deci-
sion of the commission. particularly ex-
tending the time of the 100-trip ticket to
one year and the privilege of Its use by
all members of family.
WANT WHOLE CASE REoPBNED.
In the second group were Ward w.
Pierson, Francis Chapman and Harold
S. Sheriff, representing tie Germantown
and Chestnut Fill Improvement Associa-
ton; ]. p. MacElree Burgess OF West
and C. A. Moore, OF the Wynne-
wood Civic Association. A reopening of
the entire rate case, with the privilege of
calling new witnesses and presenting new
data and statistics, was urged by these
attorneys, /
The commissioners sitting were former
Governor Pennypacker, Emory r. John {
son. Milton j, Brecht. s. LaRue
Zone and Acting Chairman Wallace. !
Among those who represented the /
railroads were ID. N Bell, general pas
senger agent of the Pennsylvania; r. j.
DeLong assistant general passenger
agent; f. j. Fell, chief statisticiani W. Q
D. Shaffer, counsel, and Henry w. Bikle. 6
general COUNSEL William L. j
Kinter, counsel for the Reading. and Ed '
ward Ousterhaus, rate statistielan.
FROM PENNYPACRER
Commissioner Pennypacker at the con-
,luslon OF Mr.. Persons argument, said:
"A new hearing, II granted, must be
,ased upon something new, Have you
,r have you not any new evidence TO
'hfer upon which we should order It at
his timer"
''No. sir, I have not" replied Mr..
'ierson. hut that is just why we are
lrging \ new hearing. so that we may
iather the data and statistics which we
we're unable to present at the former
tearing. owing 10 the shortness OF time" I
IAN application for a new hearing on !
.fter-discovered evidence is. then, what
-ou want" commented Mr., Penny
'aclSer.
@. A. Moore, OF the Wynnewood Civic Z
association. asked for an entire restora- ,
Ion of the rates In effect before De-
ember 10.
In concluding his argument, Mr. Abbott /
minated that government ownership OF =
was an imminent possibility.
II suppose the Government viii then
mploy you as It's attorney" interrupted !
William L. Kinter, counsel for the Read /
ng.
NEW YORK SUBWAY PERlLS