Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-07-22


fare may be fixed in a franchise or
dinance. This opinion, which was
rendered in the complaint of the
borough of Williamsburg that the in
crease in the rate of fares by the
Pittsburgh Railways Company was
against an ordinance giving right to
construct and maintain a trolley line
through the town, means that the
commission takes Jurisdiction In
such cases, of which a number are
pending from various parts of the
state. Commissioner Michael ].
Ryan has filed an opinion dissenting
from the finding of his colleagues.
The Williamsburg case attracted
much attention and it was generally
accepted as a test. An opinion was
given recently by Attorney General
Brown that the commission had au-
thority to authorize a street railway
company to increase fares nothwith-
standing the fact that the rate was
speclfled by local authorities in
granting the franchise. Mr.. Ainey
holds it is the specific duty of the
commission to inquire into rates
when their reasonableness is ques-
TONED while Mr.. Ryan holds that the
commission can not override local
authorities.
Fry Gets Treat-Howard w. Fry,
chief clerk of the State Highway
Department left Saturday morning
Tor three-weeks vacation, which
will be the first he has taken in the
entire four and a half years that he
has been connected with the depart
ment. A portion of the time will be
spent at Atlantic coast resorts.
Huntingdon's Record-Every sec
ond-classs township in Huntingdon
county will receive a portion of the
1911 cash road tax bonus, which will
be distributed among them during
the year, having filed all necessary
papers with the Bureau of Township
Highways, of the State Highway De-
partment. State Highway Commits
sioner j. Denny O'Neil has certified
amounts totaling $12,227.73 for dis
tribution to the townships, and this
money may be spent by the super
Visors for various road and bridge
Improvement purposes.
JEFFERSON county will get SILL
572.27 having 1884 miles of road and
Laurence county $9,50S.4O.
The commission in a statement
says:
THE decision recognizes that
changes in conditions require
changes in rates and that the rates
of which are perpetual, may at a
later date be found to be higher than
the public should be compelled to
pay, or lower than the company
should receive in order to maintain
Its property, so as to be able at all
times to render the service to which
the public is entitled. The ability of
the company to make extensions and
improvements is so dependent upon
the return which it is entitled to re-
ceive that the regulation of each
much be placed in one body and the
Legislature has designated the Pub
lie Service Commission as this body.
The power of the commission to reg
ulate rates will also result in elimi-
mating determinations which are
bound to exist where rates are fixed
by number of municipalities, all
served by one street railway system.
The street railway business has so
developed that large numbers of
municipalities are now served by one
company and as each municipality
has imposed fare conditions, design
ed FOR its particular benefit, ineVi-
table determinations have arisen be-
tween the various localities, and the
only way to remove the same is to
place the regulation of fares in the
hhhuo VI LhS COfIlIIllSSIOup WHICH can
see to it that justice is done to ALL"
Militiamen Paid-The $3.50 men
of the Pennsylvania Reserve Militia
who were in camp for ten days at
Mount Gretna, were paid Saturday
by Chief Clerk Benjamin w. Dem
ming, of the Adjutant Generals Of
flee. The pay amounted to $50,215.89.
Collecting Data-The state board
of education's special d. committee on
teachers salaries lis collecting data
to be embodied in a report to be
made urging the next Legislature to
add 20 per cent. to teachers sal
aries.
Many COmpliments-Adjutant Gen.
eral Beary is receiving many compli-
ments to-day upon the appearance
of the Pennsylvania Reserve Militia
during the first encampment. Exper-
enced officers say that the men show
up verys well in comparison with the
old National Guard.
Public Service Hearings The
Public Service Commission, which is
in measure on vacation, will sit for
hearings in this city Wednesday and