Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-26
lSEY TROLLEY FARE
BOOST FIGHT OPENS
More Than 100 Municipalities
Ranged Against Public
Service Corporation
URGES RAISE
Hallway Head Tells Utility Board
National Emergency Justi-
fies 1t


Led by the New Jersey state League
OF Municipalities. the people OF New
Jersey today began their fight 10 pre-
vent the boosting of trolley fares by
trolley companies In this state. Hearing
on the application OF the Public Service
CORPORATION for authority TO increase its
trolley fare from five TO seven cents with
charge of two cents for transfer and
one cent for transfer on "A transfer was
started before the New Jersey Puohc
Utility Commission at II O'Clock.
Asserting that it was imperative for
the good of the country In present war
times to support public utilities so that
they would not be driven into Il state
Of Insolvency because Of great expenses
and citing a letter from Secretary Of the
Treasury McAdoo. to President Wilson
and a statement of Comptroller of the
Treasury Williams, to show that trac-
tion lines, power companies and other
utilities were essential TO the United
States properly prosecuting the war,
Thomas y. McCarter, president of the
Public Service Corporation. told the
State board the plea for an increase OF
fares was an emergency one In order
that the concern could raise money to
make up for losses accruing through
Increased prices for labor. material, etc.
w ME lntTe was not us IdIEt an
attendance at this hearing, which was u
continuation from that OF about two
weeks ago. great interest was shown.
and more than one hundred municipal
tiles were represented by counsel or
citizens along with the state League Of
Municipalities
Marshall Van Wrinkle of Jersey city,
who represented the league. obtained
permission of the commission for the
right to have the books of the concern
brought into hearings when wanted. \
stipulation was agreed to that tho pro-
posed new rates would not become eff
fective until the commission had passed
upon their reasonableness
George L. Record, Of Jersey city. as
sistant counsel for the league with Mr..
Van Wrinkle, as well as representing
Passaic city, along with A. .. Miller.
city counsel, was present with the fol-
lowing other representatives of munich
palities:
Mayor Amos Radcliff and former
County Judge Francis Scott, of Pater-
son; Mayor Albert Smith. of Clifton
Assembyman Morgan, of Elizabeth
Jerome T. Congleton,, city counsel. OF
Newark; Mayor Donnelly and city
Counsel Bird. OF Trenton. City Counsel
~. q. G. Bleakley, of Camden: Judge
John Hates, of Collngswood and
Charles 4. Bacon, of Haddonfield
Emphasizing that dozens of railway
companies in the United States had beer
hard hit by soaring prices of all essen.
tialS- in the operation of their lines. MIR
McCarter read from Era. official organ
of the American Electrical Association
the names Of a large number of com.
panies which had tried to obtain relief
In the way Of increased fares He I'm.
Formed the commission of Il number
that had been permitted not only tC
increase fare rates, but also to abolish
i. sstrtp tickets. He said tthe Public Serv
: zee Corporation was placing its re
I seources at the command of the Govern
fnent In getting workers TO Inunition!
plants. shipyards. etc, and in that man
ner aiding in the speeding up" plan,
OF the country. but that it was inn
peratively necessary that money b,
Forthcoming so that plans would not z,
ayry Mr.. McCarter said that the
company owned 900 miles of track,
and connected with 167 municipalities
In the State. and that since the las
year and a half there was an ever-in,
creasing expense that would have tC
be met in some manner or another. ant
the company had decided on the seven
cent fare and charges for transfers a,
the best way out of the situation. In
dustries can get back at wage raises
etc, by increasing the price OF theil
products, he declared He also sale
there would be a falling off in the outpu
Of war plants. il public utilities wert
not helped by the people