Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-03
BLAME FARE RISE
ON RAILS CHIEF
Germantown Commuters
Told Director General Re-
sponsible for Changes
PROTEST IS HEARD HERE

Responsibility for all changes in rail
road fares was placed squarely before
the director General by officials of the
Pennsylvania Railroad at a hearing be-
for Public Service Commissioner Acorn
in City Hall today.
The railroads contention came out
during protest against cOmmutatiom
rates made by Elton j. Buckley a
! lawyer, of 30 Carpenter street, on be
half OF Germantown commuters at Car
penter and other stations. The COM
muters ask that the sixty-trip monthly
tickets be lowered during February.
| The siXty-trip monthly ticket now be
! ing sold, Mr.. Buckley contends. leaves
the commuters with at least four trips
which they cannot possibly use in Febru-
, this month, does not give commuters a
| reasonable time" within the meaning
OF the law, to use up their tickets.
Responsibility Shifted
Henry Wolf Bikle, representing the
Pennsylvania Railroad. opened his argu-
men with the statement that even if the
claim made by Mr.. Buckley should be
sound, the railroad was powerless to
grant it. since orders for any changes
| in preserA rates must come from the Of
flee of the railroad administration. The
| Pennsylvania. like the Lehigh Valley
and other railroads, is now awaiting an
expected decision by the Supreme Court
Of the United States deciding whether
in intrastate matters the federal govern
ment may assume authority.
At the opening of the hearing Mr..
! Buckley found 1t necessary to point out
that the total sum paid by commuters
to the railroad during February was
sufficiently large to warrant hearing
| of the question.
"0h. Pshaw!" EHclains Aicorn
Mr.. Alcorn persistently inquired Of the
| railroads attorney why the railroads
did not take a definite stand regarding
government supervision. At the open
ing of Mr.. Bikle's argument, when re-
| sponsibility for fare changes was dis
claimed. Commissioner Alcorn exclaim-
ed; "Oh. pshaw!"
While disclaiming responsibility for
the rates the Pennsylvania Railroad
does not conCede the justice of the com
muters' claims. The Communication
| tickets were originally sold on a basis
of fifty-four rides per month, the officials
stated. and six additional rides were
added as a gratuity when commuters
asked for them.
F. G. Fall. assistant controller for the
railroad. and Richard ]. De Long, assist
ant general passenger agent, testified
at the hearing, both claiming that the
railroad has no right at present tc
change rates, no matter what its attitude
may be.
Decision was withheld by Commits
sioner Alcorn PENDING the decision ex
pected some time in April when an ap
peal taken in Montana is expected t
clearly define whether or not the fedora
administrator has power to ignore th'
various state commissions when flxini
intrastate rates, both passenger ant
freight.
Another case heard was that of tn,
Lehigh Navigation Electric Compan!
against the Lehigh and New England
Railroad Company. The issue was on
of advanced freight rates and involved
the same principle as the local disput,
It was also held over for later hearin;
before the whole commission after tn
Montana ruling is announced.