The sun., 1919-09-21
GOV. RUNYON TO ACT
In ZONE FARE FIGHT
Will Summon Utilities Board
for Trial i'm Proceedings
for impeachment.
BOYCOTT STILL PREVAILS
Disturbances Subside, People
Patronizing Trains and
Improvised Buses.

After several days of intolerable traf-
nc conditions due to the establishment
Of the zone system OF trolley car fares
in New Jersey, Gov. Runyon took hold
of the situation last night and an
nounced that he would demand of the
State Board of Public Utilities that they
show cause before him why they should
not be removed from office. He said
that he would call upon them to appear
before him sometime between Septem-
ber % and October 1.
The Governors action followed pc
tition by the Montclair Board OF Com
missioners, who charged the members Of
the State Board of Public. Utilities with
neglect of duty and misconduct in office
in connection with their approval of the
new fare system.
Coincident with the action taken by
the Governor was the issuance of a call
by Mayor Charles A. Ellis of Camden
for special meeting of the City Council
TO consider the immediate filing of a Pc
tition for the restoration Of the five cent
fare system within the limits of their
city.
At this meeting resolutions were
adopted demanding n rehearing by the
that the zone system, as II applied to
Camden, be suspended pending such re-
hearing. The board was characterized
from the floor by Councilman Won
Merida as being owned by the Public
Service Corporation" An emergency
appropriation of $4,000 was voted to pay
the preliminary expenses of the hearing.
Rioters Stone Trolley Cars.
Although four cars were stoned last
night by zone rioters in East Camden.
Barrington's Basin, Woodlyne and
Westmont, the situation had quieted
somewhat yesterday and the civil
authorities were able to relieve the
militia reserves and home guards at
points that have been under the latter's
protection.
Although there was an absence of
uniformed guards on the cars, each was
unnamed by a double crew, and these
men were well armed. besides having
the authority of special deputy sheriffs
In Camden where trouble has
centred, about the shipyards the fifty
big cars put into commission by the
Emergency Fleet Corporation were in
operation throughout the day, but were
very poorly patroniZed. Each was
placarded fore and aft with a warning
oiSu TedulHB InlS car ID Ine properly
of the United States Shipping Board
And destruction will be followed by
rigorous Government action"
At hardly any hour of the day did
these cars carry more than six passen-
gers each owing to the boycott estab-
lshed by the shpyard workers During
the greater part of the time that they
were operating most of them were empty
except for their crews.
Scared by Secret Service Rumor.
These cars were run on a pay as you
enter basis and at cent fare. Opinion
was expressed that violence TO them was
averted by circulation of report to the
effect that secret service men were
watching for any attempt at 1t.
The New York Shipbuilding Corpora
tion announced that IL had arranged
with the Philadelphia and Reading Rail-
road for the transportation of its en-
ployees 1t was stated that special trains
would be provided for the tracks which
lie parallel to the trolley lines as far
as Clementon. fifteen miles south of
Camden. More than 5000 shipyard
workers reside in the area through
which these tracks pass.
Throughout the State yesterday the
general attitude toward the zone fare
system remained unchanged, and people
were utilizing railroad trains, motor
buses trucks and various types of roll
ing conveyances in place of the electric
transportation system.