Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1919-03-27
viii Hold Until April ID at Least
When Decision Will Be
Given
ON Z0NiNG SYSTEM
oubIic Utility Commission Will
Then Renew Hearing on
Proposed Plan
By Staff Correspondent.

NEWARK, March 27:-Patrons of
Pubic Service trolley cars will pay
six cent fares, starting on Tuesday.
Six cent fares will hold at least
until April IA, when the application
OF the Public Service for a modifica-
ton OF the six cent order to make
the seven cent fares operative until
a decision is reached on the proposed
zoning system will be renewed, before
the Board of Public Utility Commits
sioners at the Kinney Building in
Newark. That board yesterday rem
dered its most astounding and sur
prising decision of the day when it
Aearing that the board had decided
90 adjourn the hearing Of the modi-
1cation application until April IA and
that in the meantime the original
order of the board, calling for six
cent fares, would stand.
A glare of incredulity spread itself
ever the features of President Thom-
as N. McCarter, of the Public Service,
when he heard the decision, as he
had maintained throughout the day
that the company was entitled to and
needed the seven cent fare pending
the zoning system decision. The de-
clsion was very apparently a great
shock to the battery of Public Service
officials and lawyers at the hearing,
fares next Tuesday, to last until April
IA at least. and a probable period of
several months while the zone plan
Is being considered by the board.
Public Service certainly heard
what officialdom of the municipali-
ties thinks of it when Mayor c. p.
Gillen, of Newark, started the fire.
works and then left, but did not leave
his case in incapable hands. Judge
Clyde p. Souter OF Kearny, City At
torney L. G. c. Blakely of Camden.
City Attorney Charles E. Reed of
Plainfield, and James II. Dougherty
of Bayonne in turn took the lead, to-
gether with innumerable other off,
cials ano lawyers in denouncing the
company for modification. Each of
them in turn waxed vehement in
their demand for more time and for
the original order of the board to
hold. Finally President McCarter
could stand il no longer and walking
over to where the men were confer
ring he bent over and shouted at
them:
Remember, gentlemen, we have
some rights too"
Just what rights they may have
were not decided, but at the hour of
adjournment the laurels rested on
the banners of the Battling 141," the
municipalities through which Pubic
Service operates and which were all
represented yesterday at the hearing.
for their main argument throughout
the day had been for time. for more
time than tomorrow or Monday, to
secure experts TO secure data with
which to ascertain whether Public
Service was as badly off as it was
claimed in their application.
Senator Reed seemed to have
struck the crux OF the situation when
at the continuation of the hearing
after noon recess. he advised that the
commission should order the six cent
order to remain in force until oppor-
tunity had been afforded the munich
palities to go into the reasons for the
requested continuance. He said that
he did not think Public Service was
asking for modification, but he con-
sioered the application new one for
the right to charge seven cent fares.
Mr.. DougheFty seconded his remarks.
whereupon Mr. McCarter said that
the companies could not go on losing
money, as they had done last year,
and that if the people Of New Jersey
want the facility offered by Public
Service they would have TO stand for
an increase.
(Continue0 on page 81