Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1919-11-11
MOD|F|EDFARE
ZONE ACCEPTED
Public Service Agrees to Rates
Of State Board
RESERVES LEGAL RIGHTS
5 Cents for First Two Miles
I Cent for Additional
Zones

Public Service Railway has ac-
cepted the modified fare rates of five
cents for two zones with one cent
for each additional zone, as suggested
by the Public Utility Board. This
decision was filed by the company at
Trenton today and the new rates viii.
go into effect next Sunday. How
long the experiment will last depends
upon the manner in which 1t is re-
ceived by the public. The company
has twice sought a return to a fiat
fare, but the Utility Board rejected
trial OF the "flve-and- Lone" rate.
In notifying the Board of its accept
ance the railway company recalled
that 1t had expressed the view that
the zone system as applied to It's prop
erty, was a failure, adding that this
conclusion had been reluctantly reach
ed. 1t goes on to say that it has no
pride of opinion in the matter and is
willing out of Difference to the COM
mission to try the zone plan with
modified rates for a limited time In
the hope that the public, the board
and the company's employees will all
cooperate to make the trial so thor
ough and complete that there will be
no room for differences Of opinion.
every effort will be put forth to
give the new zone rates full and
lolI llldIt u6CldtSd lIe COMPANY III
formal statement issued coincident-
ally with the filing of the acceptance.
THE rate of five cents for any part
of two zones and one cent for each
additional zone with one cent for trans
fers is the lowest zone rate yet sug-
gested 1t offers cheaper fares than
the original zone report which asked
for an initial charge of five cents for
one zone; and for all riders who travel
f1,o 70 tes
a distinct reduction from the present
'three-and- two plan. Under the
original plan the five mile rider would
have paid nine cents; under the pres
ent he pays eleven and under the pro-
posed the fare will be only eight cents.
The longer the ride the greater the re-
duction in price will be, while the
average short rider will retain the
benefit of a five cent fare.
ut was perhaps, unfortunate that
the zone system was put into opera
ton at the height of one of the most
intense political primary campaigns
that the state has witnessed in years.
The somewhat radical change in a
long established custom was seized
upon as a political issue and some of
those who sought to, use 1t to advan-
tage were not over particular about
sticking to facts. Now most of the po-
AiHANNA HtoA 'te~' oHDSAfSN s"A'b SAA~
public are asked to consider the zone
system solely as an economic prob
lem in the solution of which they have
an interest as great as that of the
company itself.
"In accepting the Utility Boards re-
commentator to try the modified
rates the company fully realizes that
the ultimate decision rests with the
people themselves. 1t will do its part
to the utmost but the rate suggested
Is very low and to keep cars operating
pay envelopes must be regularly filled
and bills must be paid The necessary
money can come only from carfares so
that the only hope OF retaining low
fares is to attract enough of them to
make 1t possible to meet legitimate
expenses. Service will be provided
and it is hoped the public will re-
spond."