The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1919-11-07
First Two Miles Five Cents and
Cent For Each Subsequent
Mile, is the Rate.
BOARD MAKES RECOMMENDED
Camden and Other South Jersey NUM-
cipaIities Still Contending For a
Flat Fare of Five Cents-McCar-
ter Believes Revenue Sufficient.

other South Jersey municipalities still
contending for the abolition Of the
zone system and the return of the
fiat fare, usually mentioned as five
cents and the Public Service Railway
company still holding out for the re-
tention of the principle of zone sys-
TEN, the hearing before the public
utilities commission adjourned to re-
convene in Newark During the meet
inn there rate of five cents for the
first two miles, cent for each mile
thereafter and a one-cent transfer
privilege over the trolley lines of the
company was announced by the com
mission. Warm passages between the
commissioners and President Thomas
\. McCarter, of the corporation, pre-
coded the handing down of the deci-
sion. The Public Service was given
several days" to accept the ruling
and the date for the new system to
take effect will not be determined
The new schedule is Il modification
of the unpopular zone scheme, where
by three cents is charged for the first
mile, two cents mile thereafter and
no transfers.
L. Edward Hermann, the utility
boards counsel, said when the rate
was made public: I'VE are attempting
to solve a psychological problem. We
are not sure that this is fair and
equitable rate, but we believe it is d
rate thar will win the confidence OF
the public"
The report that the board had
reached a decision brought President
MeCarter before the commission in a
hurry, there to protest the fixing OF
any rate that "has been agreed to
without a hearing" The board mel
| the protest with indignant responses
| President Slocum called conference
| to decide upon immediate release OF
| the rate opinion or the ACCESSIBILITY OF
| delaying it for further hearings.
When the hearing reopened P-esi.
dent Slocum said "The board met and
| decided upon a recommendation tc
the company. We concluded that, in
view of the testimony presented, we
| are going to announce our recommen.
| dation without further hearing. We
hope it will have the support of the
| company"
| McCarter asked if the company
| could raise the figures arrived at by
the commissions experts in colnput
| ing the new order, so that it could de
eide its future action. President Slo
| cum replied that all the cooperation
necessary would be given.
Take Mccarter at His Word
| After a cross-fire of remarks be-
| tween members of the board and Me
Carter bearing on his protest, Presi-
| dent Slocum told McCarrer: eve do
not propose to be placed in the po-
sition where we must take only the
rate you suggest, and You assume to
be dictator of which rate is practic-
able, and which is impracticable. .
The board president decided to delay
the announcement of the new order
| until it could consider Mr. McCarter' S
request.
From inquiries that have been
made by representatives of the com
mission for figures in our Office Nc
Carter said in telling why he was ap-
pearing before the board, "the com
pany has formed the opinion that the
board is considering rate or rates
other than those suggested by the
company. This opinion has been con-
frmed by statements that have ap-
peared in the papers. l desire TO say
here in public that this is an enor-
nous matter, and that the company
here enters its protest against any
rate that has been agreed to with
out hearing"
Mr.. McCarter, you expressly said
at Trenton that you would submit to
trial of any system within reason, !"
President Slocum interrupted. I'VE
have taken you at your word. We
do not propose being placed in the
position lndt we must take only rate
suggested by you"
No not at ALL" replied McCarter,
eve do not ask that. All we want is
to be given a hearing before any rate
Is established"
This board has been giving hear
ings for some time" Slocum answer
ed. land we think there are certain
schemes that should be tried You no
doubt, have in mind in making this
protest. the newspaper articles that
have said we are going to order the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS plan"
81 want to say" McCarter inter
rupted, that that rate or any other
rate you have in mind should be pub
licly discussed before it is put into
effect We ought to be given the OPP
portunity of calling our experts to
show the probable effects of any con-
templated rate
This rate that has called forth
such disturbance in your mind was
threshed out time and again at hear
Tugs before this board" Slocum said.