Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-08-28
I8&
SETTING THE PACE FOR US.

against an unjust increase in ferry
fare which the Pennsylvania rail
road recently attempted to put int
effect on the ferry between Camden
and Philadelphia. This is an inter
state ferry like the n between thii
city and T~ottenville. the Camden
ferry operating between New Jerse,
and Pennsylvania while the n here
operates between New Jersey anc
New York. Both come under the
jurisdiction of the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
When the Interstate Commerce
Commission granted a 20 per cent.
increase to railroads on all passenger
trafic the ferries, whether they need.
ed the extra money or not, i'm
mediately took advantage of the
ruling. When the announcement Of
the increase was made in Camden
q howl went up that was heard clear
across the Delaware even into the
main Office of the Pennsylvania rail-
road at Broad street station.
The city council of Camden got
busy and, needing the protests of the
people, voted $4,000 to defray legal
expenses in contesting the increase
on the ferries. Mayor Ellis, OF
Camden, in a special message to the
council, characterized the ferry rate
rise as a proposed piece of profteer-
ing and an outrageous attempt TO
collect all the traffic will bear, which
the citizens of Camden do not intend
10 bear"
His message dealing with the ferry
rate increase was as follows:
"Our people were greatly surpris-
ed yesterday when the Camden and
Philadelphia Ferry Company an
bounced an increase in the passenger
rates to four cents. as well as an in
crease of eight cents upon vehicles.
This company has been earning
and is now earning enormous profts
On its invested capital, much In ex-
less of other public service and rail-
road corporations. and our people
were expecting as they have a per-
feet right to expect, a reduction
rGsher than an increase"
iyow what is this terrible increase
anL awful fare that the Camden peo-
be find so much fault with? Why,
the ferry fare has been jumped from
three emit for a single passage to
Tour cents. and the rate for various
vehicles has been increased from five
cents to twenty cents. according to
size.
Isn't that awful?
But what would the Camden peo-
pie say If they had bee npaying the
exhorbitant price of five cents for a
single passage for years and then
had the rate increased to six cents?
Camden raises a great rumpus
when the fare for vehicles is in
creased from five to twenty cents,
according to size. What would Cam
den do if the fare for vehicles was
Increased so that it cost forty-eight
cents for an automobile and nearly
a dollar when passengers are includ-
ed?
Would Camden kick?
Well, Camden is kicking over a
slight increase of from three to four
cents to the extent of the council APP
p~ropriating $4,000 to fight the mat
Ter. Furthermore the Philadelphia
Chamber of Commerce is going to
back Camden in the fight.
Perth Amboy is more vitality in
terested in the ferry between this
city and Tottenville than Camden is
In the ferry between that city and
Philadelphia for here the ferry
brings business into the city while
at Camden it takes 1t away into
Philadelphia. But thousands of
Camden people use the Camden
ferry and it is in their interest that
the action contesting the increase
that has just been put into effect is
taken.
1t is significant that at the time
the Camden council was meeting to
appropriate money to fight the ferry
rate Increase the officials of the
PENNSYLVANIA railroad we're in SEES
sion to consider resembling the in
crease in the ferry fare and restore
the former price of three cents for a
single passage. There is reason TO
believe that they will do so in view
Or the protest of the patrons.
IN the meantime. Perth Amboy
and Tottenville sit supinely and let
The staten Island Rapid Transit get
away with highway robbery.
Are We pacemakers. or are we
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