Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-27
FERRY FARE FIGHT
TAKEN TO US. BODY.
Camden Chamber Of Commerce
and Council Ask Early Hear
ing Of Rate Case
PENNSY OFFERS EXCUSE

The Camden Chamber Of Commerce
lodged formal protest today with the
Interstate Commerce Commission
against the increase in ferry rates be-
tween Camden and Philadelphia.
In letter. addressed to the Ipter-
state Commerce Commission. in accord
ance with resolution passed at a
meeting OF the chamber last evening,
the commission vas asked TO fix an early
date for hearing on the increase in
rates. either in Camden or Philadel-
phia
City Solicitor Blenkly. OF Camden,
took similar action IN behalf of the
Camden City Council. He addressed n
complaint in legal form to the commits
sion and likewise requested that the
hearing be held in Camden or Phila-
delphia.
The letter from the Chamber Of Com
mcrce follows;
The people of Camden and South
Jersey are protesting vigorously against
the seemingly unjust increase in ferry
, rates by the Philadelphia and Cam
den Ferry Co. and have appealed to
the Chamber of Commerce TO voice their
sentiments in forwarding protest
which is embodied in this report. The
ferry company has been earning and 10
now earning profits on its invested
capital in excess of other public service
or railroad corporations, and our peo
pc were expecting II reduction rather
than an increase in rates. The mum
Der of employees in the ferry service is
not large and an increase Of SO 3 per
cent is grossly excessive.
Discouragcs Traffic
This increase tends to discourage
traffic between the two states and also
( hindcrs the natural increase TO our pop
/ uIation. 1t can be ClasSed as nothinc
short of an outrageous attempt to col.
lcct all that traffic will bear. The di-
rcCtors Of the Chamber of Commerce
have, therefore. asked that l communi
cate Immediately with you and hav,
an early date set for q hearing on this
! question. At that time the Chamber
o. Commerce and city Council will b.
/ in position to place before you fact,
Showing that the present increase il
/ ferry rates is unjust. in view OF the
fac that the Philadelphia and Camdrr
] Ferry Co. has pnid very large dividend,
While operating under the old rate.
| AS some action should be taken i'm
mCdiatcly. will you. therefore. kindl,
advise us OF the earliest date possibl,
! that Il hearing may be had with your
body. either In Camden or in Philadel
phia.
Attached hereto are the resolution,
Of the Camden Chamber of Commerc,
and the Camden city Council.
"WlLLIAM J. STRANDWITI.
President.
Camden Chamber of Commerce.
Officers Of Chamber
The officers of the Camden Chambc
of Commerce. besides Mr. Strandwitz
are Nolney Bennett. first vice prcsi
dent and mayor of Merchantvillc
Charles \. Reynolds, second vice pres
ident. and president of the Kcyston
. Leather Co.. Of Camden Elias Davis
treasurer and treasurer of the Cam
d"n National Bank; William \. Searle
"Hrrrtary and manager OF tn" chamber
and William j. Kenney. assistant see
retary.
The Chamber of Commerce and cit,
Council will hold n joint meeting mex
week. They will discuss with Cit,
Solicitor Blcakley the best measures L
take.
The resolution passed by Council t.
commit the city of Camden tO'the figh
for lower ferry rates was as follows:
Resolved, That the president OF tn
city Council be and he is hereby di
r"Cted, to appoint n committee Of tiv
TO cooperate with the Chamber q
Commerce Of Camden and other civi
bodies in protesting against and con
testing the increase in ferriage rates in
auguratcd this day and that said com
mittec. in conjunction with the cit
solicitor. be and they are hereby au
thOrzed and empowered to contest sal
increased ferriage rates before the In
terstate Commerce Commission.
And be II further resolved that til
sum of $4,000 be appropriated for III
purpose Of making vigorous fight I
procure reduction in said rates"
To Name Committee Monday
David Jester. president Of Camde
Council, said today that the committe
he was authorized to appoint by the res
OlutiOn would be named Monday.
The South Jersey Commuters Asso
citation has decided to appoint repre-
sentatiyes TO attend the meetings. Cit
Solicitor BleGl;ly said today he cxpectp
the Philadelphia Chamber Of COmmprC
to take part in the fight also
: The various committees represeI
about 300 600 people of Camden an
Gloucester counties.
There way some talk in Camden "a
day Of organizing ferry company wit
private capital TO run in opposition
the eEiRting company.
Railroad officials attempted to cxcu,
the increase today by saying the ferr
lines are regarded as part OF the raj
road system and that the earnings
the ferry company are included In Il
gross earnings of the railroad. Son
branches Of the system, II was SAT-
make a poor showing with earning
and the higher earnings of otht
branches tend to make operation profit
able.
The South Jersey Commuters As
sOciation has joined the attack on ferr
rates and also is giving attention to q
legel discrimination in railroad rate
said to affect that part of New Jerse,
Commuters complain that they ha,
not and cannot purchase fifty trip ticl
cts such as are sold in this state and
: New Jersey north of Brunswick. II
association contends that the 100 tr
tickets sold them cost a higher amour
proportiOnately than the fifty y-tr
scrips.
Mrs. J. Gardner Cassan
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