Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-10-13
PUBLIC SERVICE SCORES AGAIN

Public Service Corporation scores again. Having sue
ceeded in multiplying practically all the ordinances and fran
ehises affecting its operations in various municipalities, it
has now tackled the Public Utility Commission appointed by
the state to regulate all such concerns. If it gets away with
this latest move Public Service will become almost a law
unto itself and its public be-damned' policy may be re-
sumed with but little chance of interference.
When the trolley lines were first established in New
Jersey franchises were granted by the several municipalities
in which it was desired to operate, which franchises secured
for the cities certain rights and agreements in exchange for
the privilege of using the streets as a right of way. Gradually
through open defiance on the part of Public Service, and
sometimes through court decision, these franchises have
been made as yalueless as a scrap of paper as Tar as the
municipalities are concerned, although they seem TO remain
in full force as far as any provisions beneficial to Public
Service are concerned.
Then came the Public Utility Commission, a state body
which was TO regulate all public utilities such as trolley, gas,
light and water companies. This commission was to see
that the public got a square deal, since it had proven to be
impossible TO get any justice as far as municipal franchises
were concerned.
But Public Service, having failed to have its own way
with this board, as it has come to have with municipal
boards, appealed a decision regarding an increase in trolley
fare to the federal courts, carrying the matter out Of the
jurisdiction of the state entirely.
The Public Utility Commission had decided that a
seven cent fare with two cents extra for a transfer was suf-
fcient. Public Service appealed to the United States Circuit
Court claiming that such a fare was conhscatory and there
fore in violation of the constitution of the United States.
Although it took the Public Utility Commission which
devoted practically its whole time to the matter, many
months to consider the question and render a decision, this
federal court handed down a decision in a very short time,
deciding that Public Service was justified in increasing its
fare to eight cents with one cent extra for transfers, and
therefore, it issued an injunction to prevent the state Public
Utility ommission from interfering with Public Service in
raising its fare.
The matter will now, no doubt, go to the United States
Supreme Court for final adjudication. The importance OF
this decision cannot be over estimated. The sovereign right
of a state to regulate her own utilities is at stake. If a state
cannot be entrusted with this power absolutely, then indeed,
has the old doctrine of states rights been shot to pieces. The
most imnOrfant function OF the Public Utility COMMISSION
will have been taken away from it, just as the power of the
municipal authorities to regulate such activities as operate
ON their streets has been removed. The utility board might
as well cease to exist and thereby save the taxpayers the
large sum of money it now costs. The entire state, properly
bound and gagged, can then be handed over to the tender
mercies of Public Service, which, excepting for such slight
regulation as it may get from Washington, may proceed to
drain the last penny from a long-suffering public.