Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1922-06-03
SEE POLITICS
BEHIND VISIT
Three Public Service Officials
on Mysterious Mission in
Trenton Yesterday
e
mo STORY" SAYS STOKES
Runyon's Announcement is
/ Thought to Have Brought
About Officials Action
mo STORY" SAYS STOKES

r TRENTON, June 3-The pres
ence of former United States Sena-
for David Baird, of Camden, Pres
ident Thomas n. McCarteI, of the
Public Service, and Vice President
Edmund w. Wakelee in the state
house yesterday caused a furry
among the reporters and political
observers. They went into the Off
ces of the state treasurer and state
comptroller and later left the build
ing without telling the newspaper
men what they had on hand.
Later on it was learned that they
came to Trenton to examine some
records on file in the Public Utility
Commissions Office with reference
to the trolley fare issue which is
now pending in the federal court be-
fore former Judge Haight. who is
hearing the testimony, for that tri-
bunal. Mr.. Baird is stakeholder
of the Public Service ard it was
reported that he. together with
Messrs. McCarter and Wakelee con-
ferred with former Governor Stokes
In the latter's Office in the Mechanics
National bank while in this city.
When asked about the call of the
three Public Service officials, to-
gether with State Treasurer Read,
to his office. MIR. Stokes declared
that there was no story in the visit.
He was questioned as to its political
Significance. but replied that 1t was
merely a call. and Mr.. Baird only
discussed the campaign in an Incl
dental way.
think that the visitation of such a
large delegation of Public Service,
officials may have been prompted by
the rather independent phrases of
William N. Runyon, anent the troll
ley. gas. electric and telephone COM
panies and their service to the peo.
pie, when the Union senator this
week announced his candidacy for
governor on the Republican side.
Mr. Runyon made some commen S
on this general subject which could
hardly be received with favor by
the Public Service and it may be
that it was distasteful to Messrs.
Baird. McCarter and Wakelee. Par
ticularly singing to the Public Ser
vice was this statement in Mr..
Runyon's announcement:
II do not believe a public service
COMPANY udNc Tie uISl
to try it's case before the State Pub
lie Utilities Commission and then to
seek to try its case anew before the
federal courts on entirely differen.
issues. i, therefore. strongly favor
the passage of some act similar to
the Bacharach bill, designed to
limit the present authority of the
federal courts in this matter"
The Public Service is now fight
ing to have the federal court upset
the utility board decision which
gave it a seven cent fare plus one
or two cents for each transfer.
Mr.. Runyon clearly gave his
Viewpoint as to what he thinks
ought to go into the makeup of d
company's valuation for rate-mak-
ing purposes. He also took another
shot at the Public Service when he
declared for the regulation of hold
ing companies. The Public Service
Corporation is the holding company.
according to the understanding
here, of the Public Service trolley,
gas and electric companies and the
popular impression is that these
subsidiaries insist upon rates which
will include dividend to the hold
ing company. He also talked about
DISQUALIFICATION and valuations
Of such companies as they relate to
their taxation.
Mr.. Stokes is chairman of the
Republican State committee and will
play an important role in the man
agement of the Runyon campaign.
He and Mr.. Baird have been back
of the Runyon candidacy for a year
or more. Therefore, the meeting
of the three Public Service officials
with the titular leader of the Re-
publicans in this state so soon after
the declarations of the Republican
candidate for governor cannot be
overlooked by those who follow the
affairs of politics.
II am advised by experts that the
policy I have outlined will result
in substantial reductions in the gas
and electric rates, now prevailing
in the state, and in all probability in
a reduction in trolley fares" was the
concluding sentence of Mr.. Runyon
in his statement as it pertains to
the Public Service issue.
In view of such pronounced views
on the subject. so vital to Public
Service Company's interests, the po-
litical observers cannot help WON
dering whether the Runyon state
ment was overlooked in the CONVEX
sation held in the office of the Re-
nt,hlican sfafa chairman Yesterday.