Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-11-01
RUNyON Tells
OF FARE ISSUE
Attacks Democrats on Five
Cent Fare PIank-Sees
Fare Increase.

JERSEY CITY, Nov. 1:-After a
successful tour through Bayonne,
Jersey City, Harrison and Kearny.
William N. Runyon, candidate for
governor, last night charged the
Democrats with evading all the is
sues and attempting to foist on the
people of the state a five cent troll
ley fare which would merely result
in their paying ten and fifteen cents
for an ordinary ride. He also chal-
lenged his Democratic opponent,
Mr.. Silzer, to explain his stand on
the utility issues as well as to state
his attitude with respect to the
Democratic highway commission,
mission.
Mr.. Runyon stated. in part: The
contrast between the Republican
and Democratic party planks on
public utilities is as striking as, the
contrast between the Democratic
promises of three years ago on this
subject and their actual perform
ances under the Edwards regime.
Three years ago Governor Edwards
was elected largely or a pledge of a
return to a five cent trolley fare.
Upon his entering office he forth
with removed the existing utility
COIiIllioolOu anu dPpOiIlIcu q SOih
mission of his w choosing. During
his administration trolley fares have
continued to increase. Thus have
the Democrats kept their solemn
party pledge. And how a Cover
nor Edwards blame a Republican
legislature when the public utility
commissioners were men of his own
choosing.
Contrast the Democratic plank
with the Republican plank. The
Republican plank definitely prom
ises that all utility holding compa-
& MES shall be subject to the jurisdic-
ton of the Public Utility Commits
sion. This is absolutely essential IL
the utility operating companies are
to be adequately supervised and
regulated. On this highly important
subject the Democratic platform
says not a single word. When in
~terrogated on the subject Mr.. Silzer
says Thai it is unnecessary, and this
despite the experience of the last
twelve years in public utility regu-
lation.
But this is not the only respect
In which the two planks radically
differ. The Republican plon pro-
sides that fares and rates shall be
fixed on actual values as defined
ny Tie COullS VI liiC oidSC III VI
the United States. The fare charg-
ed on the basis of such actual val
Nues must secure a fair return to the
investor, OR new capital cannot be
attracted 10 the public utilities. But
with this safeguard, the fare should
be made such that it will attract
Passengers. L believe if these W
points of view are taken into con-
sideration by the commission, al
lowance gwen only for actual val
hes, and all watered stock left out
OF consideration, that We may
speedily hope for reduced trolley
fares. We propose reduced gas and
electric rates also, not through con-
fiscation and other methods which
the courts would properly set aside,
but by just means with an insist
ance on economical and sjund man
agement.
what do the Democrats pro-
pose. Their platform calls for a
restoration of the so-called fran
chise agreements between the mu-
inequalities and the traction compa-
MES, SO that a five cen fare would
come into force by legislative fiat.
No promise could be held out to
the public which would be more
deceptive than this. In the first
place, such an act, under the deci-
sion in the Collingswood case,
would be utterly unconstitutional.
That case clearly decided that the
franchise agreements were not con-
tracts. But assuming that such a
law would stand the test of the
courts as to it's constitutionality,
think of what it would mean. 1t
would mean that the citizens would
have the rare privilege of paying a
five cent fare in every town through
which they desired to ride, SO that
a trip from Hoboken to Bayonne
would cost fifteen cents.
The Democrats have a like pana-
cea for reducing taxes, by passing
a law limiting the right of a munich
pallty to raise taxes. Can Mr.. Silzer
or Mayor Hague explain how it is
that the tax rate in Jersey City has
increased over a 100 per cent. in the
last eight years hat Mayor Hague
has dominated the city government?
Can either of them explain how the
ia xlevy has increased 400 per cent.
while at the same time many chill
dren are still given only a half days
schooling. There are questions which
the Democrats must answer before
they nave a right to expect the peo-
pie of the state to commit the gov
eminent to their care.
IF the Democrats will discuss any
of the issues Of the campaign, per-
haps they can explain to the voters
of the state how $3.50. 900 have al
ready been appropriated by the
State Highway Commission for a
temporary bridge across the Hacken-
sack river. This job was given Com