The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-10-04
Public Service Gives Notice of
Renewed Application for
Higher Rate
IN NEED OF THE REVENUE
Mccarter Says Increased Wages Re-
quire Larger Income for compa-
ny-state Flremen Adopt
Small Cottage Idea.

ice system is to be followed by appli-
cation to the Public Utility Commits
sion for a 10 cent basic fare, with free
transfers. The company has beer
charging s cents, with penny trans
fers under an order Of the federal
court pending determination of the
suit for relief from the Seven and
two" rate fixed by the state board.
Announcement of the proposed appli-
cation was made by Thomas N. Nc
Carter, president of the Public Serv-
ice, who said that the trolley system
must produce So, 100000 additional
evenu to meet increased wages for
the employees and property extern
sions.
President McCarter also stated that
as the company's business grows and
as destructive and unfair competi-
ton, which is the real cause of the
high fare, Is removed, through the CO.
ordination of service or otherwise, it
is hoped that either this base rate car
be lowered or that a lesser fare may
be ultimately worked out for short
rides in congested centers."
McCarter's statement follows: THE
chancellor, the highest judicial officer
of the state, having ordered the rail-
way company to resume service, the
company will obey the order and serv-
ice will be restored as soon as prac-
teal conditions will permit. OF me-
cessity the service will be a little dis
organized at first, but every effort will
be made to straighten 1t out as rapid
ly as possible. For example, 1t will
take several weeks to change over the
equipment from open to closed cars,
work which is ordinarily done earlier
in the year.
'To anyone familiar with the facts
1t is apparent that the company must
have substantially increased revenues
II 1t is to meet the largely increased
costs Of operation caused by the in
crease OF wages which 1t Is necessary
for it to pay to secure the resumption
of service; otherwise the property of
the railway company must of neces-
sity pass through the disintegration
process into its constitute parts, which
results, Of course in a Generalization
of the system, a large investment loss,
inability to finance extensions and
betterments for the future and the
payment of several fares by the pub
lie in lieu of a single fare"
State Firemen Meet
A series of cottage hospitals instead
Of the proposed 100000 hospital plan
ned in connection with the firemen's
home at Boonton was recommended
at the closing session in Atlantic City
of the annual convention of the New
Jersey Firemen's Association. The
present board of managers had in
view an institution of 100 beds, which
would require an annual budget of
500. 900 for maintenance. Under the
resolutions adopted the new board
will build a smaller place with a ca
pacity of eight to ten patients at an
approximate cost of SO 900, and addi-
tons will be made to the colony as
emergency REQUIRES. It vas pointed
out in the resolution that at probably
no time during the 25 years existence
of the home have there been more
than five cases Of serious illness at
one time.
The convention named for the first
time it's W selections by popular
vote to the governing board OF the
home. Appointments were formerly
made by the governor, and the change
was accomplished by a legislative act
last winter Gin order to eliminate pol
itics.' Each county elected n rep
resentative. with the exception OF
Hudson and Essex, which named two
each. The new board takes over the
management September 30.
The delegates adopted a radical
change in the matter of death bene-
Ats. Formerly beneficiaries received
a uniform sum of $500. Hereafter the
benefits will be graded according to
years of service, and it is estimated
that 40 per cent will be saved in the
disbursements. The benefit will be
denied persons who are not in need
of relief. The new scale provides 500
where the service of the deceased has
been less than one year, 5000 for less
than two years and $50 for each ad-
ditional year until a maximum of $500
Is reached.
The delegates adopted a recommen-
dation that the age limit for appli-
cants for admission to departments
be limited between the years Of twen-
ty-one and thirty-fye instead Of eight
cen to forty-hve, as generally effec-
tive at present. While this goes for
ward only as a recommendation, 1t
will apply to the state association as
far as death benefits are concerned.
The resolution also asked for a medi-
cal examination of candidates.
General Bird w. Spencer of Passafc
was reelected president for his forty
sixth term amid a rousing demonstra-
ton. He has been at the head OF the
state fremen ever since their organi-
cation. The other main officers were
also elected as follows: Treasurer,
Howell Johnson. Bloomfield; secre-
sary, William Exall, Ocean Gate; first
assistant secretary, Evan F. Benners.