Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-08-31
|Ty BOARD BRANDS
IS FALSE P. S. CHARGE

10 fALSE I. D. G1AhOf
TRENTON, Aug. s1.-Brandine
3 false the alleged charge continu.
d in the answer of the Public Serv-
be Railway Company in the manda-
bus proceedings brought by the
tate Public Utility Commission tC
pmpel the concern to resume oper-
tion of its cars, that the utility
ommission was responsible for its
liability TO run it's cars, the utility
oard today declared that the only
uestion at issue was whether the
Rublic Service could operate its cars
n the eight-cent car fare granted
sometime ago by the United States
|~istrict court here.
In the. supreme court the Public
ervice Railway alleged that because
I a denial by the utility commits
lon of increased rates, the concern
las been deprived of revenue 1t
hould have received.
In ~refuting this charge, the COM
nission declared that the Public Sers
ice Railway Company has never
perated under rates granted by the
PRESENT commission. The board as
Zerted that 1t granted the company
n Increase in the charge for trans
prs and being dissatisfied with the
BITE, the company appealed to the
der1<k district court which in
he base fare from seven to
U6Ents. The company is there
operating under a rate fixed by
he federal court and not by the
+Aovd eaf1 the 1offoa hndU
Following IS the statement by the
Utility board:
The Public Service Railway
company alleges that as a result of
he denial by the Board of Public
Utility Commissioners of increased
Ates 1t proposed to charge, it has
pen deprived of revenue 1t should
ave received and submits a state
tent OF It's receipts and operating
|bsts from the year 1916 to 1922,
hclusive, as the reason for not COM
wing with the boards order to re-
tme service.
"a new Board of Public Utility
commissioners was appointed in
[arch, 1921. Shortly after its ap-
ointment the board authorized the
[bmpany to increase its charge for
ansfers. Claiming that 1t was en-
tled to a higher base fare, the
bmpany appealed to the United
tates District Court. The court au-
torized it to increase the base fare
ON v to eight cents and enjoin-
| the board from requiring the
pmpany to continue on a seven cent
Ire.
THE company, therefore, is not
~perating and never has operated
hder a fare fixed by the existing
.bard. The attack by the company
bon the Board of Public Utility
pmmisisoners, contained in its an
Fer, Is entirely immaterial, and
ainly designed to cloud the issue.
#"The sole question at issue is
neither 1t is practicable, under the
tie fixed by the district court of
e United States, for tho company
afford service to the public lend
an adjustment of its present
fculties. The company and its
hployes have agreed to a twenty
IF cent increase in wages, so that
" question of the refusal of the
5iployes to return to work is set
d. The revenue of the company
the time it stopped operating were
a rate sufficient to enable it to
operating expenses, taxes,
Der allowances for main
rnce and depreciation of its prop
" to pay twenty per cent in
Ease in wages of it's employees, and
leave for the year 1923 a ball
ee o. approximately three million
liars to apply toward the payment
its rentals and fixed charges. 1t
therefore, apparent the company
a resume operation at once.
"By refusing to do SO, in an effort
club the public into accepting a
mand, arbitrarily made as a con-
ion upon which 1t will resume
Iryice. the company is not only
priving the public of the service
which 1t is entitled, but the
Municipalities of the state of the
rcentage of the company's gross
rnings to which they are entitled
law, its employees of the reason
lie wage which it admits should
paid, and the lessons and bond
lders of the company of money
iich would be earned and might be
i'd IN part liquidation of its in
btedness to them.
1.-THE statement in the company's
swer that the Board of Public
fifty Commissioners has approved
enses for auto buses to operate in
lawful competition with the de-
ldant and in permitting u~nlicen-
! auto buses to operate unlawfulfy
competition with the defendant
absolutely false. The answer of
) company does not meet the Is
before the supreme court wheth-
1t Is practicable to supply service.
evidently cannot meet this cues
in a proper and legal way.
lrefore. under the guise of a for
answer, 1t has prepared for
8lication a statement in which it
charged that the Public Utility
mmisston Is responsible for its
yncial difficulties"
Under the guise of a formal ans
: before the supreme court, de-
he utility board, the rail-
bany prepared a statement
~ Charging the Public Utility
nmission with responsibility for
company's financial difficulties.
tThe answer of the company"
the board in its statement today,
les not meet the issue before the
RENE court whether it is prac-
BILE to supply service. 1t evident
cannot meet this question in a
per and legal way"
The utility board asserted that 1t
} apparent that the company can
Ime the operation of it's cars at
Ee.
BY refusing to do so, said the
I'D, the company is trying ito
y" the public into accepting it's
litrary demands.
A - J.. Al.