The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-22
NO INCREASE IN FARES LIKELY.
THE 3-CENT RATE ON THE CITY
AND SUBURBAN WILL PROB
ABLY STAY.

Receiver Screven says He Has Not
Had Time 10 Look Into the Matter
FuIIy-The Control of the Power
House VIII Have 10 he settled by
the Courts.
The receivership did not seem to affect
the business of the City and Suburban
railway in any way yesterday, large
crowds of people being handled on its
lines. Receiver Screven spent some time
at the office OF the company during the
morning. The operations Of the road are
being directed, however. by President
Johnston, who has been appointed mana
ger by the receiver.
Col. Screven. when asked II the present
Scent fires would be increased TO
cents. said he had not had time to con-
slider this point as yet, but would famil-
iarize himself with the affairs Of the
company as soon as possible and en-
deavor to conduct the property for the
best interests Of all concerned.
President Johnston and Director Har-
riman said that they had no idea what
would be done about the rate Of fare.
They seemed to think that the present
, cent rate is satisfactory 10 the public
and best for the interests Of the company
City and Suburban. is i'll at his home in
New York with a severe attack Of pneu-
monia. He has been i'll about a week, hav-
ing been siezed with the attack shortly
after his return to New York.
The question Of the control of the power
plant is likely to remain in dispute I'M
til the hearing for a permanent receiver
is had before Judge Speer. The hearing
is set for May ] in chambers at Macon.
President Johnston and Director Harrl-
man insist that they have 10 authority
TO turn the power plant over to the re-
ceiver as It is not the property of the City
and Suburban, while the attorneys for the
receiver hold that by the order of the
court the receiver is given charge of the
power house as well as of all other prop
erty Of the road, they holding that the
power plant and electrical equipment are
IN fact a part of the property OF the rail-
way. There is likely to be an interesting
contention on this point.
Mr. James w. McReynolds in whose
name the petition for receiver is brought,
IS wealthy Tennessean. who is inter
ested in properties in California and else
where. Mr. r. NJ Hicks, who is direc-
tor OF the Electric railway, says he is not
related in any way to Mr.. McReynOlds,
though he is we'll acquainted with him.
Inc ngnt between the two street rail
way systems has continued just about
a year now II was on April 13, 1894, that
the City and Suburban notified the Elec-
trio railway Of its intention to make a
cut in fares an the T'bundarboIt Ifps
there being an agreement il is claimed,
between the two companies to maintain
the fare TO that place at 20 cents for the
round "TRIP. The agreement required
twenty days notice to be given by either
party before making a reduction in the
fare. Shortly after giving this notice the
City and Suburban, the Electric railway
people claim, began the war by reducing
the fare on the Whitaker and Abercorn
belt 10 3 cents. In a few weeks the fare
was put down on all of its lines to cents.
Then the Electric railway reduced the
fare on its Price street belt TO 3 cents.
The Scent fares prevailed until mid
summer when Director Hartman re-
turned from trip to New York and an
nounced that 1t was war to the knife,
mediately announced 1-cent fares
City and Suburban and the Savannah,
Thunderbolt and Isle Of Hope road inside
the city and an arrangement was made
by which tickets could be bought in the
southern section Of the city at the rate of
two for cent. The Electric railway
people finally met the cut and for several
months the people Of Savannah enjoyed
the cheapest street car transportation In
the history of the business. The fares
were probably the lowest known since
the first street car was built. The result
is well known. Both lines lost money in
spite OF the heavy travel. The Electric
railway has been in the hands of a re-
ceiVer for several months, though a re-
organization is now in progress, which,
II is expected, viii take the road out Of
the hands of the court shortly
The City and Suburban has Just been
put IN the hands Of a receiver How long
II will stay there is an interesting cues
ton. President Johnston in his last an
nual report, stated that the earnings
showed a heavy reduction as compared
with the previous year. The opponents
of Mr. Parsons have frequently Charged
that the affairs of the company were man
aged in a very peculiar manner and that
If the books were brought into court a
very tangled up state of affairs would be
shown. From the charges made in the
petition for a receiver it seems that an
effort Will be made TO demonstrate such
q state of affairs.