The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-17
STRONG FIGHT
MADE AGAINST
LOWER FARES
Officials Address the
Supervisors.
SAY WAGES WILL BE REDUCED
GRIPMEN AND CONDUCTORS
MAKE A STRONG PLEA.
San Mateo, Suffer. and Union Street
Lines Represented-Deleg
of Employees Wait on the
Mayor.
SAY WAGES WILL BE REDUCED
GR1PMEN AND CONDUCTORS
MAKE A STRONG PLEA.


OF Supervisors held a long session yester-
day morning TO hear the arguments OF
representatives and employees OF several
streetcar companies against the passage
or the proposed ordinances reducing fares
10 seven for Is cents to workmen and
eight for % cents TO school children during
certain hours OF the day. The Market
street Company was the only one which
cid not appear, though one Of its employees
was present TO join in a strong plea made
by several conductors and motormen, in
which the committee was requested not TO
recommend the passage Of the orders, on
the ground that they would suffer loss
In wages If fares were reduced.
Secretary Clayton Of the San Mateo
road made an emphatic protest against
the adoption OF the orders.
Our company" said Mr.. Clayton, can
not stand this contemplated reduction Of
fares without a corresponding decrease In
the wages Of our motormen and conduct
ors. The present rate Of cents Is not
eXorbitant, and l am confident that the
10 cents month which II Is intended TO
save 10 the laboring men by the proposed
reduction would not be accepted by them
If they knew that the Streetcar employees
would suffer by the change. No other
country in the world has better or
cheaper StreetCar service than TINS, ana
the uniform rate of cents fare IL
better fare both in the interest OF the in
diVidual and the community than S12
cent fare We give as much and more for
cents than any other city, considering
the Increased cost on rolling stock, rails
and operating expenses.
The proposition 10 sell eight tickets
for 20 cents TO school children between
and IL years OF age will make II hard
for the conductors TO distinguish as 10
whether a passenger is entitled 10 the
advantages OF the age limit. Many will
seek 10 enjoy the privilege who are not
entitled 10 IL and am sure that II con-
ductor should happen 10 put a passenger
OF whom he thought was older tnan II
that a suit for damages would result, in
which We would be the losers. Women
would delay their shopping in order 10
go home between the hours of and
in the evening and pay the lower rate
Of fare whereas only workingmen are
supposed 10 benefit thereby.
IF the lower fares are put In effect we
would be compelled TO abolish the transfer
agreement now existing between the Mar
ket-Street Railway and our company, for
we could not give IL ~ cents and carry
the passenger for the other cent. II the
transfer system is abolished II means an
extra fare or great inconvenience TO the
public"
Chairman Byington in reply read Of the
conditions now prevailing in toronto.
Canada. where twenty-five tickets are
sold for 81 10 the public, eight for % cents
TO workingmen and ten for % cents 10
school children and yet pays a net reve-
u ID
contended that a lesser rate stimulated
traffic and increased the car company's
receipts.
To this Mr.. Clayton replied: by that
method OF reasoning the more people we
carry at less than cost Cfor II costs us
0379 10 carry each passenger for four
hours during the day the more money we
make Therefore we would make more
day. Give us the same conditions as
prevail in Toronto, such as no taxes 10
pay, as the system there is owned by
the government, less paid for wages, less
for coal. rails, etc, and we can give you
a 3-cent fare"
Secretary Stevens OF the Sutter-street
line stated that his road paid 5 per cent
on a legitimate capital and that II that
return were reduced by the lowering Of
fares the stockholders would certainly
take some action to recoup themselves
He was not prepared 10 state that wages
would he reduced on his line, but thought
II probable.
George Newhall. president Of the Union
street line. asked the committee 10 pro-
tect the stockholders of a road that were
composed ir the main Of widows and or
phans. The road had paid as high as AZ
cents 10 carry each passenger and in 1897
3 800 cents. Fifty per cent of the gross
receipts went to the employees and their
wages would certainly have to be reduced
If fares were lowered. 1t might force the
10 charge cents on the horse
car system and an additional cents on
the cable system. each of which IS oper-
ated under different franchises. thus MAX
ing the fare cents instead of 8, as il is
now.
IF we do this what can we expect of
the Market-street Company" said Mr..
Newhall. IF the orders are passed we
will have 10 go out of business"
=. Williamson. a conductor on the San
Mateo road, gave some figures to show
that the busiest time on the cars was be-
tween and Z, the hours between which
lower fares are TO operate. He thought
that II the revenue of the company were
as II certainly would be, that
he and his fellow-workers would be the
material sufferers.
Frank Bell, who has been with the Cal
ifornia-street line for twenty-one years,
said that there were 5000 men employed on
the street cars and thought that lower
fares would result in reducing salaries
from % TO 40 cents a day, which would
more than balance the benefits the labor
ing men would reap as passengers.
c. Wentworth of the Preside line
thought the orders Disseminated against
his craft and was a detriment to railroad
men, who work longer hours than other
laborers.
/. Whiteman and ]. G. Miller spoke In a
similar strain and the committee decided
10 postpone further consideration until
next Tuesday afternoon, when some rec
mmendation will be made
After adjournment the delegation OF en-
quested him to veto the orders II adopted
by the Supervisors. The Mayor promised
10 see that the employees OF the street car
lines should not suffer any hardship and
will make a thorough investigation OF the
subject.