The Washington herald., 1907-10-14
Mr. nnrtou,s street Rallwnr pIan.

Theodore f. Burton, Republican can
didate for mayor Of Cleveland, an
nounced last week his plan for a settle
ment Of the traction controversy IN that
town. which has reached an acute stage
under the pressure Of Mayor Tom John
sons demand for Scent fares. The
transportation interests of Cleveland
comprise the Cleveland Electric Com
pany, with 2S5 miles of track and exten-
sive suburban connections, and the
Municipal Traction Company. with ff-
teen miles Of track, wholly within the
city limits. This last is the 3-cent-fare
line established through the efforts of
Mayor Johnson. in order 10 demonstrate
the possibility Of operating a street rail-
way at a profit for a 3-cent fare. The
present rate of fare on the Cleveland
Electric is seven tickets for a quarter.
or approximately 31z cents. the rate hav-
ing been voluntarily reduced a short time
ago, obviously with a view to giving an
object lesson in the advantages Of a set
tlement Of the fare controversy on that
basis. AS some of the franchises under
which the present companies operate ex-
pire soon. while others have some time
to run, it is proposed by Mr.. Burton to
unity the entire street railway system OF
Cleveland under a single management
with a new twenty-year franchise, sub
ject 20 these conditions:
The Cleveland Electric must continue seven
tickets for quarter until the street railway ques
ton is settled.
ssfr.,,,o7;... .s4+f.y,crt g,--.--s
ing companies must get together at once.
NO policy Of rartiality for one company or the
other No c0nfscation Of property can be tolerated
Franchise must go TO company which can give best
service and lowest fare,
Twenty-year franchise with maximum fare Of
seven tickets for quarter and universal transfers
''Company's books to be open always to city in
spection.
Final rate Of fare for first six years to be fixed
after years trial. October l. 1908 Experts shall de-
termine cost and granting earning power Of per
cent. shall hTe rate Of fare low possible rang
ing from cents cash to seven for quarter.
Par or other value Of stock not TO be considered
but Gully actual valuation.
Rate Of fare fixed October l. 1908. to be in force
for ten years. After that, new rate to be fixed BY
city council.
CITY must control routing Of cars
"Compauy must build subway or adopt other
means TO relieve congestion at Public square More
cars must be and lines built.
Mr.. Burton is not opposed to the 9-cent
fare in itself, for he proposes that the
fare be fixed at the lowest rate con-
sistent with an earning power Of per
cent on the value of the property, but
in no event to be more than seven tickets
for quarter If a lower rate can be
established with good service and es-
sential betterments. then he would have
the fare fixed az three tickets for
10 cents. eight for 25 cents. or g
cents cash. as the city authorities may
determine. The principle of universal
transfers. as included in the Burton
plan, Is that transfers shall include two
transfers on a ticket in the case Of cross
town lines, so that a passenger may go
from one point on the system to any
other point on the payment of a single
fare. Although Mr.. Burton believes that
unexpired franchises should be regarded
as an element in the valuation Of exist
ing street railway properties. he would
give no consideration 10 the value of the
stock or other securities issued. but only
to the actual valuation of the property
as fixed by experts 'In fixing the rate
Of fare" he says, the public is not in