The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-03-06

cent. gross receipts would be obtained by
taking the proportion which the running
time of The ears in the city bore to the
total running time on the whole line. This
method is open to the objection that the
running time OF a car is not uniform from
one end OF the line to the other and
termining the proper amount upon which
to base the eity's share of the s per
cent. tax.
Car Mileage Method.
The ear mileage method is the simplest
method Of ascertalning the city's ropor
ton Of the gross receipts. and is fair
BY this method each subdivision of a line
Is, treated as a separate route: The
p puiged s by ta * ene t gfoss nr TeeerPits IS w g9m,
the mileage in the city limits bears to
the total mileage of the particular sub
division or route. 4
The only objection to this method is that
there Is an assumption that the actual
traffic on each sub-division is the same
its terminus: whereas. as a matter Of
fact. the traffic in the city is almost in
az cases much larger per mile than
the traffic oyer the subdivision outside
of the city limits.
The car mileage, however, is easily
worked, involves but a minimum of labor,
and the facts can be easily ascertained
from the traction company records. from
the cards turned in by each conductor
daily.
Track Mileage Method.
The track mileage method OF ascertaining
the city's share of the 5 per cent. of gross
receipts is based. upon the assumption
that the city is only entitled to 5 per cent.
on that proportion CT gross receipts which
the mileage in the city bears to the total
length of the line; Under this method
the assumption is that every car on each
division. of the line runs from terminus
to terminus. whereas, as a matter OF fact,
on the South Orange, the Bloomfield; the
ANnCf 0rnn0n 1fnn nr1 ~ nfhnrG
from one-third to Itwo-thirds of the cars
do not travel the full length of the line.
This method of computation is the least
favorable to the city, and should not be
accepted.
Perpetual Franchises.
The ordinance of January 20, 1905, declared
invalid, was designed to make all the
franchises of the traction company which
had any limitation come under the ordi-
nance Of July 10, 1893, thereby by implica-
ton, at least, and probably actually max
ing such limited franchises perpetual. The
traction company row stands, SO far as
the perpetuation Of its limited franchises
is concerned, in the same position as it
was prior to January 20, 1905. No per-
petual franchises can be granted now,
since the enactment of the statutes of
1905, requiring a limitation upon such
grants.
A practical method of determining the
question left unsolved by the decision
above quoted would be by conferences
between the officers of the traction com
pany and the Board of Street and Water
Commissioners of the city of Newark
The franchises under. which the company
now operates In those portions Of the city
which have been recently annexed differ
somewhat in terms from the franchises
granted by the city under the ordinance
of July IL, 1898, in such details as paving
between tracks, snow removal, location
of tracks and other details. 1t is desirable
tnnt .thpga conditions ha InaHa uniform