The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-03-25
SLIDING SCALE OF
FARES BEST
Continues from Pas. ou..,


Trained as far as possible, from civic
criticism We have endeavored 10 CO
operate with the officials trying to get
results. and our actions have been
quietly taken.
The mayors appointment OF com.
mittee OF nifty To consider this question
was a wise action. These gentlemen
have freely given a great amount of
their time To throw light on this vexed
question. We will refrain from inter
fering In the matter until II is evident
that the question Is not receiving prop.
er attention. We do not propose TO
butt In until our assistance Is neces-
sary."
There were $50 business men pres
ent NJ the luncheon. AT the speakers
table sat Judge Tayler. T.. A. Sumner,
A. Il. Larned Mayor Breitmeyer, Fred
erick T. Bancroft, Frank w. Eddy. Geo.
L. Moody. DR.. j. III. Carstens, Clyde |.
Webster. and others. A large number
OF the aldermen We're present.
Judge Tayler Is a small, wiry and
detcrmlned-looking man. Before the
luncheon an informal reception was
given In his honor. When he was In.
troduced MS the man with PLAN" he
received hearty applause.
blessed IL the peacemaker for no
shall be damned" said Judge Tayler.
referring TO the variety OF comments
made on the new Cleveland traction
settlement plan, OF which he is the
author.
He spoke OF the troubles he had
had IN arbltrating the tangles that had
TO be solved In carrying out the details
al. In. A.. -. "A Il.. n
10 spend 10 weeks in hearing testi-
mony as 70 whether the traction prop
crty should be valued at $39,000,00O or
81 l 100000.
II had terrible internecine strife
which affected every person In the
community before me as Judge" he
said The questions as 10 property
right were very numerous and very
diffcult. They were all turned over TO
me when I put the Cleveland electric
railways in the hands OF receiver in
1908 was appalled, at the extent OF
the litigation Therefore, | made Ell
settle.
When | found ii necessary TO put
into effect the franchise rate OF fare
ihree-cent fares having previously
been in effect found that on a part
OF the system there was a rate of ii
tickets for 80 cents and on another
part OF Scent fares"
The speaker declared that the plan
he then came out for he considered
righteous plan for uniform faro.
The element OF speculation and uncer-
tainty had first TO be eliminated.
There Is nothing SO certain as the
business than a street railway viii
do" he said
The two fundamental facts, he saii,
we're that the streets belong TO tho
community, and that those who use
the streets for traction purposes
should be assured OF safe return
upon their investment. Heretofore. IN
vestors had had To recompense them
selves for the risk or their investment
by demanding rate or fare that
would bring in more than . or
per cent Cxturn
"A fair return and no more upon
the investment" ne gave as his motlo'
we hear a great deal about three
cent fares and that franchise shouiu
be given for 10 or % or 80 years ~
/ three-cenr or fve-cent or some other
arbitrary rate OF fare. Just as II any
one could go into any proposition Oh
that kind except as q speculative one.
He declared that II Is as sensible
for a city 10 give 25 or 3O-year iran
chise at a given rate or fare as ~
wonld be for blast furnace owner To
contract for his iron ore for 20 years
in advance.
IF it he true. as Edison says, that
cars are 10 be operated In future hy
storage batteries at a low cost how
can we estimate what the cost ot
transporting people may be 20 years
/ from now? We may decrease tne
cost or we may Increase IL loo per
| cent in % years