Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1912-12-07
LABOR OPENS
FIGHT FOR
4 CENT FARE
Utilities Commission Sends
Petition to City Solicitor
Before Acting Formally
CAR END SMOKERS
CONTINUE WITH US

Mr.. Vance Is one Of the Republi-
can members OF the board thore be-
ing being two others, ]. Ralph Baily
and Samuel G. CleRver. Tho Demo-
cratic members are J. Jackson Peirce
and c. Fred Bacher. Mr.. Vance's
name was placed in nomination by
Mr. Bacher, who represents the Fifth
Representative District in the board.
Immediately Mr. Baily remarked
Il think Mr.. PIERCE should make the
nomination as Mr.. Moore told him
who should be the president Of the
board"
BY Mr. Moore Mir. Baily meant
Representative Alfred b. Moore. BY
way of explanation Mr.. PIERCE said
that he had spoken to Mr.. Baily about
the presidency of the board. He said
that Mr.. Moore had mentioned to him
that as Mr.. Vance was the first re-
firing Republican member in the
Commission he thought he should be
honored with the position of presi-
dent Mr.. Peirce said: Il told him
thought so too"
Mr. Baily asked what interest Mr..
Moore had in the aairs OF the Com
mission and Mr.. Peirce replied:
None whatever other than he was
a member of the Legislature that
passed the bill creating this body"
At this juncture Mr.. Vance explain
ed that six months ago he had told
the members of the board he did not
want TO be president of the board but
lately had reconsidered the matter
and would now stand for the Office.
There we're no further nominations
and Mr.. Vance received the votes Of
Messrs. Bacher, Peirce and himself.
The remaining members did not vote
but the election was afterward made
unanimous.
Want FOur-Cent Fare
The meeting was one of the most
interesting held since the commission
was organized. A petition was read
from Central Labor Union, signed by
several hundred members of different
auxiliary organizations, including
two locals OF the Brotherhood Of Car
penters and Joiners, and Local No.
634, Housepainters, requesting the
board TO consider the matter of a
reduction in the car fare demanded
by the Wilmington and Philadelphia
Traction Company
I'VE as patrons Of the Wilmington
and Philadelphia Traction Company
/ consider the rate of FIVE cents excess
sive, unreasonable and disproporton-
ate to the proper cost of maintaining
its property and operating it's cars,
states the communication.
The central body asks that the rail-
way company be compelled TO answer
the charges, and after due considera-
! ton by the Utilities Board an order
/ be made commanding the Wilmington
and Philadelphia Traction Company
TO reduce its fare rate to four cents.
In disposing of this question Mr..
Bacher and Mr. Baily had several
verbal tits but the trouble did not
result in any wide division of opinion
on the subject.
Mr.. Bacher wanted TO allow the
complaint and send a copy of il to the
railway company. With a request that
answer be made in ten days. Mr..
Baily. however, suggested that in
order to find out whether the COM
/ plant had been made in conformity
with the bylaws of the board it
should first be sent to city solicitor
/ Daniel o. Hastings for an opinion
whether it was in proper form.
Mr. Bacher replied that lie knew
the complaint was in proper form.
Maybe you prepared it," rejoined
Mr. Baily.
MT Bacher insisted that the COM
plant should be allowed and then re-
ferred to the city solicitor
Mr.. Baily replied that the complaint
should not be allowed until It was
seen whether il was in proper form
After some more discussion Mrr
Coll hr
complaint was referred TO City So
licito Hastings with a request that
he give his opinion at the next meet
ing of the board.
When this matter was disposed OF
the question of heating trolley cars to-
gether with other improvements for
the benefit Of the public, we're discus
sed. William A. Heindle, superinten-
dent of the Wilmington and Philadel-
phia Traction Company, appeared in
person before the board and submitted
chart showing tn voltage loads fol
electricity at different hours in the
day here and tests made in private
houses in different sections of the
city which he had been asked TO sub
nit He and the members also dis
cussed the matter of keeping 4
uniform heat in the cars operated by
the company.
Mr.. Bacher thought there should b.
thermometer placed in each car st
that the temperature could be KEEP
as near as possible al a certain point
Mr.. Heindle said that while willing 4
place thermometers in the cars th
heating Of cars was problem har'
TO solve. owing to the number of time
the doors are opened TO let passenger
on and OFF
He said he believed the new car
of the company were fairly comfor
able, a fact which he knew, from II
number of comments he had receive
In the old cars, he said, this was
more difficult proposition. He sal
the company now had side doors Q
all the cars it operates and woul
do everything possible for the con
fort of it's patrons without the nece
sity of having the Board Of Utiliti'
Commissioners direct them to. He sa
that everything was being done
keep the heaters in the cars in goo
condition.
Smoking on Cars.
Another matter that came up W;
smoking on the rear platforms of Il
cars. Mr.. PIERCE stating that
had received several complaints fro
women, who said smoke had bee
blown into their faces as they go {
and off cars. Nothing was done
this respect. Mr.. Heindle pointing OF
that ono official OF his company a
not favor curtailing the workingman
pleasure of smoke in going to an
from his work It was pointed OF