Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-04-10

larly OF the that since the railway was
built 1t has been sold and that the Wilmington
aud Philadelphia Traction Company properties have
been sold three times eacl to speculative inter-
csts Nor did the action Of the Wilmington and Phils-
delpha Traction Company in accusing Mr.. Crook Of
evasion lead to onehalf the public comment that re-
suited from the artfu lodging by the proclama-
ton trainers in evading public answer to series Of
pertinent but exceedingly embarrassing questions pro-
pounded by Mr.. Crook the Wilmington and Philadel-
phia Traction Company
IN that same proclamation was an excerpt from an
address delivered by President Woodrow Wilson when
he Governor New Jersey BY that quotation the
Wilmington and Philadelphia Traction Company
sought to make it appear that Mr. Wilson fayors pub
lie service monopolies and deems them necessary.
There was however, a studous avoidance OF the fact
that America had in il then who more
earnest champion OF the principle that public ser
vice corporations should be subject public regua-
ton. And he st stands champion Of such regu-
laton In his most recent work, THE New Freedom"
made public within the last six weeks President viii
said, referring to the reforms he had assisted in
bringing about in New Jersey.
There another thing wanted to do. We
wanted TO regulate public service corporations
that we could get the proper service from them and
on reasonable terms. That had been done elsewhere,
and where Il had been done It had proved just
much for the benefit OF the corporations themselves
for the benefit Of the people or course 1t was some
what dnBcult TO convince the COMBINATIONS II han
the subject was the president Of the Public Service
CORPORATION of New Jersey I have heard speeches
from that gentleman that exhibited total lack of
acquaintance with the circumstances of our times l
have never known Ignorance so complete In its de-
tail; and, being man OF force and ignorance ne
naturally set all his energy to resist the things he
did not comprehend. am not Interested in question
H. the motives Of men IN such positions ! am only
sorry that they don't know II they would only
join the procession they would find themselves bene-
hted by the healthfu exercise which, for one thing,
would renew within them the capacity to learn which
hope they possessed when they we're younger. we
not trying to do anything novel in New Jersey in
regulating the Public Service Corporations; we were
simply trying to adopt there tested measure of pub
lie Justice We adopte- It, Has ANYBODY gone Dank-
rupt snceY Does anybody now DOUBT that II was just
much for the benefit Of the Public Service Corpora
tion for the people OF the Slater 1 have lived in
a State that was owned by series or corporations
They handed il about. 10 was at one time owned by
the Pennsylvania railroads then il was owned by the
Public Service Corporation. Il owned by the Pub
lie Service Corporation when admitted and that
corporation has been resentfu ever since that | in
terfered with its tenancy But really did not see
any reason why the people should give up their own
residence to small body OF men TO monopOllze;
and therefore when l asked them for their title
deeds and they couldn't produce them and there was
court except the court of public opinion to re-
SORT 10 thov moved ont Now thew eat out of our
hands and are not losing flesh, either They are
making just much money as they made before,
only they are making IL in more respectable way
the Legislature of the State OF New Jersey. They
making II in the normal way, by supplying the
people of New Jersey with the service in the way OF
transportation and gas and water that they really need
do not believe that there are many thoughtful Off
cals of the Public Service corporation OF New Jel-
sey who now seriously regret the change that mas
come about We liberated government I'm my State,
and il is interesting fact that we have not suffered
moment in prosperity
what we propose therefore, in this program Of
freedom, Is program of general advantage. Almost
every monopoly that mas resisted dissolution has re-
sisted the real interests OF its stockholders MOnOp
oily always checks Development weighs down natural
prosperity pulls against natural advance
We think that is a fairly complete answer to the
effort of the Wilmington and Philadelphia Traction
Company TO use President Wilson unconscious
ally in its efforts both regulation and COM
petition.
One of the most remarkable OF the Wilmington and
Philadelphia Traction Companys proclamations makes
the statement that "the Public Service Commissions Of
New York Massachusetts Wisconsin, Vermont Mich
ican Kansas, New Jersey and other States have RE-
FUSED TO ALLOW competition and have adopted in
its stead the principle of QUALIFIED MONOPOLY
REGULATED BY PUBLIC CONTROL" 1t then pro-
ceeds TO say that the Wilmington and Philadelphia
Traction Company operates under the control Of
proper public authorities" The trainers Of that
proclamation fail to say with respect to the other
states there the public service corporations are
under public control to rates, service, and, in
most instances, to the securities they may issue,
whereas here there is public regulation as to ser
vice and practically none as to securities while the
regulations to rates establish maximum that is in
hearty accord with the wishes of the public service
corporations
The people OF Wilmington have attempted to obtain
regulation and failed in lobhy-ridden Senate.
They now want competition from the Board Of Di-
roctors Of the Street and Sewer Department If they
fail to get it, there doubtless will be an unpleasant
aftermath for those who deny it to them