Evening journal., 1913-04-07

I'LL IOOOL
IN AN ATTEMPT TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM
THE REAL ISSUE Mr. R. w. Crook General Manager Of the
Peoples Railway in the advertisement (caed an interview pub
shed in the Sunday Star Of April 9th ambiguous language
evade direct answer and asks irrelevant questions
ing our statement Of facts to the interview had by two promi
nen citizens in February last with Mr. Ely President Of the Will
mngon Phade pha Traction Company and their attempt to
interest him in the Peoples Railway
We said this interview was WITH MR. CROOKS KN0WI-
EDGE AND ASSENT Mr.. Crook does not deny this He
names the gentlemen but does not say THEY deny that the
interview was with his (Mr CroOkS knowledge and assent
He says they had the interview with Mr. Ely their own
responsibility If he means they were not authorized by
FORMAL resolution Of the Peoples Railway directors stock
holders that may be So But negotiations Of this character
moi usually started in such way. The people OF Wilmington
know both Of these gentlemen and may not be made to believe
that they (o use popular expression buted into proposition
without being authorized requested to do by someone Official
y connected with the Peoples Railway There would
believe that the people Of Wilmington would think that
the miles Of track the number Of and the earnings Of the
Peoples Railway without having been prned with this norma-
ton by connected with the management
Mr. Crook has been compelled shift his position and now
complains that was fair for tell the people Of Whining
ton Of this interview Why so? The impression WE gained
from Mr. Crooks statements in the newspapers was that the
Peoples Railway HAD NOT BEEN FOR SALE If that were
IL
would the people Of Wilmington longer believe that
the Peoples Railway is NOT for sale
Regarding the questions which Mr. Crook asks the VII
mingon Philadelphia Traction Company his interview
(-So Tar as they pertinent to the ISSUE are more than
willing that they should be publicly asked by the Street and
Sewer Department in their investigation the necessity or
desirabiy Of granting another liz hitting franchise THAT is
public body which may examine books and hold strict
performance duties the public and in the performance Of
our public obligations will at all times cheeruIy respond to
their demands for information and we will furnish such nIoa
lion without using equivOcal language
However the purpose Of these articles as we stated in the
beginning intended be educational and informing and to
turn TO the real would state that the best and abst
thinkers the subject know that competition prevents the
ing the best service and imposes additional burden the
public
PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON when Governor Of
New jersey in public address at the University Of California
said
PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATIONS ARE IN A VERY
INTERESTING SENSE NATURAL M0NOP0IIES THEY
GENERALLY USE THE PIECES OF LAND AND THE
ROADS AND HIGHWAYS WHICH ARE MOST CON
VENIENT TO THEIR PURPOSE AND MOST DIRECT FOR
EXPECTING THE COMMUNICATION WHICH THEY WISH
TO EFFECT: AND IT IS PERFECTLY OBVIOUS THAT
IF OTHER COMPANIES ARE ALLOWED TO COMPETE
WITH THEM THERE IS A VERY WASTEFUL DUPllCA-
TON IN OUTLAY AND EQUIPMENT SO THAT COM-
PETITION GENERALLY RESULTS IN AN EVENTUAL
OUNblNAllUN Uf LIE OOWFEllNO CUMfANEA f1NlJ
THE NECESSITY TO CHARGE A PRICE ON WHAT THEY
SUPPLY THAT WILL PAY THE INTEREST ON TWICE
AS GREAT AN INVESTMENT AS WAS REALLY NECES-
SARY FOR THE SERVICE"
Light and Power Departn
Wilmington and Phila IT;
sos Market ST.