The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1913-09-06

]. r. Thompson, who was president Of the Pa
qifc Traction company before it was gobbled by
6tone Webster voiced not only the popular but the
equitable solution to the fare problem the Trac
t10n line to American lake before the public serv
ice commission Friday when he said the company
should restore the original fares and keep them in
operation even if they lose money for the time
being.
The Traction company got 5O-year franchise,
went to American lake because it presented the OPP
portunity for the development of great residence
section for the wealth of the city, went into the
game from pioneering standpoint entirely and
the development has been all that any reasonable
corporation could ask.
With everything else in the way of realty de-
velopment and growth at practical standstill in
this section in the last five years, this section
around the Traction line has grown from 122 popu-
latiOn to 803 and is showing indications of more
rapid advancement in the near future.
Not only has the wealth Of the city gone out to
these beauty spots, but the working classes have
taken advantage of the opportunity to get out un-
der blue sky for suburban homes. Mr. Thompson
Indicated that there was an implied agreement on
the part of the company to keep the fares as they
were at least not higher. He himself, in selling
the real estate which the company owned, as pres
dent of the company had cited the fact of 10
cent fare on the commuter tickets Of the adj
Ivantages.
And he says now that the new company should
stand by that commuter ticket and let the section
| grow.
/ Now the question up to the public service COM
mission simply is: Shall the people who not
sponsble for any deficit which Stone Webster may
make in their operation of the road, make up this
deficit or shall Stone Webster stand itf
It is admitted in few years this line will be
gold mine.
But why should the people have to make it pay
now when they will get none of the dividends when
Il does begin to pay profits. The people located
there on 1O-cent commuter fare. They had a
j right to expect it to continue The company
/ knew it going to lose money when it put that
rate into effect. It did it to stimulate growth.
/ The growth is coming as fast as any reasonable
corporation should expect, now why should it be
changed?
/ President Thompson told the commission if he
had kept the line that commuter ticket would
never have been called off. Then why should
Stone w ebster, who bought up the line to throttle
Icompetition and have monopoly be allowed to
Istop it and mulct the people?
As democratic commission, made up of Jeffer-
sonians who eternally preach against monopoly,
this sort Of a monopoly program ought not to APP
Ipeal very strong
No valuation Of the property ought to be neces-
Isaxy.
We don't care rap what the property is worth,
what the company will lose. If conditions are
such the line cannot be operated at profit that
| il the company's misfortune and no commission
should seek to saddle it onto the people instead of
the company, which bought the line with its eyes
open.
Granting that there will be loss it is simply a
question who should pay it the people or the
company President Thompson says the company
and SO say all Of us.
I4sH