Evening journal., 1913-12-13
PARLEY ON
STRIP TICKET
QUESTION
Public Utility Board Hears
COmpany'S Defense Of
Five Cent Fare
SOLICITOR HASTINGS GIVES
OPINION ON THE SUBJECT

OPINION ON THE SUBJECT
For two hours last evening mem
bers Of the Public Utilities Commits
sion considered the subject Of wheth-
er six tickets for a quarter should
be restored to public sale on the lines
OF the Wilmington and Philadelphia
Traction Company. +. w. Wilson,
vice-president Of the trolley com
pany, heard numerous statements Of
the cost of operating public utility
companies and contended a FIVE cent
rare is necessary TO the successful
operation of the company City So
licitor Daniel o. Hastings. who rep
resented the city In the suit brought
by the Commission against the trac-
ton company. was also present.
City Solicitor Hastings last night de-
clared that in his opinion the COM
pany has not an unalterable right
under its charter to charge a straight
five cent fare, and he believed IL
could be required to charge a fare
less than five cents.
At one time whel. speaking. Mr..
Wilson of the traction company, said
that when there was a difference OF
opinion among attorneys. they al
ways try to reach an agreement and
as last resort they go into court
and have suit. And You all know
what law suit is" he added IT
may linger and may be taken to the
United States Supreme Court" Mr..
Wilson said he did not say this as a
threat. Those present regarded 1t as
an intimatiOn that the COMPANY
would nght any attempt to restore
strip tickets.
When the meeting opened. c. ID.
Garretson, newly-appointed member
OF the commission. discussed the
closing OF the meeting to the pub
Tic with j. Jackson Peirce. president
of the board. The subject was also
discussed with Mr.. Wilson OF the
traction company. Mr.. Garretson
then moved that the commission hold
an executive session. William IT,
Vance, a member who was acting as
secretary, said he saw no need OF
star chamber proceedings as all 9th
er meetings had been open. Ths
vote on the motion showed Messrs
! Garretson and Baily foting for .
CLOSED meeting and President Peirc
and Messrs. Vance and Richard &
McMulien voting Tor an open ses
sion.
Ar- Garretson. with wave of hi
hands. said he did not think any thin,
could be accomplished with the pub
lie present. as the Commissioners an,
Mir. Wilson would not feel free +,
express themselves. Mr.. Garretsor
asked Solicitor Hastings what h,
thought of the question. but Mr.. Hast
ings said he had nothing to say. Mr.
Garretson asked for Mr.. Wilson,
opinion as to a closed meeting. but he
too, refused TO comment on Il.
The members discussed the visit OF
W. r. Beamis, an expert who will ar.
rive here this afternoon at 1877 O'Clock
Tor a conference as to railway valua.
tions. Mr.. Garretson said It seemed
waste of Mr.. Beamis' time to have
him come here. as the commission
could not give him any information OF
the five questions he asked. Presi
dent Peirce said there was no ex
pense attached to Mr.. Beamis' visi
here.
Those present then called Mr.. vii
sons attention to various matters per
tanning to the operation or the rail
ways in this city. Mr. Garretson sal,
that sooner than have the meetin:
discuss nothing, he would reconsider
his previous thought of closed meet
ing.
"As you all know, my thought O
the duties Of this Commission is no
to antagonize the public service cor
poration," said Mr.. Garretson. /"
think much good. can be accomplishe,
II we get down to a working basi
with the public service corporations
There has been much talk about tn
restoring of the six tickets for
quarter, and I would like to ask MI
Hastings If the traction company ha
not right under its charter TO charg
g straight FIVE cent fare
4 81 don't think So" replied the Gle
Solicitor "A legal right may be pos
sessed by them. but it IS a matter O
opinion. That is my honest judgmen
IN the matter after much hard work.
Mr.. Garretson asked if the Utilitie
Commission had the right or powe
to compel restoration OF the sale O
tickets, and Mr.. Hastings said h
thought it had, but no one could sa
what the court might decide MI
Garetson asked If the traction com
pany was not paying its full amour
OF taxes. explaining that he woui
like to have information on this sub
iect. Acting on his own initiative
Mr.. Garetson said that be had con
ferred with a former member Of III
Taxation Commission. who ha
thought that the traction compan
was paying more here than those Il
other cities are paying.
'The public should not be continu
ally nagging at the Public Servic
Corporation simply because IL is
public service corporation" said MI
Garetson.
Mr. Vance asked If the company wa
Continued on Page Three.