Evening journal., 1913-12-18
NEED MONEY
TO SAVE The
COMMISSION
Utilities Board Feels it Must
Probe if Purpose is to
be Served
COUNCIL TO PASS ON
$4,000 REQUEST TONIGHT

To use the words OF Colonel Weller
Il. sto, er, the members Of City Coun
Gil viii battle it out among them
selves" at their meeting tonight. as TO
whether or not they will grant the re-
quest made by the Beard OF Public
Utility Commissioners that Council
appropriate sum not less than 10000
to be used to Investigate the business
of the Wilming gton and Philadelphia
traction Company.
Although the COuucilmen, as d com
mit.ee OF the whole. me. with the Util-
ity Commissioners in a conference
that lasted nearly three hours last
evening for tue purpose OF discu ng
this subject and reaching some sort 0i
an agreement. no definite conclusion
was reached, and despite tho fact thai
several attempts were made in the
shape of motions. TO have a vote taken
to determine now the ommittee o.
the whole stands upon the question. il
was decided, at Col. StOver's sHgg S.
ton, that the actual battlc Of votes
should be deferred until tonight
Judging b. statements made by sew
eTll members last nigh. the session
tonight viii be rather warm 10 say
tie least. Nearly every one OF the
Donocraticc members expressed the
desire that whatever is done tonight
should be done in open session, end
no. behind closed doors.
! All Of the cOuncilmen and commits
s;Clers, while pi esent at the confer
cnce did not participate in the dis
cJssion. While Councilmea McGold-
rick. AicDermott and 2immermarn.
iand Commissioners Vance and Nc
Mullin made several remarks during
( the session. the main arguments We're
. advanced by councilmen Stover and
lianey and Commissioners Peirce and
Carr ctson. while President OF Council
Nhi.e also took an active part in the
discussion. although taking an inn
partial stand.
= jv lar The greatest part OF the dis.
russion, however. devolycd upon Cits
solicitor Daniel o. Hastings VINO ire
quently during the evening was called
lupon to, 0Nplain some technical point
or 20 give bis opinion upon complicate,
matters pertaining to ihe subject. Mr.
! Hastings explained every question clear
~, stating 81 detail exactly the staur
7 lol TIE ilehf ior the restoration OF tr
strip tickets by the traction compan.
ri The present time. He expressed tn
Vpiaioi that 4 would be best 60 dcter
ninc first whether or not thr tractioi
c0npans hss the right. under its charter
90 charge a strtight 5-ceut fare, befon
goss mtu an Investigation. providin'
however. the commission couh get tm
traction company 10 cooperate wit
them in the matter.
It was Colonel StoYefs idoa 90 ac
upon this suggestion, lie holding chat Il
would be best TO learn first whether O
not the commission has the right q
compel the traction company 10 reduc
its fare. and then proceed with am in
vsstigatiOn should It be shown that on
is ncedr'l.
During the discussion Councilman
llaney expressed the opinion that rathe
than submit to an investigation tn
traction company would voluntarily re
, store the strip tickets TO sale.
Peirce Hints at Balk.
President J jackson Peirce surprise
the commission by the statement iha
some members of the Board OF Utilit.
Commissioners will not permit such a
; investigation TO be made if they ca
help Il. lt developed from statement
made by Dr. II. r. Spruance. who WA
invited TO address the meeting, that tn
Wilmington and Philadelphia Tractio
I Company guarantees , per cent. intercs
on the bond issue used to buy up th
railway company in Chester and the on
4 in this city and building conrectim
line between them.
At the conclusion OF the discussion
j. Colonel Stover said that while he ia
vored the investigation, il results ar
4 TO be obtained he did not see wher
4 the $4,000 was TO come from. withou
4 resulting in a city deficit at the clos
: of the year.
President White opened the meetin
r. shortly after 8 O'Clock. "The Publi
Utility Commissioners are here a
u our request to confer relative 20 thei
I, request for $4,000 to investigate tn
a public service corporations" he stat
L ed. and he invited President Peirc
: ito speak first.
I'VE have Mr.. Hastings here TO an
Continued on Page Twelve.