Evening journal., 1913-04-09
Peoples Column
NEW ELECTRIC
LIGHTING FRANCHISE.

TO tho Editor Of THE EVENING
JOURNAL
sir.-ls the now franchise opposed
by the people or by some selfish
financial INTEREST,"
Does the Wilmington e. Philadel-
phia Traction Company have any
more right TO restrain a new concern
from engaging in a legitimate busl-
ness, Ia opposition TO II, than ] have
TO keep others from engaging in
business in opposition TO me?
I speak only from the viewpoint
OF citizen who IL paying car fare
on both lines, and who Is paying for
current at an excessive rate, for
both business and domestic purposes
In regard to opposition, ! will cite
a case which came under my notice
while a resident I'm New Jersey. The
Bell Telephone Company entered our
town, its rates being $40 per year
for residence service. The People
Rural Telephone Company was in
corporated by farmers, and, after
passing through just such a siege as
the Peoples Heat, Light and Power
Company is now passing, being op-
posed only by the Bell Telephone
Company, finally secured franchise.
The Bell Telephone Company drop
ped its rates TO $50 per year, narrow
ing its scope Of calls in comparison.
The Peoples Rural Telephone Com
pany installed phones all through
the country at S12 per year. The
Bell Company also dropped to the
same rate, extending its lines to re-
mote spots where otherwise they
would not have gone-only for the
purpose Of holding the Rural Com
pany in check
The Rural Company connected with
the Keystone and furnished toll calls
TO all points.
After three years. of a hard strug-
gle the Rural Company saw that It
could not exist on its low rate and
raised to SIS per year. II Is still con-
tinuing at the same rate and giving
excellent service, and is running its
business in a way that is a credit to
the community
Is Wilmington the last city to wake
up, or are We going TO lie dormant
for years to come?
The only way to ascertain the will
of the people is to let them speak
through their respective Councilmen
and not be Influenced by the worth
less arguments of some selfish finan-
cial interest.
Why allow the Government to fight
the trusts and Wilmington encour-
age them?
Why shall the Government restrain
the railroad companies from giving
rebates when the rate of rebate given
by the Wilmington g. Philadelphia
Traction Company is far i'm excess
of any rebate any railroad company
has ever given, | believe. AS a mat
ter of fact. the large manufacturers
are being furnished with current at
from one-half to two-thirds less than
! am paying. -
The strongest point in the argu-
ment is that II the large manufactur-
ers were paying what / am paying
for current, the new franchise would
have been granted without asking
for II.
Why can we not buy current from
a concern paying profits on their ac-
tual investment instead of paying
dividends on waterad stock as we are
now doing, stock that has been sold
aud resold according to its own state
mcnts, each time an enormous price
being paid for the franchise which
was practically donated by the city in
the first place?
Have we stopped TO think of the
amount of our current receipts which
is being used to pay dividends on
what We gave away years ago?
Are we now going to allow the
concern which practically Invested
the recently-created Public Utility
Commission of IFS power, to dictate
the future of our city. as to whether
or not we shall have competition?
ALLOW the new concern to engage
in business and the amount of our
electric light bills will be greatly re-
duced. ] have reason TO believe that
If the Peoples Railway Company Is
allowed the same privileges that are
enjoyed by the Wilmington & Phila-
delphia Traction Company. We soon
shall be able to buy strip tickets on
all lines.
Allow conditions TO remain as they
are, and there soon will be another
sale Of the Traction Companys fran
chise, aud We shall be forced to pay
more dividends in water.
The Traction Company has no cause
in this case as see IL. IL Is only
matter between the people and the
Peoples Heat Light and Power Com
pany. Any arguments that may be
presented. by the Traction Company
can only, further prove these facts
and set forth the fact that its fran
chise is priceless so long as there
is no other.
Another franchise being granted
will mark the finish Of the present
franchise being specialized upon,
These foregoing facts are only the
ideas OF a citizen, having in mind
the public interest, and the amount
OF my electric current bills.
would like to hear the opinions
Of any sound-minded citizens in these
columns, provided they are not speak
ing in the interest Of either railway
company.
am withholding my signature
simply for the reason that I do not
care to become involved in any con-
troversy between the two companies.
Yours truly,
CONSUMER.
Wilmington, Del, April z. 1913.
XOI-NC folks AT PlRTV