Evening journal., 1914-02-13
URGES THAT
STRIP TICKETS
Be RESTORED
Charles Edward Russell Dis
CusSeS subject at Odd
Fellows hall Meeting
RESOLUTION CALLS ON
UTILITIES BOARD TO ACT

evening" Mutu Audflcb EuNdIu hut-
sell. a magazine writer, discussed the
/ agitation for restoration TO public
sale OF six-for-a-quarter tickets by
the Wilmington and Philadelphia
Traction Company. Tho meeting
was held under the auspices OF the
Central Labor Union, and al the close
of the address james OKane, for
mer president OF the Union. presented
resolutions. which were unanimously
+ adopted, calling on the Public Utili-
[ ties Commissioners not to agree to
any stipulation 10 get the case re-
/ opened In the United States Court,
which would bind the commission
/ In the present fight.
Mr.. RUSSELL IN the course OF his
address, characterized the local com
pany as trolley bandits" and said
I that the time was coming when troll
/ ley and other public utility fran
chisos would cease to exist as being
inimical TO public interest. Speak
I ing Of watcred stock, the speaker said
there are no camels IN high finance"
Another statement made hy the
speaker was that "The New York
definition of reorganization Is re-
/ Reorganization"
The meeting was called to order
10y Humphrey Campbell. who intro
duced j. Winfield Scott. president
or the Central Labor Union, as chair
man. Mr.. Scott read n CODY OF reso-
iuuons adopted two years ago by
the Central Labor Union urging the
/ Utility Commissioners TO take pro-
ceedings 10 have the strip tickets re-
stored. The resolution which the
Union later sent TO CITY Council urg
J ing that body 10 appropriate money
20 the Utility Commissioners also was
i rcau. Mr.. Russell was then intro
u9eea' and he said IN opening his
address.
The most potent robber of our
times Is the franchise. and what IS 10
Why do We have it?' Mr.. Russell
pointed out the moral OF story by
comparing the tribute exacted by
bandits from the people OF the sur.
rounding sections. to tribute which he
said trolley magnates exact from the
working class.
Mr.. Russell told Of the develop
ment OF The New York CITY lines I'm
lo44-ob, when two companies sought
! q franchise for trolley line ON
7 broadway from Fourteenth street to
the Battery. He said That one group
OF magnates. offered the twenty-six
aldermen 100000. while the other
group offered them S25O.O0O I'm cash
and 100000 I'm stock. At a secret
meeting held on "a Sunday afternoon.
the FIRST offer WAS accepted. and le-
Tore daylight the rails were laid on
broadway After the deal was ev-
posed. twonty-four of the aldermen
fed the country. The citizens OF
New York then enjoyed one OF the
city's periodical spasms of virtue
ana the charter OF The company was
revoked and Sos franchise for g99
years was continued. This was sc-
cured by Philadelphia capitalists and
through "a series OF manipuiations the
twenty-fOur companies were secured
by one company. the same being cap-
italizcd at SS00.O00.OOO of which
s6OO.OOO,OO0 was watered stock. he
alleged. The lines were not able to
pay the interest on this vast amount
or money and a receiver was ap-
pointed.
Mr. Russell told OF the receiver di-
vidng the twenty-four companies
into four groups and the abolishing OF
the free transfer which caused ths
people to pay more carfare to and
from their work This doubling of
fares he claimed brought I'm $4,000
additional a day.
Mr.. Russell told of the development
of the traction system in Wilmington.
Originally there were formed three
roads Wilmington City Railroad
Front and Union Railroad and the
Gordon Heights road. These were
reorganizod into the wilmington and
& Chester Company. he said Then the
- road became the United Power and
D Transportation Company. and after
that the Interstate Railway Company
d Every time a reorganization was af-
' feoted there was TN increase In the
. capitalization Finally the Whining
ton and Philadelphia Traction Com
pany was evolved and then the Ma
. tional Properties Company. which Is
now IN control. MT. Russell alleged
that the abolition Of the tickets added
$65.O0O yearly 20 the receipts of the
r. company.
lie cited the municipal ownership OF
D. NNN AtANN nANNNA Aiif Nl NN' Wy "a A'NN
Francisco, and the great Improvement IN
the service that has been attained under
city ownership. He pointed TO the spread
of this idea In the cities of Detroit
. Cleveland. Columbus, Dayton and other
{, towns in the country. He expressed the
lconyiction that this idea of municipal
r ownership would take root in Whining
y ton.
y James O1lane. the last speaker. spok,
~ of the crowded condition Of the loca
, trolley cars and the cars on the dupont
street and Maryland cnuc lines he re-
Y fcrred 70 as "Noahs arks.' Mr.. O'kan'
> then presented the following resolutions
which were adopted;
y "Nhereas. The Wilmington and Phila
. Idolphia Traction Company entered int
n a certain lease for street railway an'
Il equipment IN Wilmington, Del, July
y 1910, although the general corporation
laws were not amended 10 provide fo
: leasing until the year following; and
whereas. The City Solicitor
A Daniel o. Hastings. himself question
l. ed the right OF this company 10 lease
IN as shown In his argument before th
United States District Court In 1911
and.
~ Whereas. The Wilmington an
n Philadelphia Traction Company. en-
B deavored as long ago as 1912. an
again IN the proposition now pend
az ing before the Public Utility Con
'tt missioners. 20 secure their agree
" ment TO a stipulation that II had ia
n right and power 20 enter into IN
Wilmington leases OF contracts