The Washington times., 1914-05-23
THE TROUBLE WITH
REGULATION"

Toledo is just now nearihg tht
climax Of struggle for "reguia
tion" Of its privately owned stree
car system, and Washington ma!
learn some things from the expert
eace If the Ohio city.
| 1t is a good many years sine,
Golden Rule" Sam Jones was mayor
of Toledo. AS mayor, serving the
interest of the people in a town thai
before his time had been firmly helt
in the grip of the politicians and the
interests, he undertook some reform:
in the conduct of public utilities. His
fight antedated that which Ton
johnson forced upon Cleveland, fol
Jones was in truth a pioneer in the
fight for the people of the cities.
The street railway system of To,
ledo has no franchise, and the city
administration insists that it shall
have none until it agrees to carry
passengers for a Scent fare. The
property has been valued, with the
conclusion that it is really worth ST.
100000; but it has securities out
standing to the aggregate amount of
S31, 100000. Thus Washington peo-
Pie may note that other towns have
the nerve to demand cheaper trans
portation even though it may inter-
fere with the privilege of earning re-
turns on water.
Just at this time the municipal
authorities are insisting that the
Scent fare is the legal rate, having
been adopted by ordinance. But the
company declines to put it into eff
feet, and so a curious situation has
developed. Conductors on the cars
demand scent fare, and majority
of the people pay it. Some refuse,
and tender the three pennies. The
company has instructed conductors
to refuse the 3 cents; but it does not
take the next step, which would be
to eject the Scent passenger. In
stead, he is carried for nothing,
Thus careful is the corporation to
guard itself at both ends. If it ac-
cepted 8 cents for a ride, it might
put itself in the position of accepting
the validity of the Scent ordinance
and acquiescing therein. If it pitched
passengers into the street when they
had offered the legal fare, it might
itself get pitched out of the streets!
So it is taking the middle course, and
trying to avoid actual conflict on the
issue as now presented. Meanwhile,
its officers are pleading for a settle
ment that will enable them to 90 the
particular thing that public utility
managers always promise in such
junctures: to accept regulation and
give the public the best and cheap
est service possible.
There it is: the same old PROPOSE
ticn that We have listened to so
many years in Washington. Just
let the private managers alone, and
they will look after our interest in
the way that only men of their ex-
alted wisdom and capacities can do:
but interfere with them, and they
will fight at every step.
Toledo has had fifteen wears of
this fight, and is no nearer to effec-
tive regulation than it was at the be-
ginning. In fact the struggle is in
one of the bitterest phases through
which it has passed. How much has
Toledo gained, of peace, comfort, and
substantial benefits. by reason of
sticking by the effort at Regulation"
of its street cars?
That is just about the situation
that always develops in connection
with regulatory efforts. The public
stave off regulation as long
as possible; then they fight it off,
with injunctions and mandamuses
and test suits and appeals and all
the long legal paraphernalia of de-
lay and opposition. That is what
will have to go through
il it continues Indefinitely on the
road of attempted regulation. The
only time when regulation looks good
to the managers Of public service
is when the alternative
of public ownership is propoh.d.