Evening journal., 1914-05-19
commission WANTS
MONEY TO PUSH WORK
VIII Ask Council For $75,-
600 10 Finance Trolley
Co. Probe
ALSO WANT COUNCIL
TO HELP BOARD

Considerable business was trans
acted by the Public Utility Commits
sioners I'm Mayor Howells Office yes
terday afternoon. The most impor-
tant matter discussed was the financ-
ing OF an investigation OF all public
utility corporations doing business in
this city. During a recess of Is min
utes when the work planned for the
next three years was reviewed, the
commissioners decided TO ask City
Council for $4,000 for the work, S25,.
600 60 be allowed each year for three
years. In addition the. commission.
ers ask for $500 as general expenses
for the coming year. The resolution
adopted and ordered sent TO Council
follows:
Whereas, The Board OF Public
Utility Commissioners has before
it complaint against the Will
mington and Philadelphia Trac-
tion Company. regarding an in
crease Of fare, and it devolves
upon the commission to hold hear
ings, make Investigations, etc,
and
whereas. We learn that COM
plants are 10 be filed against the
other Public Utility Corporations
Of Wilmington, and
Whereas, We feel that IL is only
right that all Public Utility Cor
porations should be treated the
same, and
Whereas. This Public Utility
hrf II nUfa-
lature in creating this body
should have made provision in
the original act commanding the
commission TO appraise all public
Utility Corporations OF Whining
ton as it's first duty, and
Whereas. To investigate all the
public Utility Corporations oi
Wilmington It viii require APP
proximately the sum of S75,OOo.
and three years time; therefore
be Il
Resolved, That We petition the
Nlavor and Council OF Wilmington
TO appropriate for the use OF this
commission the sum OF S2o,OU0,
for the coming fiscal year, ana
he Il further
Resolved, That the sum OF ST.
500 be appropriated TO cover the
General cxpeuses of the Board
or Public Utility commissioners
for the coming fiscal year.
In passing the resolution, G. l
-a,retscn said he as well as other
rnew that the Wilmington and Philf
Idelnhia Traction Company was oVel
icapitalized. but he did not think
ifair to investigate one utility con
Ipany and not investigate all. I'm
lvas tie cpinion Of al the member
who expressed themselves ON inc SUI
i3ect phen a communication was rea
from c. Fred Bacher, a former men
her of tie beard, who as chalrma
lor committee of complaints, hled
letter some time ago asking the boar
10 engage an attorney for them in
case against the traction compan
MI, letter received from Mr.. Bach'
To the Board Of Public Utility
Commissioners Of the City OF
Wilmington.
Gentlemen: Your letter Of
April "a. stating that you had de-
cided TO refuse the request thai
tbe citv nay the expenses OF
counsel in the effort being made
before your board to secure ac-
ton I'm the complaint against eN-
cossive rate OF fare charged by
the Wilmington and Philadelphia
Traction Company, has been re-
ceived and submitted 20 our COM
nittee. and in reply. beg to cal
your attention to the following
facts:
The effort to secure lower
street car fares concerns prac-
tically the people of the entire
city and is not the particular con-
cern of those whose names are
attached 70 the complaint. IL
seems fair. therefore. that the eX-
pense should be paid by the city.
Since 1t appears In statements
made by the city solicitor, be-
fore your board, that you are not
exactly a grievance committees,
for the purpose of hunting up in
justices done the people, and de-
manding redress therefor
neither is the city solicitor, by
reason Of his duties as attorney
for your board. the champion Of
the people IN this matter. It is
thoroughly understood by our
committee. that whatever comes
before your board, You are acting
in capacity of n court and cannot,
therefore, support either side,
nor do we ask you. But the gem
eral public are under the impress
sion that the city solicitor IS
their champion before your
board. Then if through lack OF
skill or knowledge of the COM
mittee i'm properly presenting
their case before you, proper action
is not secured, will not the fail
ure be unjustly blamed on the
CITY solicitor? If Il Is necessary
that o strong case be made ont
before your board. 20 entitle the
complaint to be heard by YOU, is
it not well that we should have
competent lawyer to properly
present the case before y0u2 In
a certain case before the Inter
State Commerce Commission the
board employed an attorney Ia
properly present the case and
said:
IN a case of such Importance, we
feel that we ought 10 have all the
light possible. Manifestly in such
case nothing short of full record
will give the commission a salts
factory basis for whatever conolu
sions may be reached. IL is Will
this Thought in mind that Mr.
randes has been asked to aid the
commission in bringing out all the
facts.
If tine matter above referred e
was of such importance, that the
service of lawyer was pecssary
to fully bring out the facts, then il