South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-05
lore ABOUT OR BENIGHTLD
STREET RAILWAY SERVICE

michigan United Traction Co pro-
ides a twelve-minute street railW ay
ervice, with up-to-date cars; single
areS i've cents. six fares for a quar-
Ter, and eight fares for a quarter to
<Torkingmen during the morning and
evening hours Of their going to and
returning from work. We have it on
authority that is good that the same
condition prevails in several Indiana
titles. The cigar boxes" used for
treet ears in South Bend would not
be tolerated for an instant in any of
hem.
We mention this. incidentally, for
he benefit OF the city administration
which we are informed has been given
o understand that it cant be done"
Not being acquainted with the terms
4 the street railway franchise, we will
bot presume to answer the question.
put that is the only thing that need
tand in the way. save the Indiana
public service commission, and the ad-
|ninistration pledged itself in advance
- make the fight before that body
he traction people have been allow
FL a year in which 10 improve their
ervice without q fight. They have
lone nothing except TO cooperate with
he council in the Inauguration of the
near side STOP"
II we remember rightly one Of the
Inducements advanced to the old
pouncil when the right to cross the
1aSalle st. bridge was secured, was
hat there was TO be a great improve
nent of service in consequence, and,
perhaps there has been for the east
|ide, but where else? 1t is time for
he administration to see that the
people get what is coming to them,
and it is evidently useless to wait for
free-win application. They didn't
get the service or rates that they have
n Kalamazoo, Battle Creek and Jack
son, by that process. They seldom
get them anywhere. 1t seems to be
he policy Of street railway companies
20 bamDOozle the public as long as
hey can. IN those cities the COM
/pany has a 3O-year franchise that was
O expire in seven years. at the time
hat the fight began. A renewal of
he franchise was wanted-as the
nagnates put it. so that they could
bond the lines and make improve
[nents." The answer was an en-
phatic "show us. Make good for the
ack of service you have given us all
hese years, and when you have shown
Four good faith, franchise talk will be
uore agreeable"
And the Michigan United Traction
! o. did show them. 1t was a ease of
make good or get ont of the streets at
he end of seven years, and now we
understand it. that having made coed,
he new franchise may come a COUPLE
ears earlier. This idea that the
&Dublic must take all the chances had
! been worn out in the three cities after
about the same manner as it is being
worn out in South Bend. Further
more the Michigan United has learned
hat its improved service and more
LIBERAL rates are more than paying for
themselves in increased patronage and
General goOd-feeling toward the lines.
The once viruient public be damned"
policy Of the Michigan United has
been transformed into a public be
PLEASED" policy-and it finds that it
pays. II the Northern Indiana cannot
see this point without having It forced
upon them. then let that be the other
! informative.
The average individual viii not OBJ
ject SO much TO being deprived Of a
seat in order that the street railway
magnates may have their dividends.
but he would at least like to have a
strap TO hang to. and have some guar
hntee that he will still have his toes
hitter the conductor has wedged his
way through the Over-crowded aisle
70 collect - the unearned fares. sun
day night a car left Washington and
Michigan st..-we should have said a
II cigar box''-packed with So people
like sardines-and approximately half
hs many were left waiting for the
E next car-Or "cigar box'-notwith-
STANDING that this one was eight min
utes late. and the next aae six minutes
hate. It is only an example. Nine
people cut of ten have a half dozen
similar ones up their sieeves-and vet
he magnates say. people are tight
wads' and don't ride"
Well. half the time they can't rice,
and IL they can't ride when they want
+ 20. IL Is natural that thev should get
: into the habit OF not wanting TO. We
do not object TO that phase OF il. It
encoura yes individual frugality II
that is TIE purpose of the anti-service
campaign. we-say go 20 IL. but then
cut out the "tght-wad" talk Fact Of
the matter is Il is the traction COM
pany that is the "tight-wad." raking
in every nickel that it can and giving
the least possible return. which is
where our much mooted citizen" adj
1ministration needs 10 step in and ef-
feet reimbursement