Evening journal., 1918-05-22
Trolley FARE RAISE
IS Expected soon
Many Letters Urging it Re-
ceived at Utilities Board
Meeting
WILL KEEP COMPANY
OUT OF RECEIVERSHIP

After celebrating for two hours yes
terday afternoon on the advisability OF
granting the Wilmington and Philadel-
phia Traction Company permission TO
raise trolley fares In Wilmington from
five 10 six cents, the Board Of Public
Utilities Commission held the matter
up for several days, while an expert
electrical engineer sscertains whether
or not the company is operating its
system economically. The decision was
made after the commission had listened
10 an opinion by City Solicitor Bayard,
In which he sets forth that the board
has the power 10 authorize the fare in
crease.
Thomas W. Wilson. general manager
and vice president OF the Traction Com.
psny. informed the commission that he
had promised the company trolleymen a
cents an hour wage raise efectice May
1. provided the company Is permitted 10
increase its fare. c. D. Garretson as
sured Mr.. Wilson that the commission
would take care OF the trolley com
pany by granting the increase Of fares
or fnd some means by which the COM
psny would be prevented from going
into the hands OF receivers.
John Sutton and Willard A. Speak
man headed a committee from the Manu-
factirers Association, and told the com
mission that their association fully be-
lieved that because OF the present high
prices Of materials and labor, and be-
cause OF the same conditions prevailing
as 70 the matter OF food, that the COM
mission should grant the Traction Com
pany permission 10 raise the fare so az
10 be able 70 give It's employees higher
wages as well as 10 allow the COM
pany 20 wipe out It's de1cit. Mr.. Sutton
and Mr.. Speskman told the commisslon
that they thought the amount OF the
raise asked by the Traction Company Is
not too much and that the public
should be prepared 10 pay even more
II the present conditions should get any
worse. They said that the increase
should be allowed at once They told the
commission that the price Of materials
and labor had been increased all over
the country from 90 TO 400 per cent
and that the local company, OF course.
had to pay more for ITS supplies just as
other companies are doing.
Mr.. Wilson stated that though the
cost Of materials and labor had in
creased rapidly the trolley fare has re-
nalned the same in Wilmington. He
said that he should have asked for the
increase in fsrs long ago and avoided
the big deficit that now hangs over the
company, but that instead his company
was the forty-second or forty-third TO
make such a request through a utility
board
Letters urging the board TO grant the
company the permission TO increase the
fare were received from Lammot du-
Pont. John J.. Raskob, F. Blumepthal
and Company. William p. Bancroft, the
Delaware Electric and supply Company,
Garrett-Nfiller Co, the Chamber OF
Commerce. W. W. Laird, Henry T.
Bush. OF the Bush Line, Robert H..
Richards and J. A. Montgomery.
A petition. signed by 263 motormen
and conductors Of the Traction Com
pany. setting forth their. needs for
more money In order TO keep abreast
Of the present high cost OF living also
was presented.
George B. Stewart wrote against the
board granting the increase, and said
that the Traction Company mas talleo
TO remove the embargo on certain
stops Instituted last winter when coal
was scarce. Mr. Stewart said II the
company was allowed to raise the fare
II would never be reduced. AZ this
point Mr.. Wilson stated that the
Traction Company is experiencing Just
as much trouble in getting fuel as 10
did last winter. He said that the com
psnv now has one weeks supply on
hand and the outlook Is bad.
Herbert n. Ward, Of Ward: Gray and
Nesrv. was present az counsel for the
Traction Company and spoke briefly
several times in interest OF the COM
pany.