Evening journal., 1918-02-01
CGUNCILNEN score
TRACTION COMP ANY
lConlinued From Page One.)

Continued From Page One.l
which they inform us will take care
OF present demands.
we also nnd tnst they are furnish
ing current 10 a number Of plants out |
side our city. including Pennsylvania, I
Maryland and New Jersey. The OH /.
cials Of the Wilmington and Philadel /
phia Traction Company have assured
the committee that Improvements could
+. be looked for from now on. They ex-
poct in about six weeks, to have their
new boilers completed, when the ser
vice will bc back TO normal
Councilman Mcarns moved that the
report be accepted and filed and then
the debate started Councilman Robert
son SAID he had not been shown tho re-
port and he did not know whether Il
was a coat Of calcium OF whitewash
for the Traction Company. but it vas
surely letting IL down easy. he said
that II he were being tried by jury
and they treated him as kindly as the
committee treated the Traction Com
pan in its report, he would consider
they were mighty good to him. We
have heard something Of what this
open up and tell us ALL" said Mr..
Robertson. "The special committee in
spected the power plant but the COM
pany knew when they were coming.
They talk about being patriotic and
furnishing power 60 munition plants
when. at the same time. the company
j. stopping cars carrying workmen to
these munition plants and collecting
fares from them when the cars stop
ard compel those workers 20 sit for an
indefinite time in the cars. They are
hiding behind the skirts OF the Goddess
Of Liberty While the ears 90 the mu-
uition plants are stalled they operate
cars on other lines. which an official
~ that company had said paid better
This. Mr. Robe ison said, had been
denied bv officials Of the company
Referring TO the Rising sun line,
(which he termed the "Wheelbarrow
Line" Mr.. Rnbertson said that he had
ridden on the cars on that line recently
with his wife and the cars were dirty.
Mr.. Robertson said that he had visited
the traction company's power plant
when they did not know he was com
ing and il the same conditions prevailed
AZ the Water Department he would in
troduce a resolution in Council demand
Ing the designations Of an Of the ofi-
,crs and employees
Mr. Robertson produced personal bills
for current. which he said Mr. Alearns
lad suggested he look at. These. De
said. showed the company was eXactine
tribute Of So cents q month from
every consumer Of their current which
amounts 10 5000 q year.
Other cities have solved the problem
and ] hope to see the day that Viii
he
and I could almost die in peace II it
were solved now
Nr Robertson said the company OIL
cials claimed % love Wilmington, yet
they 60 ou side for business and vii
mington suffers He said that he thought
a good deal Of the cPnmi tee that made
the report but he thought they were
wrong and could not vote for It's adop-
HNir Mesrus replied. saying that he
did not intend 90 slight Mr.. Robertson
in not showing him the report. but
that his committe had tried TO ind out
what the trouble was with the COM
pany and that relief had been promised
IN six weeks.
As the city is now enjoying better
service wo did moi think it our duty
go look no an the faults of the COM
bio" he said "wls due 90 lack OF
boiler capacity. The committee asked
90 be- discharged" Mr.. Nearns said.
Councilman johnson agreed with Mt.
Robertson. saying the company was pc
ing let down easy. and suggested mat
the company be raked over the Goals.
he said that the company had not acted
on The level That anyone who had 70
have an attorney 10 do his or their talk
ing was not acting fair.
Councilman Abbc~ger. who had sign
cd the report. said that he was sur
prised at Mr.. Mearns action In pre-
senting it. rs he thought 10 was TO 90
before Council as a committee OF inc
whole for discussion. He said that ne
would vote against its adoption at This
time.
Councilman Forwood said that the
report was not r whitewash ana ne
thought the committee had done us
mitv. This opinion was shared by
councilman Cathcart.
Councilman Robertson again TOOK
the floor and referred 10 the boiler
troubles az the power plant and said
that since the movement started m
Council against the company, that
concern had reduced IFS current TO out
side consumers 10 per cent
Councilman Harrington said that ne
thought the Council should 90 further
into the affairs Of the Traction Com
pany.
Councilman Mcsrns asked that this
committee be discharged, saying mat
II Council desired more Information
on the matter it should appoint new
" committee.
This suggestion was opposed ny
Councilman Johnson, who coniendeo
that the committee should not be dis
charged until the new boilers are m
working condition az the power plant.
Mr.. Abberger said he did not hAe
y,hitewashing. and ne wantcd to go
deeper into the companys affairs. lie
suggested that an expert on eleclrloai
affairs be engaged for this purpose.
President Lyon said that monins
ago Mr.. Heinde Of the Traction Com
many. had promised that the new boil
drs would be- installed within SIX
weeks. and yet they are not ln' ana
the company Is still saying they VIII
he ready in six weeks. Tie called az
fention 10 the fact that in Eikton' Ma-'
I'm which place the Traction Company
furnishes current to operate IN com
petliion with another company there
Is always good service.
10 cafd no knoyv fhe company naQ