Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-10
With Other Editors
TaIkine About Increased O. Fares.

Talking About Increased Car Fares
We have been watching with interest, in vari-
GUS parts Of the country, the adjustments Of the rate
increases asked for by public service corporations
and the attitude assumed by the companies in ask
ing for increase, the attitude toward the com
panies assumed by those who have the power pub
lie officials to grant these increases, the attitude
sumed by the public toward both the companies and
the public officials, and the attitude assumed by
gained labor on the question in general
The companies invariably have asked for an in
crease because they claim without they would be
running at a loss. The cost Of operating has not
gone down. as every one knows But whether a
company is entitled to increase has to be threshed
out in each individual case Some claim the com
panes have made enough in the past to insure them
to some time yet without going into bankruptcy.
That, of course, is a disputed question and we are
not going to argue it here.
In many cases the public officials who have the
power to grant these increases usually look around
TO see how their constituency feels about it If there
is great opposition they may grant it; but if there
is they like to place the burden Of responsibility on
the public Uy letting the public decide.
No one wants to pay more for their service than
they have to, no matter what the service may be-
Neither do they want to pay more for butter eggs,
meat, any of the other necessities of life. But
the fact remains that they are paying more just the
same.
The position Of organized labor is perhaps the
most consistent and the squarest Of all Organized
labor knows that if its members are to secure an in
crease in wages to help pay the increased cost of
living, they are more.apt to get it from going con-
Germ than from one that is threatened with bank
ruptcy In Battle Greek the Trades and Labor coun-
Gil when the question of increased rates OF fare came
up adopted the following resolutions:
Whereas Realizing the increased cost of oper-
ating the street car system in Battle Creek as well
as elsewhere the increased cost of materials neces
sary to the maintenance of the road the necessary
wage increases that the employees may meet the
rapidly increasing cost Of living, the increasing
population which necessitaes better service, more
and better cars and more convenient schedule, he
Resolved, That in order that these increased
costs may be met by the street car company in order
that the men in their employ may secure better
wages and conditions, and better service may be
secured. etc. the Battle Greek Trades and Labor
council does hereby indorse the sx-cent street car
fare"
In Nuskegon, R. L. Reeves, international score
tray of the Street Railway Employees, said recently
a meeting Of the Trades and Labor council OF
that city that he held no brief for any company
wouldn't when it came to increase of rates; but
he knew from experience that when the members Of
his organization asked for an increase in wages and
it could be secured no other way except by an in
crease Of rates. that organized labor had always
stood with the members Of his organization"
President Wilson and Secretary 8cAdoo have both
issued statements to the public need this time
of these corporations, and also the need of seeing
that proper support be given them We have seen
the railroads taken by the government and i'm
mediateIy increases were made IA both passenger
and freight rates If judgment is not used in these
matters We may find ourselves in a worse fix than
we at the present time It evolves itself down
to the fact that the various companies must prove
that they entitled to increase, and we'll hank
on the public doing the right thing.-Grnnd Rapids
(IIIchJ Observer.