Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-03-27

best evidence obtainable, and as in
all other work, likewise so in this,
experience is the best teacher OF
what these various raises will pro-
duce. They cannot be predicted
exactly; but they are not founded
on guesswork. They are founded
on such experience as has been had
in the country, and as the case goes
on, will be proven to you.
One would naturally, at first
blush, perhaps think that raise
from five to a seven cent fare.
would increase the-being forty
per cent. raise, would increase the
gross revenue of the company forty
per cent. So 1t would, II everybody
rode. But 1t won't. 1t won't do
anything like it. AS I say, we have
We think we know something
about this business. We have avail
ed ourselves of the experience of all
other companies in the country to
which anything of this kind has
been applied, and we have, after
thorough study and investigation,
prepared study of what we think
these raises will produce, and for
which am prepared to stand,
frankly admitting they are not ex-
act; they can't be exact from the
very nature of the case.
To start 1t the other way around /:
1t is our judgment that a six cent
fare, over five cent fare, will pro-
duce a ten per cent. increase in the
revenue of the company to which 1t
is applicable; not twenty per cent.
increase, but ten per cent. In
lcrease. And this is borne out by
the experience of many companies,
such as the Bay State Company,
such as the Connecticut Company,
and many others. 1t doesn't neces-
sarily mean it well be ten per cent.
upon every line; some will be more
and some will be less, but upon q
ours, 1t is our opinion, and we will
endeavor to supplement 1t by such
evidence as can be presented, that
the ten per cent. increase-that q
six cent fare will produce a ten per
cent. increase. which in money is
l$1,850.000.
So, without going more into de-
tail Of where our facts come from,
iexcept as I may be questioned Il
would be glad to tell you all I know
about it), we think seven cent
fare will produce fifteen per cent
increase. Some people, and some
ill-informed people, think that 1t is
too high, but 1t is our best judg-
ment, that a flat seven cent fare
in place Of five cent fare, will
produce fifteen per cent. increase:
which transformed into money in
this case, is $2,800,000.
And we think that a two cent
flare imposed on a seven cent fare
(that makes a difference on what
fare It Is imposed on, what 1t will
lproduce), two cent transfer will
lproduce $85O.000. We figure that
only eight-four per cent. Of the pass
|engers will ride on the seven cent
fare, and that fifty per cent. Of those
who have taken transfers before will
take them, and that number OF
transfers will produce a total OF
I$S5O.000; which would produce q
total revenue of $3,650.000, plus
the seven cent fare.
Commissioner Donges: That H.
your percentage of transfers are
about forty per cent. of the riders7
Mr.. McCarter: Our records OF
the percentage Of transfers to total
passengers is about twenty-five PEI
cent.
Commissioner Donges, Twenty
two per cent?
Mr.. McCarter: Yes.
Mr.. Bergen: These increases CO.
yer a period Of eight months OF
twelve months7
Mr.. McCarter: Twelve months.
Mr.. Wakelee: A years figures
Mr.. McCarter; A years figures
which are based on a twelve months
basis.
Mr.. HERMANN: Just for inform
alton again.; your calculation is bas-
ed on last years passengers carried
lor the estimated increase?
Mr.. McCarter: Last years figur-
es. That amount Of $3.50. 900
which Is the seven cents and the
two cents and the one cent, is ap-
Iproximately the sum Of money we
have asked for here.
Commissioner Donges. You have
not given the addition Of the one
cent.
Mr.. McCarter: That is triNing
It is very small quantity. There
were about twenty million of trans.
lIeTS laSL year, L. luluh. wen, IL
runs into $4,000 or, $4,000 a
year; a very small sum of money
flor the one cent or the second trans
fer fare.
We have figured this in every
way we could, and I will be perfect
lily willing to let this statement be
Iput in evidence: Seven cent fare
with two cent transfer, which in.
lcludes the one cent, or second trans.
fer
Commissioner DOnges: Very well
Mr.. McCarter: We figured 1t or
the six cent fare, with the suspen'
sion of the transfer right entirely
which produces about the same sum
of money, in our judgment. We
have figured that seven cent fare
with a one cent transfer on sever
Icent fare. We have figured a si1
lcent fare, with a two cent transfer;
and we have figured a six cent fare
with one cent transfer; and we
have figured a two cent transfer and
"a one cent transfer by itself. We
Thought we would give the Commits
lsion, and those interested the best
Judgment we could on all these
fares and combinations.
The two which, in our judgment
about produce. and the only two
lobouf yroducipO o. tho ann 0f mon oy