Evening journal., 1918-05-08

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and Union Railway, whose lines are
operated by the Wilmington and Phiia-
delphia Traction Company. There Is no
fare restriction in the charter Of the
Wilmington and Philadelphia Traction
Company.
It is understood that the Traction
Company officials believe, in lieu Of
what has been done by the Public Util-
tiles Commissions in New Jersey and
other States in the way Of granting fare
increases, that the Wilmington Board Of
Public Utilities Commissioners have
power to grant fare increase for this
city, Notwithstanding the provisions IN
the charters granted In 1864 and 1892 fix
ing fares at i've cents. City Solicitor
Bayard, I'm his opinion to the board, Is
expected TO pass upon this question.
The board adopted a motion Of G. D.
Garrcison to communicate with sew
eral electrical engineers, asking them
TO come TO Wilmington TO ascertain
whether or not the Wilmington and
Philadelphia Traction Company Is oper-
ating It's lines economically. The Trac-
tiOn Company is requested by another
motion TO file a statement Of its operat-
ing revenues and expenses during the
month Of April and TO separate the
operating expenses Of The railway lines
from the light and power expenses in
the figures set forth In its petition.
In the petition the Traction Company
points out the difference between for
mer costs Of labor, materials and oper-
ating and the expenses OF today. 10 Is
claimed by the traction officials that II
the rates are not increased, the annual
deficit will be SS5,OO0. Also, It Is claim
ed that II an increase OF 1--WE cents an
hour In wages is granted TO the EN-
ployes, $4,000 more yearly will be re-
uuired for the company's payroll, max
ing a prospective deficit Of Si65OOO II
the fares should remain the same as at
present.
The petition gives comparative sta
tistics and other exhibits In support OF
the request for the increase and sets
forth fare increases granted in other
clties.
The exhibits recite resolutions ap-
proved at the annual convention Of the
United States Chamber Of C0mmerc'
held In Chicago last month. setting
forth that the country's utilities should
be kept at the highest efficiency anf
that It is essential not only 30 the wal
program Of the United States, but als'
10 the nations business, industrial ant
public interests.
ACCOMMODATING the formal petition fol
a fare increase was a letter Of Thoma
W. Wilson. vlce-president and Genera
manager Of the traction company, dis
cussing the imperative need Of lnancla
relief confronting the company. Mr
Wilson's letter reads:
Wilmington, Del, May 6, 1918.
Board Of Public Utility Commissioners
Municipal Building, Wilmington
Delaware.
Gentlemen: We regret being com
pelled to again appeal to your honor
able body for relief In the critical stu
alton in which we find. ourselves, as
result OF the war We had hoped tina
the increase in our light and powe
rates, which your board approved, el
fective March 4. 1913. would be sun
oient TO meet our needs, but the resu
of our March operations shows that a
increase in our trolley fare Is ais
necessary. The enormous and unpr'
oedented increase in the cost or every
thing which enters into the cOnstrul
tion, maintenance and operation OF a
electric railway has overwhelmed u
ana mas uduo 10 hhpoa7iDlD AZ N'
continue to carry passengers at a raj
Of fare considered reasonable q year
ago, In view Of the fact that the pre-
ent cost Of labor is from 100 per cen
to 200 per cent. greater and the cost
material has increased from 400 p'
cent. to 400 per cent. No private bus
ness could remain solvent under sue
conditions and neither can the electr
railway business.
The result Of trying TO operate undl
the present rate is shown in the il
come statement Of operations with
the State of Delaware, by the Whining
ton and Philadelphia Traction Compan
for the first quarter OF 1918, certinC
to by Lybrand, Ross Bros. and Mon
gomery, certified public accountant
This statement follows: