Evening journal., 1918-06-17
6-CENT PIECES NEEDED
TO AID TROLLEY LINES
o
shortly
Eeeirie TRANSFORMATION CompanIes.
E,ans Gheago Letter In The philadelphia Public Ledger)

CHICAGO, June l6.-The government
ought 20 be mining sX-cent pieces
millions OF them. Does this seem like
a trivial suggestlon2 It will not so
seem IL the idea Is applied TO a situa-
tlon In the United states involving
transportation lines which have become
in our modern civilization almost as
necessary 10 the man as his feet. II
would be an assertion that the federal
government wants the fares on street
railroads raised from five TO six cents.
that Is, 20 per cent. The policy would
be the subbasis OF everything that needs
10 be done for the public utilities, the
declaration Of a need by the supreme
power Of the country, and almost a
command 10 local authorities TO act in
this matter II Is now generally con
ceded that something should be done
for the public utility companies. not
principally for the benefit Of their
stockholders; but for the good Of the
country at large for the protection Of
these companies from. bankruptcy now
menacing One OF the Inconvenience |
that would follow a Faise.inthe price OF
a ride would be the misnt OF our pres !
ent minor coinage. To hand out a /
nickel and then cent and multiply /
these acts by millions per day would |
involve a waste against which the ef- !
fciency authorities would justly raise |
an outcry.
. The units Of our coinage have chang
ed considerably in the course OF our
history. We have had silver three-cent
pieces, which are now no more, and
copper two-cent pieces. which also have
passed out OF use, not 10 mention the
twenty-cent piece OF the subsidiary
coinage which was abolished because
OF It's liability TO be mistaken for a
quarter. Il is entirely practicable TO
make siX-cent piece and TO place II
among the token coins, having cur
rency value Of the metal in g. These
coins can be manufactured rapidly. as
the rush OF work at the minis to pro-
duce an adequate number Of silver
coins is no longer required.
six-Cent Fares should Not be Hardship
As 10 the price Of a ride, even a per-
son OF small means would probably lit
tie feel the increase from five to six
cents. The increase would be much
less than has occurred In many other
lines OF his expenditures. This ad
vance would be the best basis for any
thing that is TO be done by the govern
ment for these carrying companies. for
II would afford to the lender increased
security on his loan. 10 is suggested
that the abolition OF transfers would
be a useful tributary. There has been
a strong tendency in Chicago and else
where in recent years to force the local
carrying companies TO transport the
passengers 10 any part Of the city and
any distance for a nickel Such re-
qulrement on the companies has been
considered good politics by members OF
the City Council. In this city one may
ride twenty miles for five cents.
The statement is made positively by
persons having close relations with the
federal government that something VIII
be done soon for the public utility com
panies. The government has, however,
shown a disposition all along to make |
the other fellow do its work. Accord |
ingly 10 is now proposed that the banks
shall do the investigating and make
the loans TO the public service COM
panies and that the government shall |
reimburse the banks, taking notes as
evidence Of the Indebtedness The
bankers do not like this method They
have enough to do in the matter OF
handling Treasury certificates and Lib
erty Loans. not TO mention many other
functions OF which. the public knows
nothing. Moreover, much OF the trans
portation and electrical power addi-
tionally called for by thewar is almost
an integral part OF the production OF
munitions and supplies. Some Of the
new munition works. shipyards, etc,
must have transportation created for
them, and the investment is properly
a government affair. Since the money
must come ultimately from the govern
ment, II would seem quite unnecessary
to use the banks as go-between. or
course, paper indorsed by the banks or
notes OF the banks would be a much
better security than straight obliga-