Evening journal., 1918-05-08

ployes a scale Of wages as liberal as ,
our income would permit and we gave
our trainmen an increase in January
1918. notwithstanding the fact that we
could IN afford to do so. We must now
compete with the wage scale Of war in
dustries which are receiving war prices
for their products, and IL Is no longer
possible for us to secure or retain sur
ncicnt men TO operate our present troll
ley schedule at our present rate OF
wages. The service is, therefore, being
curtalled. the cars overcrowded ana
the public inconvenience. and unless
we can secure an increase OF revenue
sufficient TO enable us TO give our en-
ployes a substantial wage increase. the
curtailment Of service. due TO lack OF
men. Will soon become so serious as 10
result In great detriment TO the bust
ness and industrial activity OF this
community This situation Is rapidly
reaching a crisis as over 80 per cent. of
our tralnmen have left our service ia
the past eight weeks, TO seek more lu-
crative employment elsewhere, and IL
has been impossible TO replace all or
them. We estimate that an increase or
DC an hour IN the schedule OF wages
paid our trainment. will result In an
! increase Of about $4,000 per annum IL
/ operation expenses.
Based upon the experience Of the
/ past five years. 10 will be necessary for
| the company 90 spend out Of its earn
/ ings. i'm order 20 comply with its paw
| ing obligations within the city OF VIII
mington, the sum OF about S3500O per
year. For 1918 the expenditure should
! be larger than this amount. as the
track and paving on Delaware avenue,
from Tatnall 20 Scott street, should be
relaid and the estimated cost Of our
portion Of the work is sG000O 10 VIII
be impossible for MS 90 pay for any OF
the paving and track work in 1913, un-
less we get an increase in trolley fare
ut is essential that forebearance and
4 consideration be exercised by .he state
commissions and municipal authorities
and that the corporations also be per
mitted 20 much such additions to their
charges for service as will keep in them
the breath OF sOyency protect theiI
owners against unjust loss and give
them a basis Of credit on which they
may obtain funds with which TO meet
the strain put on them by Government
needs. The breaking down Of these cor.
pOratlons would be a national calam
ity."
Mr.. William G. McAdoo, Secretary O
the Treasury Of the United States, wal
so impressed with the extreme neces
slty Of the public utilities that he ad
dressed p letter to the President Of th'
United States, dated February -, 1918
in which he said
"Our public service utilities arr
a D.
sential part OF our preparations for an'
successful prosecution Of the war an'
70 the unfavorable tendencies which tn
II accompanying papers reveal may mos
effectively be checked, wherever the
may be found to exist. and the neede
relief obtained only by prompt actioi
on the part Of the respective local au
\ thorities. ! earnestly hope that yO
! may feel justified in the conviction
that the vital part which the publ
r. utilities companies represent I'm the liz
! and war-making energy OF the natiO
y ought 10 receive fair and Just recognl
u tion by State and local authorities"
The President OF the United State
p replied to this letter as follows;
70 "I have examined with care IN
= memoranda and letters which 20
a transmitted to me with your letter {
+ the fifteenth. l fully share the view
o you express regarding the important
= Of the public service utilities as a pa
s OF our national equipment, especial
in wartime.
It is essential that these utiliti'
u should be maintained al their max
r mum efficiency and that everythin
reasonably possible should be dor
u with that end I'm view. I hope tina
70 state and local authorities, wheI
they have not already done so, vii
u when the facts are properly laid b.
J. fore them, respond promptly TO the M
II cessities OF the situation.
g 81 shall be glad to have you commI
y nicate with the local authorities wheI
~ ever the information in your posses
T. sion suggests that such course is dI
s. sirable and in the national interests"