The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-10-29
ORDINANCE READY
ASKING FOR MORE
STREET CAR FARE
Company Asks for Immediate
Relief Pending a Definite
Decision by Special CON-
mission.

Attorneys for the Memphis Street
Railway company have prepared a ten
tative draft Of an ordinance to be pre-
scented to the city commissioners ask
ing that an increase in fare he granted
Immediately to remain in effect pend
ing the determination Of a permanent
arrangement to continue during the
emergency or the Will of the city com
mission.
Fhe ordinance will ask that relief be
given at onCe and that the city commits
sion appoint a representative. the street
railway company one n the two TO
select a third, or, in the event of their
inability to agree. the third member be
appointed by Judge John Il. Mccall, OF
the United States court.
1t is proposed that this committee 60
thoroughly into all the details OF the
question and that their decision be
acted upon by the city commission. 1t
is asked that the commissioners incor-
porate in the ordinance the right to ter
inmate the Increase granted, either ten
tatiVely or as a result of the inVeSti-
cation of the committee, when the ne
cessity for the increase no longer eX-
lists. Counsel for the street railway
company state that they ask nothing
more than that the rights of the peo-
pie be carefully Safeguarded by leaving
the termination of the agreement to
the city commission,
. Official copies of the war boards de-
cision in the wage controversy between
the employees and the street railway
company in which an advance Of about
so per cent over existing wages wa
| granted, beginning Aug. l, were received
Monday by the firm OF Wright, Miles
Wafing g. Walker aud by G. NJ. Bryan
1.-the firms representing the street rail
way company.
This decision declares definitely tina
the public should pay an adequate wa
compensation for a service which car
not be rendered except for wal prices,
and recommends an increase Of at leas
one cent in fare and probably NOR,
than that.
The part of the award relating TO in
creased fare is as follows:
"This increase in wages Will add SUB
~stantially TO the operating cost Of tn
company. The company is now In
failing condition, and it needs and /
entitled to a reconsideration by tn
proper authorities OF the fare which
shall be allowed by law to collect from
its We recommend to thos
authorities that there should he an in
crease Of at least n cent, so as t
make the fare six cents, and pTobabl,
more thar that.
This is not a question turning o
the history of the relations between tn
local street railway and the people o
AeIIlplllS' Inc tollpdlS y JuSI CAdlI
for an increase in fares does not res
upon any right to a dividend upon cap
ltal long invested in the enterprise. TIL
Increase in fare must be given beCaus
Of the immediate pressure for none
receipts now TO keep this street rail
way running. so hat it may meet tn
local and national demand for its serv
ice. Tho credit of the company in float
ing bonds is gone Its ability to Dor
row on short notes, If any, Is most lin
tied, The ~eXigency presented arise
because of the great increase in tn
cost of material and of operation an
In the need for an increase in wages
The public should pay an adequate wa
compensation for a service which ca
not be rendered except for war prices.