Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-09-24
GOVERNMENT AND
PUBLIC UTILITIES
Federal Authorities Are Con
fronted With Duty of Looking
Into Trolley Fares.
Special Dispatch From Every Evening $
Mns hing Ion Correspondent.

Special Dispatch From Every Evening $
Washington Correspondent
Washington Sept 24-One of the
most important moves yet made by the
administration to put the government
on 100 per cent war basis; involving
Federal control OF activities heretofore
considered wholly subject to State jur-
lsdication. may shortly he announced
The government Is seriously con-
slderlng plans To take supervision over
the public utilities of the country whether
wholly within one State or not. II may
take the form of proclamation hy the
President calling ON State Public Service
commissions. municipalities etc. to
recognize the abnormal conditions cx-
isting in the industry. including poor
service, by granting increased rates,
for the period of the war only, when a
showing is made indicating that such
relief is essential.
MAYBE MORE DRASTIC.
Action. on the other hand may bc
far more drastic \ program which has
been advised contcmplatcs:
I. \ national Administrator, or board
of three, with powers of recommendation,
advice or request TO the State and NUM-
clpal authorities
, No disturbance of the rate and
service powers now inherent IN State
and local bodies. except insofar rs these
bodies may voluntarily subordinate their
authority to the Federal recommended
tions for wartime emergency.
3 H'sc of the various State commissions
hv tho Federal Administrator for all
purposes of inquiry. investigation, etc.
Complaints are pouring INTO Wash
ingtou from all over the mon that
urban transportation service has he
come ntoicIahlc Il ls stated that many
companies have had to buy money NJ
rs high as l3' per cent Net income
Of the electro railways of the nation
showed II decrease of ~ pcr cent for
he first three months Of this year as
compared with the corresponding period
last wear. while the operating ratio is
over 30 pcr cent and approaching 100
per cent. which IS bankruptcy
The national War Labor Board Is
ordering increased wages generally II
Is pointed ont that Federal interference
IN wage disputes without corresponding
Federal machinery to consider increases
in revenue points tho way To sure financial
disaster and Is untcnahlc III principle
MIR Taft and MIR Walsh have united
in recommending to the President that
special congressional legislation he en-
acted TO enable some executive agency
Of the Federal Government to consider
the very pcrlouS financial condition Of
the electric street railways of the country
and 10 raise fares IN each case IN which
the circumstances require Il The increase
Of fares must hc gwen because Of the
immediate pressure for money receipts
now to keep the street railroads running
SO that they may meet the local and
national demand for their service Over
capitalization, corrupt methods. cNor-
hitant dividends IN the past arc not
relevant to the question Of policy IN the
present eXIgCnCy
Which method tho President will
adopt is still in doubt but in announce
ment of policy viii shortly bc made
and it is understood that relief Of some
sort Is certain ANY increases gwen viii
be for the period the war only. ~ the
Government authority to act would
come FROM the war power only
Will HAVE To SHOW t>USE.
so far As Wilmington is concerned
whatever the policy decided on MAY he
no change Of rates would bc permitted