Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-05-10


newspaper voicing first the interests
of tho public at large, we suggest
that at the hearing before the Public
Utilities Commission, the Eennebec
cities served by the lines of the j.,
a. a. W. Street Railway, should he
represented by the best legal talent
to he had. With MS, it is not Ques-
ton OF dwelling upon the mistakes
or mismana cement OF the part of the
road in the past. or the grievances of
the public of which we have ample
evidence. but of securing the services
of this utility in the future in a
manner. to use their own words, that
is safe and dependable" If the
company can guarantee such service
! TO patrons of the road in future. as
is expected of any successful bust
ness firm, whose success depends
upon competition for public favor,
then il is UP to the patrons in Ken
] HeotC tititS " ueCiue IL tneE cstll
promise sufficient patronage under
the new and increased rates to sup
port the road at it's own figures.
| II the proposed increase Of rates is
granted by the Public Utilities Com
mission. the people of the supporting
territory will be anxious to know
what guarantee Is to be furnished
them that in the next period of diff
flcult operation, the company will not
show the same indisputable lack of
enterprise, energy, and desire to give
even approximately fair service" to
the public. that it has so VIGOROUSLY
demonstrated to every patron Of the
road between Gardiner and Augusta,
at least. in the period specified as the
determining factor in demanding an
increased rate.
We need not further specify or
dence at hand to substantiate this
perfectly fair and frank statement of
fact. but would say that had any
business house in any Kennebec city
managed its affairs upon the same
lax, independent. don't -give-a-rap
plan as that under which the local
lines. at least, Of the L.. A. & w.
Street Railway have been operated
since the autumn of 1917, such con-
Germ would not only be out Of SYM
pathy with the public, but would find
itself without the friendship or
patronage of the citizens. In other
words. the support that has been
given to the L., A. & w. Street Rail-
way has been that of necessity, and
not the good will offering of a public
that is appreciativc and proud of its
means of local transportation We
may add that this referred to "neces-
sity" has been founded in previous
months and years upon business and
residential confidence in its public
utility.
We cannot attempt to estimate
how great the loss has been to BUSH
ness firms in our Kennebec cities in
the last eight months. because of the
notorious failure of the L., A. e. w.
to meet It's charter obligations and
, give safe and dependable service"
but We do know that the delay and
consequent loss OF wages to en-
ployees; the annoyance and loss of
time and service to employers, and
the general DISCRIMINATION Of rou-
tine in some business places as a re-
suit Of failure OF this transportation
utility to meet its charter obliga
tions. have brought forth numberless
expressions of Indignation and that
these complaints and protests have
hecn many times met in a manner
neither satisfying nor courteous.
All these things should be consid-
cred. and the public should defend it.
self from the charge that it has vio-
lated its part Of the contract to sup
port an efficient and courteous public
utility. We do not question the state
mcnt OF affairs of the company, but
we do insist that there is strong
ground for the assertion that the
company is suffering in returns upon
its investment very largely because
OF its own inefficient management.
and lack of manifest desire to main
tain the good will of the supporting
public.
The company says that all II asks
is that Judgment be withheld until
all the facts are known and that the
judgment be fair and candid upon the
facts as determined by the commits
sion. That is all the public asks in
determining the question at issue, but
II demands assurance that it is to be