Evening journal., 1918-07-13

CHICAGO. Ill. July H.-Hurry mp
yUu Government OF the United states
and mint those six-cent pieces Wnilt
you are about Il you may az wei make
some sevens, for some OF the trolley
fares are up 10 that level. Your atten-
tion was called 90 this subject some
weeks AGO Street railway rates are 10
be advanced and nobody wants to both
er with a nickel and a cent or nickel
and two cents or consume the time OF
the universe In handing out ten-cent
bit and getting back four cents Know
We that things are TO be cut smaller III
this country hereafter than they have
been in the past. when the proud Amer
lean refused 10 think anything below
nickel or a split between a nickel ana
dime. except In rewardlng the poor
newspapermsn for his labor In pub
fishing world intelligence.
In Europe they have half pennies ana
farthlngs and centlmes and other bacilli
OF business. We have got 10 come 10 IT.
n will extend 20 all lines Of commercial
interchange. Long since it WAS fntro-
duced in our international trade. where
the foreign exchange man sells at a
given price plus one sixty-f0urth. You
do not need TO nsht for the half cent
every time, as some thrifty persons are
said TO do as means OF achieving
wealth, for there Is certain magnin
cent generosity In the highly devel-
oped civilized man which will disre-
gard little balance like that. but you
have got 10 come down TO tho small
things in exchange. Tho Government
says so, Even tho Government itself, |
after these many years OF depicting the
spruce forests Of Canada, proposes TO
introduce some economies in the use Of
paper.
The first thing, however, Is the pub
No utility companies, particularly the
interurhan roads. Everybody knows
that expense has so outrun income that
there Is great danger OF bankruptcy I'm
many cases. High authorities in this
city express the opinion that the out
look OF these companies is improving
simply because the Government az
Washington lives"
That Government WIN probably say
"ralse fares" and fares will be raised.
Never mind the minute contingencies
OF the law. Washington has pretty
much had It's way in everything so far,
Irrespective Of the tradition Of the eld-
ers. The companies cannot walt for
action by the local authorities. The
surface companies OF Chicago are op-
Grated under a contract with the muni-
cipslity by which they give up 80 per
cent. OF their net earnings TO the city
This contract was approved by refer
endum and the question would flrst
have 20 be trailed through a City Coun-
oil which Is an adept I'm obstructive
tactics and would then have TO meet
such opposition In the field as would
surely come from persons ignorant OF
the subject or preiudiced. We face an
emergency and must have quick action.
The attitude of the public on this
subject is by no means an unreasonable
one, but rather expressive Of a dlsposi-
tion TO be fair, and there would be no
serious kick from any quarter II the
President or the director general OF
railroads should order an increase. In
many cities Increases have already
been ordered by the local authorities.
The same conditions exist In other pub
lie service corporations. such as the
telephone companies and the power and
light companies. All these are trlbu-
larry In one degree and another TO the
grand purpose OF the country and, as
/ war measure, designed 10 keep our :
Industries and finances In sound con-
Iition, there can be no question OF the
OF such action. II is the
pinion Of Chicago experts that six
ents would be a sufficiently high fare
n the local transportation lines, but
hat is probably not the fact every
shere IN the country. Accounts should
e taken OF the certainty that there will |
e further demands for increases in
iages. Nor is there any disposition
mong the owners OF these properties
D deny that such increase should be |
ranted. The high cost OF living is
caring heavily on many a poor family.
IL is not merely a question between
he income from fares and rates and
he outgo for expenses Of operation.
very system OF any importance
over, light, transmission OF sound,
r transportation OF persons, has an ex-
ension account. That does not mean
lerely that the company is reaching