Evening journal., 1918-06-10
SEVEN-CENT Fares
ON IR6LLEYS TODAY
Demand for Tickets on Part
OF Patrons, Railway
Officials Say
COUNCILS INQUIRY
INTO RATE INCREASE


e feet on the Wilmington and Philadel
0 phia Traction Company system thi
morning, and at the same time stril
tickets were sold four for twenty-flv
cents General Manager Thomas W
D Wilson, OF the Traction Company, state
at noon that from reports made by tn
conductors everything was going alonI
smoothly. with travel about as usual
Mr. Wilson stated that there was a gen
eral demand for strip tickets by patron
I In order TO avail themselves OF ca
cent fare Sales OF strip tickets wer,
heavy during the morning, Mr.. Wilson
said.
Members OF City Council on Saturda,
night questioned members Of the BoarC
Of Public Utilities Commissioners abou
the fare, increase. Council Will hold
another meeting on Friday night to con.
sidwer the matter.
Robert G.. Harman, counsel for the
Voters Non-Partisan League, in oppo-
sitlon TO the trolley fare increase. has
filed an appeal from the order OF the
Board OF Public Utilities Commission
ers. which will be heard by the Judges
lof Superior Court in special session on
June\ "a in Wilmington. Mr. Harman
conferred with Chief Justice Pennewill
in Dover on Saturday regarding the
subject and the chief Justice issued a
call for the special term on June "a,
inasmuch as the next regular term OF
Superior Court will not be until Sep
tember. The court, under the section
OF the Public Utilities Board law pro-
vidlng for appeals VIII hear and de-
termine such appeal on the merits OF
the matters forming the basis OF the
order, Increasing the carfares.
The appeal 10 Superior Court does
not aside the seven-cent carfare order
| At the Investigation by City Council
on Saturday night all the members OF
Council, the Utilities Board, Mayor
Lawson and City Solicitor Bayard were
present Councilman Robertson ques-
toned the Utilities Board members, and
was assisted by Mr.. Harman at times.
Several other Councilmen also asked
questions at intervals.
II was nearly $40 o'clock when Presi.
dent Lyon called Council to order, he
having previously announced that Coun-
Gil was holding an important meeting
in the committee room, apparently In
preparation for the larger meeting out
side in the chamber Immediately upon
opening Of the meeting Mr. Lyon an
nounced that all citizens having ques-
tions TO ask should present them in
writing. He explained that the meeting
had been called TO learn the cause Of the
/ increased fare in the city, Council hav-
ing been informed Of the reasons, he
said only through the newspapers.
Clerk Of the Council Homer @. Sim
mons, then read petition from en-
ploys Of the Pullman Company, signed
/ by $50 persons, protesting against the
proposed increase. and another from
citizens of Marshallton, also protesting
against the increase.
Richard C. McMullen, chairman Of
the commission, informed Council that
he did not understand that the making
Of a report on the matter of the fare in
crease was included in the summons 10
the meeting. President Lyon requested
Mr. Simmons TO read the summons and
explained that he thought the proceed |
ings were entirely legal, and that al /
though Council had q right to swear
witnesses that would not be done at this
time. Utility Commissioners McMullen,
@. ID. Garretson, Clarence r. Holt, r. J.
seats az one end Of the Council cham.
Der near the presidents desk. Thomas
f. Bayard, city solicitor, sat near the
commissioners.
Following Mr.. Lyons second request
for a report, Mr.. McMullen produced
report. which he said was certified copy
and gave II to Clerk Of Council Sim
mons to read.
Councilman Robertson then proceeded
TO conduct an examination of the COM
missioners, beginning with Mr.. McNlul-
len.
did or did not the members of the
Public Utilities Commission go over the
receipts of the last four years Of the
traction company" asked Mr.. Robert
son.
"Nol' replied Mr.. McAlullen. I'VE
went over the receipts OF the company
only for the past three months"
Councilman Abberger then interrupted
Councilman Robertson TO ask II the Pub
lie Utilities Commission had filed the
traction company's annual report ac-
cording to law and upon this being
answered in the affirmative asked il
they knew that the Union Street Trac
tion Co., had been indicted for irregu
larities IN connection with the franchise.
Mrg McNullen said he knew nothing Of
that proceeding.
Mr. Robertson asked If Mr.. Wilson,
now president of the traction company
was present II appeared that no off
cials of the company were present and
that no representatives of the company
were there.
Councilman Howard NJ. Ward asked II
Of the commission investigated
the receipts of the company for only
three months.
Mr.. McMullen said he could read the
report OF the engineer who had been
employed by the commission.
Mr.. Robertson objected 10 this and
asked for an answer 10 question. Upon
appeal Of Mr.. McNiullen 10 the chair,
Mr.. Lyon said nc thought direct
answer 10 the question was required
What is your understanding az to {
your duties os a member of the Pub.
lie Utilities Commission ?" asked Coun- 7
Gilman Robertson Mr.. McNlullen sug- |
gested that some other members of the l
commission might answer this question
but President Lyon insisted that an {
answer be given by Mr.. Mcllullen. Mr. {
AicMullen then asked permission 10 read
part Of the law on the subject Of duties q
Of the commission and when this answer
was objected to President Lyon said {
he thought the question required a d.
rect personal answer r
Councilman Robertson asked Mr. Ne.
Mullen II he thought the duty Of the 7
commissioners was 20 the public or to I
the traction company The commission
member objected to the question saying {
81.