Evening journal., 1918-06-21
NOW MOVE To GUST
UTILITIES BOARD
Council Starts Impeachment
Proceedings; Hearing Set
for Thursday
BASED ON GRANT OF
INCREASE IN FARES

Members OF City Council last night
without dissent adopted resolution
presented by Councilman Abborger
calling for a public meeting next
Thursday evening. al which time the
members Of the Board Of Public Utili-
ties Commissioners will be formally
charged with misfeasanoo, nonfeasanoe
and derolictlon OF duty In Office. The
resolution was adopted Rftor members
Of Council had conferred with Robert
q, Harman, counsel for the complain
ants IN the suit against The Wilmington
and Philadelphia Traction Company
pending IN Superior Court 10 try 20 set
aside the order allowing Tho Traction
Company 10 raise Us fare from lyo 10
seven cents.
The Utility Commissioners action In
granting the Traction Company the
Fight 70 increase their fares is made
the basis for impeachment proceedings
In the resolution.
Councilman Kane was absent, but the
twelve other members all voted for the
adoption OF the resolution, which was
as follows;
whereas, The Board Of Public Utlll-
ties Commissioners OF the city of vii
mington has granted 10 the Wilmington
and Philadelphia Traction Company en
Increase IN fare OF from i've 10 seven
cents; and
whereas, This action on the part OF
the Board OF Public Utilities Commits
Kloners has aroused a storm Of public |
protest and indignation against said |
board for granting said increase be-
pause Of the fact that said Board OF
Public Utilities Commissioners IN |
granting said increase, acted hastily |
and without due and proper notice TO |
the public and without proper inquiry
and knowledge, but on the contrary, |
with admitted Ignorance OF the finan- |
pial status and condition OF said Trao-
lion Company according to two sdmss-
lions already publicly made by mem
sers Of said Utility Board; and \
whereas, II Is notorious fact and
sommon talk and so publicly admitted
by the president OF the Board of Pub
10 Utilities Commissioners, that the
took OF said Traction Company Is fun
" water and
whereas. Because Of the above adj
mitted facts and other things there e
A settled public conviction that the said /
Fraction Company was not and Is not
honestly entitled 10 said increase based
upon an honest valuation OF its prop
srty. and the said Board Of Public Utili-
lies Commissioners betrayed the public
interests in granting the increase in the
manner above mentioned when II was
lhe bounden duty and easily within the
legal power OF said Utilities Board to
have required and compelled said
Fraction Company without any cost to
he city whatsoever, TO have bad laid
before 10 the truthful financial status
AZ said Traction Company before even
leriously considering the question OF
sranting any increase at all; therefore
be II
-ResoIved, BY The Council that Il is
he sense OF The Council that public /
1earing be held on the Twenty-seyenth Q
iay Of June. 1918, at 8 o'clock In the I
,veping, and that the members OF said Il
,oard OF Public Utilities Commissioners
,e summoned 20 appear al said meeting Y
With counsel II they so desire. 10 de- n
end themselves against charges OF mis- II
easapce. nonfeasance and general dere- s.
lotion OF duty In Office In granting the :
aid increase In fare above mentioned
nd In the manner above mentioned and !
o show cause, II any there be, why :
hey should not be lmpeached and re- !
moved from office" 4
Following the adoption OF the reso- =
ution Councilman Robertson read the !
ollowing statement concerning Coun- :
lis attitude: 4
"Mr. President and Members OF the !
lounoil: There have been insidious at !
empts made 90 have the public believe !,
hat the action OF the Council In this :
Investigation is dlsrespectful 20 our :
uperior Court The Council wish TO :
sy once and for all that the Council 4
ntertains the very highest respect for :
be Superior Court. These proceedings :
ave been entirely foreign to and diff !
srent from the case In court. The suit
D the Superior Court IS an action TO
revent the Wilmington and Philadel-
hia Traction Company from charging
D unreasonable rate Of fare.
"The Investigation by The Council
exercised under express charter pow