New-York tribune., 1918-08-02
u. s. Increases
Carmen s Pay;
May.Raise Fare
Continued from page 1

the wartime emergency, as we believe
would almost universally be done.
"Use of the state commissions by the
Federal administrator or board for all
purposes of inquiry, investigation, as
certainment and report of facts, and CO.
operation in recommendations, where
needed, with the state or local authori-
ties.
"Any increases granted should, of
course, be for the war period only. The
foregoing machinery as to increases in
rates should be available also to ac-
complish betterments in service, to
meet the needs of workers in war in
dustries or for the general public"
That President Wilson has been
urged to intervene in the local street
railway situation from many quarters
was indicated in a statement issued
by Judge William l.. Ransom, counsel,
and Travis H. Whitney and F. j. H.
Kracke, members of the Public Service
Commission. They said:
"Presdent Wilson has been deeply
concerned as to the electric railway
situation in many of the states, and
has been strongly solicitous that the
essential service rendered by these
transportation lines be kept at high
efficiency and the wartime bankruptcy
of any Of the important companies and
systems averted. Representatives of
the National War Labor Board. the
Federal Reserve Bank, the War FL
nance Corporation, the Capital Issues
Committee, the American Federation
of Labor and other organizations have
strongly urged upon the President the
necessity of Federal action in the mat
President has been urged either to
take over and operate the street rail
ways of the country as he has the
steam railroads or to assume a Fed
eral power to fix these intra-city rates
during the war"
Letter to President
The letter to President Wilson con-
tanning the recommendations, in part
follows:
Dear Mr.. Presidents: We understand
that you are now considering ways and
means for assuring the maintenance of
adequate rates and service of street
and electric railways during the war
period. The subject is of such i'm
portance that the war committee of the
National Association of Railway and
Utilities Commissioners has given it
thorough consideration at a session
held in Washington this week.
This letter will outline to you Il
plan and procedure for dealing with the
problems of these utilities and a basis
OF affording emergency relief, where
needed, and, at the same time, conserv-
ing the essential public service rem
dered by them.
The members Of the war committee G
realize keenly the public Importance of
the situation as to the electric rail
way utilities. The committee is ear
nestly deSlrous, as are also, we believe
the public service commissions of the
various states, of cooperating in every
/ practicable way with you and with other
/ public authorities who NAV be charge Il
with the duty of seeking a solution OF
this difficult problem in manner which
snail 90 no unnecessary violence to our
concepts OF governmental control.
ne members Of the war committed
recognize that, during the period of
inc war, you and your representatives
have right to concern Yourselves wiz
the maintenance of these local public
utii'ties at high operating efficiency
and that therefore, you have a right
70 20 urge upon the companies and upon
the proper state and municipal author
lties the mutual adoption Of such
measures as may seem mos. likclv to
{ avert the dangers which in MANY in
! stances threaten.
Administrator Asked
ut would seem clear that whatever
action is taken, under Federal auspices
: or otherwise, should properly recognize
that each application for an increase in
rates or curtailment in service should
be separately considered and deter
mined on it's own merits by a tribunal
representative Of the public interest
Not every application which is made
7 should be granted; not every rate
should be increased above the figure
charged before the war No way should
be opened whereby the existence of n
wartime emergency could be made y
cloak or cover for an effort to re-
, habilitate enterprises unprofitable and
foredoomed to failure before the war
started. No Federal action should seek
to prompt an increase greater than is
commensurate with the burdens place
upon the particular utility by the
war.
"But at this time we arc CONSIDERING
methods Of administration rather than
questions Of authority We feel that
the national emergency calls for nc.
ton. Utilities must be safcguarded.
Capital must not be driven away from
this avenue Of investment. The Dcople