Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-06-03


cars.
rampaigu should be started TO
educate the people into boarding cars
at the rear doors and leaving by the
front doors.
Nfotormen should increase the
coasting time.
There should be new regulations
coverniuo the amount of paving the
eomnapv is required 70 do. Ii now
has Ia nave between the tracks and
az inches on each side. He recon-
mended a reduction Of the 36 inches
TO IS inches.
Freight charges should be in
creased.
The rotary capacity Of the Fifth
street sub-station should be in
creased.
Boosters should be eliminated
from the rotary sub-stations.
The unit fare zone should stop at
the city limits. with additional charge
for rides beyond.
GOING REHlND FrNANCIALLN-
He reviewed business conditions with
the romnanv during the year from June
|. 1917 to june / 1918 Traffic, he pointed
out decreased in December and during
rho first three months Of this wear
The gross revenue during the year WAS
81. $50 0OOl a little over two per cent IN
excess Of the gross revenue 81 the pre-
ce,iInc wear An increase in fare to SIX
cents he thought would increase the
revenue 10 To - per cent, while an m
crease to seven cents ought 10 increase u
Is toll is per cent but even with the latter
he said the prospect was not very promls-
ing. because of the deficit now existing
RECOMMENDS SEVEN CENTS.
He recommended a seven-eent
fare. temporarily at least. suggesting
that the board authorize its trial Tor
three months, the board at the end OF
that time TO make an investigation. To
ascertain whether il would be neces-
sary 10 continue il or a reduction
would be warranted.
Following the presentation OF the recon-
mendations the board began their con
sheraton.
ARGUMENT FRO AND cos.
The board heard argument for and
against the company.s application
General Manager Wilson on the Traction
60 had economical He cited as an
instance that il had obtained IS new l5-toa
cars that would carry four passengers
each more than 27-ton cars IN use IN
Buffalo. \ Y The company, ne said.
had difficulty In meeting interest on bonds,
James O'kane. representing the Cen
tral Labor Union, protested against any
increase in fare He said the company
was overcapitalized and If II were not Tor
that fact il would not be necessary TO
increase the fare.
DR.. Henry r. Spruance spoke Of the
large bonded debt of the company he
said that while the lines were valued at
between 1900, 900 and S2,O0O0O. the
company had agreed to pay interest on
| a bonded debt of s., 500 600.
Mr. Wilson, in reply. said the property
! had uuadrupled II value.
! Herbert II Ward, attorney Tor the
| company SAID the consolidation OF the
| DropertIes was effected IN 1910, since which
! time new equipment has been installed
/ which cost great deal of money, though
! some OF il had TO be experimental. Much
| machinery become obsolete in FIVE years
| The bonded debt incurred since 1910, he
| said was TO paw for improvements. The
| improvements had 10 be made and the
| bondholders are entitled TO money they
| had loaned for the purpose.
Richard { McMullen. president OF the
| Utility Commission. gave hint that II
the event OF the fare being increased the
city might increase the taxes on th'
property. whereupOn Chairman James "
Robertson OF the finance committee o
Council said last year the company pait
the clty 500 500 in taxes.
{. D GarretsOn member OF th
board said that had nothing 20 do witt
the matter al issue. Changing the sub
ject he asked Mr. Wilson whether II va
proposed TO increase he fare outside thu
city.
Mr Wilson said the bought was I,
increase II. the same as III ne city, IN eacl
fare zone outside
4 Commissioner GarTetsOn remarkIng ha
the cars Al times were 50 crowded that al
fares could not be collected Mr Wilson
said this loss was negligible Continuing
Mr.. Wilson said by increasing the fare t.
seven cents the company should obtaiI
efficient men.
Superintendent Geigcr SAID II car
could not be operated. as men could not b.
gotten to put them in condition.
-Four members Of the carmen's commit
tee. who served during the recent strike
were at today's hearing, advocating ar
increase in fare to seven cents. They
pointed To the increase IN cost OF living
and uniforms, expressing the beilei ina
with q ten-cent increase IN wages, SOM
Of the old men can he gotten back
One Of the committeeman SAID he anC
five others had been offered jobs 70 90 q
TODAY at IS cents an hour
did the offer come from shlpyarC
mem" Mr. McMullcn asked
''No. was the reply, from du Pom
man
"Then, said Mr. McMullen, "whil
representative Of the government wa
trying to get you to 90 back to work,
du Point man was trying to get you away
James p Winchester, who had favore
six-cent raise, said he now favored
raise Of seven cents and said he woul
not be surprised TO see universal rat
Of ten cents before long
One Of the trolley men remarked tha
the relations between the company an
men were now cordial Il sweated bloc
during the strike Manager Wllsc
| remarked
At this juncture recess was taken unt
30 clock
COMPANY : POSITION
General Manager Wilson of the Tr@ctiC