Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-14
Hot Shot Fired
at p. Il. T. Service

Continued from Page One
during rush hours has increased at least
10 per cent. pointing out that the COM
parison Is unfair because no green cars
only the old style yellow cars-were In
service in 1911. No new cars were added
between 1914 and 1917, when the num-
Der of passengers carried increased "a
per cent, he said. giving passengers car
ried as 5sS.S54.662 in 1914 and 73l,-
47O.s79 in 1917.
Take another comparison" the
statement continued in part. "The
figures here given are official, being
taken from the company's own reports.
The company states In its answer that
in February. 1918, the number of cars
required for its evening peak load was
2l27. In 1914 the normal maximum
cars operated were 2126. In 1917 the
normal maximum cars operated were
22215. This was only per cent increase
In the normal maximum number. of cars
operated. while during that time the
increased number of passengers carried
was "a per cent.
These figures speak for themselves
and show conclusively that instead of
| the seating capacity in the cars being
| increased 1t has actually decreased In
| proportion to the number of passengers
! carried.
| Inadequate Renewals
"As to the renewal fund of the COM
pany arising from setting aside Is per
cent of the gross receipts, 1t is no won
| der the physical condition of the com
/ pany's equipment was so disastrous 10
the public when we find that out of tlse
renewal fund of $i.283.0i2 only s3S6,9iS
was spent for renewals.
Another remarkable showing that ap-
pears from the company's report Is. that
while the gross receipts increased six
millions and the passengers increased
over two hundred millions between 1911
and 1917, the increased cost of main
tenance was beggarly 100000. This
would not be enough to pay for the
wear and tear on the pen used in writ
ing the check for Mr. Mitten's salary OF
500, 900 per annum. The only improve.
ment in equipment claimed by the com.
pany in their answer Is stated as fol
lows: 1T (the company has under.
taken during the last year tho recon
struction of 100 double-truck open carr
into closed cars of the pay-withn type
Forty of these cars have been put into
service
such system is well worthy t.
receive over 5000, 900 in fares from &
generous people. while the compan,
| was standing the enormous financia
strain of changing forty summer car:
into closed cars II added to the unex
pended renewal fund s671.973. There
fore we have before us company which
is an examplar of economical manage
ment, whose war cry is more dividends
more passengers less equipment
Specific charges of dangerous service
filthy cars and uncivil employees in tn,
Northeast were filed by George A
Campbell, an iron and steel manu-
facturer and president of the Wissinom
ing Improvement Association, who cam
armed with letters of protest from tn
Disston saw works. National Ammonij
Company. Frankford Arsenal, Pennsyl
vania Forage Company, and others.
Mr.. Campbell. who said that the car
ran like submarines"-in groups. h
meant-blamed the so-called Mitten
Stotesbury management. Up to thre
and one-half years ago, he testified, tn
service was good, but under the ne,
control cars were taken off as measur
, of economy in spite Of the fact that tn
, population of the section had increase
greatly. He named instances of wher
900 or 500 persons had to wait for a
! hour in the cold.
Asked by Mr.. Ballard in cross-eS