Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-11-06

|
Mayor J. Holmes Jackson had taken tn,
course which was rumored and withhel Il
his approval Of the resolutions authorizing
the increase in fares of the Burlington
| Traction company from five to sever
cents. as we'll as the resolutions authorz
| ing the puchase of new apparatus for tn,
| fire department and the sale of fire sta
ton Ave. The messages were given to the
president OF the board of aldermen Nor
day evening but were not road befor,
! the adjournment. They are as follows
CONTRACT CALLS FOE FlNE-CEN1
FARE
Burlns ton. Vt. October 30th. 1919.
| the Honorable Board Of Aldermen oi
The city Of Burlington. VI.
Gentlemen;
| have given some time To the consider.
alton of the resolution adopted by you,
board September s, 1919 relating to rat,
! of fare on the lines of the Burlington
Traction company, This resolution
affects the taxpayers and every person
who rides over these lines.
The city and this COMPANY have made
several contracts, by which the compan,
has occupied certain public streets fol
its railway system. upon certain condi.
| these contracts. The rate of fare ii
! all of them was fixed at Ave cents. with
free transfers. In June, 1899. a 3O-year
contract was granted. In this and the
other franchises which We're granted upon
petition of the company. there is sec
ton that reads as follows:
The terms hereof. or any part there.
Of, may after the lapse of thirty go
years. be changed or amended by either
said city council OF said Railroad com
pany upon one years notice of an inten.
ton to make an applica ton Tor change
or amendment thereof. and in case said
council and said Railroad company shall
be unable to agree upon such change or
amendment. and the terms thereof, the
same shall be determined as provided in
section six Of the charter Of said Rail-
road company
In other franchises. the lapse or twenty
lgn years is mentioned
Although the company was under obli-
cation TO operate its line to Battery
street to the Union station it stopped
doing so more than a year ago, TO the
great Inconvenience and dissatisfac ton
Of the public This was done without
asking permission of the city. or giving
any notice. Last year the criticism on
account OF the disconhnua,ice of this
service was so great the aldermen APP
pointed committee to consider the mat
ter and make report to the board.
II was found that the 20-year term in
Two of the contracts had expired and the
aldermen caused notice to be given the
company. under said section above
quoted, that at the end Of one year.
which will expire December 10th next,
the matter Of changes and amendments
could he taken up II desired.
Another 3-year franchise expired in
Tune this year. Each of these three con-
tracts conferred franchises over shorter
Zines. but the contract Of 1898 largely
extended the service
The company has never given the city
any notice OF a desire to amend or
change the terms of any of these con-
tracts, and the city has given only the
one notice above stated. This present
proposition Of raising the rate of fare
from five to seven cents was taken up
without any previous notice by the COM
pany to the city. and concluded within
three days time. and in my Judgment
without sufficient consideration.
your board. at the first meeting, when
the officials Of the company appeared and
asked for this ratse. appointed a COM
mittee consisting Of Aldermen Wood
bury. Patrick and Dryer to consult with
the mayor. get at the facts. and make
report to the board. The next day this
committee came to see me. and ]
frankly told them that the verbal state
msnt of the officials made at this meet
ing wss not sufiiciently definite. and 7
was not satisfied either as to the legality
of the proposed raise or the necessity
Of it, and that the company should per-
init and suggested some expert account
ant 10 examine it's books. etc. and get
at the exact facts; in snort. make such
a statement in writing as thought | and
the public ought to have. l am told that
this committee saw the president of the
company, and he said I was right in
making such a request. This committee
did not again can upon the mayor. and
has never given me any report either in
writing or verbally
md on Ale brief report from the
Francis C. Derby company Of this city,
based entirely upon statement fur
niHhed by the treasurer of the Traction
company covering SIX months time: that
during this six months period l,459, 3A
passengers we're carried, and at the fare
of five cents, and after talking out divi-
dends paid. there was a net income Of
S7625s. showing that the company did
not do business at a loss, on a five-cent
fare; what the dividends were does not
appear.
This raise Of Ave cents TO seven cents
IL raise Of two cents for every ride
OF all patrons OF the cars. that is 40
per cent. raise on hve-cent fare. I am
not satisfied that this large raise is
necessary, or. in view Of the terms of the
contracts, II in legal I think II the
duty of the company and Of those who
favor this increase in rate 10 show us
and the public who patronize these lines
by a full and complete statement. in
writing, made by the company's officials
or some competent accountant or both
Such statement should show the sources
and amount OF income. the expenditures
and for what made, whether for equip
ment construction, salaries. dividends
and division OF net income, etc The
need of any raise in the fare. and the
legality Of it should be first established
Then due consideration would be given
the case. without prejudice and with a
desire to do what is right and best and
! assume you will have the same de-
sire.
notice that the resolution provides
that the seven-cenl fare shall continue
for two years. II the 2o-year contract
for hve-cent fare can he broken before
the and Of 70 years, then a two-year con-
tract can he broken at any time, and
see no use in saying that this resolution