New-York tribune., 1919-11-10
Toledo Carless:
Public Forced
To Use Buses
Company, Ousted by Vote
of People, Ruslles Equip.
ment Out of State With
out Giving Any Notice

Special Correspondence
TOLEDO, Nov. 9.-Street car traffic
in Toledo has suspended indefinitely
Not a car wheel has turned since 2
o'clock this morning, and citizens are
now paying from 10 to 25 cents to ride
in an automobile bus. This has re.
suited from the popular vote of last
Tuesday declaring the street car COM
pany should re ousted as punish.
mcnt for increasing fares.
Anticipating evictions. the Toledo
Railways and Light Company, common.
iy known as the "Rail-Light," without
giving any notice, has taken every
piece of its rolling stock not only from
the city but from the state to points
IN Michigan. where it will be out OF
the Jurisdiction of the Ohio courts
should legal action be started. The
cars will not be brought back until an
ordinance proposed by the company is
approved or settlement assured. com.
pany officers say.
Evacuation Starts at Midnight
Inc secret evacuation OF the city
started soon after midnight, and ouly
a few "RailLigh.' officials knew abuui
IL. follce were notified of citv cars
running on the Toledo and Western
INES, and firemen noticed an unusual
humner of snow sweepers,- work ears
and REGULAR cars bound for the Toledo
Beach line.
Ihcse cars are now lined UP on the
tracks on the Michigan side Of the
nne, guarded by the conductors and
motormen who had operated them in
Toledo. 'A'0'' AZ
The act of the company is n res,,,
OF the will of the Toledo voters. whr
expressed themselves in favor Of thu
custer ordinance which gave the legal
department OF the city authority tt
start action to compel the "Rail-Lipht'
10 Withdraw from the streets on which
they have been operating without q
franchise.
Tie-Up Until Settlement Is Reached
Henry L. Doherty, of New York, head
OF the car company. issued statement
to-day, in which he said:
I'VE have concluded that to continue
TO operate in spite of this ordinance
which has been carefully cons ,derod
and legally passed, is not a proper OBJ
servance of law and order and sub
Jects us to many grave dangers.
I'VE have, therefore. decided IN
cease operations.
For seven years the present man.
agement has struggled with this prob
lem, and so far without success, We
cannot again attempt to operate our
cars until permanent settlement has
been reached or assured"
AS result OF the "Rail-Light's" ac-
tlon the 100000 workers in Toledo will
nave to walk TO their places Of employ
ment' and manufacturers fear great
shortage in emp oyees tomorrow.
Consrcgaied at the steercar barns
tonight were many conductors and
motormen who have been deprived of
their means Of livelihood by the Rail
Lights" action. About 400 EMPLOYEES
must find other employment.
Mr.. Doherty was in Toledo Saturday
and it is believed the evacuation was
a move in the strategy to force a set
tlement Of the traction problem
through the company's ordinance which
was submitted last July.
Business men tonight attempted to
have the City Council repeal the custer
ordinance on Monday, but majority
of the members stated they would not
vote to do so.
Mayor Charges Breach of Faith
Mayor Schneider puts the whole bur-
den Of the situation on the shoulders
of the traction officers. In a statement
addressed to the people he said:
The Mayors statement follows:
"The company's midnight removal Of
its cars without even moments warn
ing to either the city or the public will
not appeal to anyone, not even to the
company's friends. 1t was an act typi-
cal of the hour selected for its per-
formance.
"My understanding with Mr.. Coates
last Wednesday was that the cars
should continue to operate until noti-
fication from the city that their oper-
alton should cease. The city has given
no such notice. The action of the COM
pany is, therefore, plain breach of
faith.
II presume the company's object is
to attempt to compel the Council to re-
peal the custer ordinance.
Emergency To Be Met
ain the meantime this is an appeal
to oil truck owners, jitney bus owners,
automobile owners, factory owners and
every one to let neighborly spirit
prevail. If all these will lend aid in
carrying the public the emergency will
be met.
"lf the cars are still off the street
on Monday morning the public will be
surprised at the rapidity with which
temporary arrangements have been ad-
Vanced to meet tho situation"