The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-09-29
Are Street Railways Doomed TO Pass Away?
be

fully cognizant Of the fact that It is
to their interest, as well as to that
OF the public, to keep rates FOR serv-
ice as low as possible, for low fares
benefit the companies through stimu-
lating business.
| I'm facing this situation public
authorities should not forget that
/ they are holding in their hands the
credit of their cities. savings banks,
/ life insurance companies, and other
| Investment institutions, and q large
| portion of the invested wealth Of the
| country.
1.-The problem is not merely local
or political, but Of nationwide bust
ness Importance, and, IL 1t is not
fairly met, is capable OF having q
widespread and disastrous effect on
business--an effect which every bust
ness interest directly or indirectly,
! but inevitably, must share"
! A comprehensive plan to meet the
! situation of the day and to put the
business on a sound future basis was
presented at the last session OF the
commission by H. c. Clark, editor of
Aera, a well-known street railway
journal. Mr.. Clark's plan is the re-
suit of much study and probably In
wolves the ideas of many of the big
street railway men Of the country.
| Here is his plan:
+, Permanent Plan.
| "(a) The ascertainment OF the
amount upon which the enterprise
should, in fairness and justice to
both the investors and the public, be
allowed to earn return.
| "(b) The establishment by the
authorities of system of charges for
service by which rates will automau-
cally increase or decrease above or
below the initial rates named in the
permanent plan by defined method
and schedule so as to yield at all
times sufficient revenue to meet all
the payments contemplated by the
plan, including such protective re-
serves as should be established, and
also sufficient opportunity for par
ticipation in benefits resulting from
economy, efficiency and initiative to
i induce the greatest efforts by the
utility.
"(c) Power of regulation. either
by state or municipal autn critics, In
respect to all matters affecting con-
ditions and character of service, in
Guiding extensions, Improvements and
betterments.
| "(d) The utility to be conducted
on the so-called indeterminate fran
chise principle and to be subject to
such regulation as may be prescribed
by law in respect to accounts, to
capital investments, and other mat
ters.
| "(e) The establishment of the
/ right of the municipality or other
governmental agency to purchase, as
shall be set forth in the plan, which
shall in particular establish the
price or the method of ascertaining
the price.
80 All special taxes and ali
special charges and assessments
paid by the utility are in fact paid
J by the car rider, being part OF thr
t cost of transportation. Car riders as
class should not be subjected to
such indirect or special taxation and
sheuld, SO far as the particular cir
cumstances in each community will
permit, be relieved therefrom."
! Whether this plan, in whole or in
part, is to be recommended by the
commission, the street railway men
as a body are not attempting to say.
f! They are saying, however, something
F, like this:
/ Immediate action. else we
perish!"
| And there you are. Imagine. u
you can, the United States doing
without street cars. Preposterous,
you say? Perhaps, but men who have
! invested their millions IN street rail-
way properties and in addition to
failing to receive any return on their
! investments have seen the market
value of their stock slide down and
down and down, do not think so. The
man who pays the bills has very
clear view Of the situation.