Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-11

that probably we will be forced
into the hands Of receiver.
These are matters for the board
% directors OF the company TO take
up, however"
After the wage agreement was
reached, the company filed an ad-
ditional petition with the public
utilities commission, pointing out
that upon the acton of the commits
sion depended the amount OF pay
the men would receive. Along with
this petition, the company filed eX-
hibits showing earnings and ex-
penses, bringing out the fact that
the actual return in Illinois lines
for the five months in 1919 was 80
per cent under the old wage scale
and that under the new wage scale
there would have been a net loss Of
SIS per cent for this period.
(By Associated Press
Springfield, Ill, July 11.-Au or
der permanently suspendinE the
rate schedule OF the Moline, Rock
Island and Eastern Traction com
pany, which proposed an advance
of rates for street railway service
in Moline, East Moline and Silvis,
Ill, and a schedule Of the Tri-City
Railway company of Illinois, pro-
posing an advance OF rates for
street railway service In Rock Is
land, Moline, East Moline and
Milan, Ill, was issued here today
by the Illinois Public Utilities com
mission.
The commission in fits order said
"the present rates of fare charged
by the petitioners are Just and rea-
sonable rates and should be con-
tinued in effect"
Reduces Pay.
Questioned as TO the effect the
order will have on the pay Of the
trainmen, which recently was
agreed on as &C, As and so cents.
pending the outcome Of the peti-
tion before the utilities commits
sion. Mr. Huntoon declared that on
Aug. /, the wages OF the men will
revert back 10 the former scale OF
Sc, 3S and 40 cents per hour, un-
less, however, they ask for arbi-
tration and an arbitration board
shall fix their pay al a higher fig
ure.
There has been some rumor that
the company would pull up its
tracks and suspend business,
should il fail to receive the fare in
crease. Although the stories seem
ed preposterous, the reporter ask
ed Mr.. Huntoon concerning these
tales, and he replied that they are
without foundation.
The company never gave such
action a thought" he said.
The company petitioned for the
increase in the fall Of 1919 The
matter has been pending before the
utilities commission since Mayor
and his administration
opend a fight against the increase
as soon as the petition had been
filed.
In the spring Of this year, the
OF the company, through
their three trainmeu division. made
a request for higher pay. Only re-
Gently the wage contract was
agreed on. The company previous
ly argued that it was not the mat
ter of willingness to allow the adj
vance but the ability to
pay that kept the concern
from granting the petition Of
the trainmen. However, event
ually the trainmCu and com
pany reached an agreement on "a
salary scale OF &c, as and 30 cents
per hour, until Aug. !. II in the
meantime the company was granted
the increase in fare to cents, the
salary was to remain the same; ii
G cent fare was granted the salary
was to be Il, - and 46 cents an
hour and If no increase was grant
ed, tie pay was TO revert back to
its former scale, with the men,
retaining the privilege of
securing arbitration Tor more mon
sy IN any case.