Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-05
More Riders Will Hold Rate
Down to Five Cents, De-
clare Officials
MITTEN COM NJ E NDS MEN
p. X. T. Lo,U-Fare Theory
as Posted in Trolleys
On the inside of trolley cars today
there was posted this notice:
U;pb Fares UHlIIT Riders Walk
Low Fares ukf walkers hide
More Fares t'tii'NG Low Fares
On the front Of the cars there is
general invitation to the public to
''Ride With Us"

The Philadelphia Rapid Transit Com
pany began today campaign to keep
trolley fares down to a five-cent rate.
It plans to encourage more riders,
emphasizing that this is the logical way
to forecast any fare increases.
In all Of the cars are signs stressing
that Glow fares make walkers ride,
and that more fares make low fares.
Thomas e. Mitten, president of the
Rapid Transit Company, explained last
night why Philadelphia riders pay only
five cent fare as against higher fare
in other cities.
He gives credit directly to the p. r.
7. employees for the maintenance of the
five cent rate, declaring that the prin-
cipal influences which have kept fares
! down have been greater production in
return for higher wages and closer CO.
operation between the company and its
| employees.
Makes Picnic Speech
Mr.. Mitten addressed several hundred
of the company's employees at dinner
aC Willow Grove Park, which officially
closed the two day picnic of the p. r.
| II. Welfare Association. There were
present at the dinner several federal
officers and transit officials from other
cities interested to learn "how Mitten
does it, in face of the action of public
utility companies in other cities in
boosting fares to six, seven and ten
cents.
Mr.. Mitten reviewed the results of
co operation of the men and manage
ment since 1910, at which time, he
said, the men were poorly paid and
the, company virtually bankrupt. The
management contributed honest purpose,
he said, the men responded with earnest
effort, the management established good
pay, the men gave good work.
Gives Statistics
''Thc =. X. r. carried Al, 500 ,OOS
passengers in 1910 at an Average of
Alb cents per passenger. Mr.. Mitten
explained. ''Over $50 200, 900 passen
gers will be carried during 1919, at
an average fare of less than four cents
per passenger. The average number of
rides in 1910 was 2SS per capita, while
in 1919, with good salesnanship on
the part of both motormen and conduc
tors, it bids fair to exceed 400 riders
per capita"
These figures. said Mr.. Mitten, dem
: onstrate that the public appreciates
the more acceptable service and that
the company is functioning better as
a public carrier
The efficiency, due to co operation
he said, is shown in the fact that COTS
trainmen are now taking in $34, 900, ,OO(
of passenger earnings, while NOR,
trainmen were required in 1910 to tax,
in less than $40 200, ,OC0 of passenger
earnings.
Mr.. Mitten credited this accomplish
ment to the greater efficiency of the mel
who have, during this period, increase,
the effective transportation produced pc
man by over 90 per cent.
p Gross Earnings Up
The gross earnings in 1910 were $40,
q D., ,622.O1, he said, while the gros
f earnings for 1919 now bid fair to b
G $50, ,OO0,O 900, an in crease of 80 pc
cent. During this period the averag
: yearly wage Of employees has increase
: from $622.16 to 81 ,5S1 .SS, or over 10
n per cent. The company has paid a
per cent dividend annually since 1916
s while the deficit from operation of 81, ,
$ 300, 1858 during 1910 has bee
d changed to an accumulated ,surplus @
:. $4, ,4S2, 1913 at the close of 1918.
Mr.. Mitten, after placing much @
the blame for the present high cos
, of living upon that class of workme
who now demands the biggest pa
he ever received and gives in retur
h the least productive work he ever per
formed" said the employees of tn
p. r. T. Go not belong to the ivan
, more-do less' class, as they are no,
: producing much greater amount @
. transportation value per man than eve
. before in the company's history.
Mr.. Mitten urged o-operation in tn
:. home and called upon the wives of tn
men to see that all of the last wage in
;, crease be put into their savings ac
count. He urged upon the men an
!, their families return to the old tim
thrift and economy as the surest mean