Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-05

ITO place the matter of a 7-cent
fare TO a referendum vote of
the people, under agreements
reached heretofore, the Tri-
CT y Railway company to stand
the cost of the special election.
Tri- City Railway company
refuses TO pay the cost of a
special cleo ion. one official Of
the traction concern saying
that it is the same as paying
for its funeral, intimRting the
company feels reasonably sure
the people will vote down a.
cent fare.
b. J. Denman. president OF
the Tri-City Railway company,
threatened at a conference with
Mayor DOugherty of Davenport
this morning TO give up The
franchise the company holds in
Davenport and Muscatine.
II such action is taken the
trainmen will not operate In
. Illinois.
- Muscatine refuses to do
anything towards a fare in
crease. the company desiring to
eliminate Muscatine trainmen
from equal consideration in the
new wage scale and the train
men Of Davenport, Moline and
Rock Island tralRmen refuse to
accept any scale which discrim-
mates against the Muscatfne
tralnmen.
CITY officials. company OFF,
Gals and trainmen divisions
officials agree that under the
stipulRtiOps made by the pub
lie utilities commission i'm Chi
cagO last week, the special
meeting at Moline, scheduled
for 10 O'Clock tomorrow morn
ing will not be held because no
agreement has been reached be-
tween the company and the
trainmen.
Davenport has granted 20
free permits for the operation
of iitbusses i'm that city. maxi
mum charge being 3 cents a
trip.
Rock Island has granted 105
free permits for the operation
of iitbusSes, the maximum
charge allowed being 10 cents.
Looks More Serious.
Rock Island may see a numbel
street car-less day pass by.
When car service was suspended
ist Friday citizens of Rock Island
gre inclined to take the tieup in
1lerant and genial mood. Now
owever, the public is beginning t.
ee the lack of car service in {
lore serious light, especially a.
would have the strike
at least a week more.
The traction company was quite
ositive today that there would bt
o settlement upon the wage prop
sition today or tomorrow. The mer
rere not so sure, but J. B. Lawson
Omitted that there was no such
ope in sight 'at noon today, since
ne men will accept only a propo'
ton from the company which
Iakes an offer to all its employees
f at least so cents per hour min
mum, with absolutely no other pro-
isions or strings. and the company
sfuses to give this.
The Davenport city council yes
srday voted to submit the request
the company for a seven cent
II to a referendum According to
leir version of the law this VIII re-
lire a four weeks notice of publ
Ltfon before such an election may
9 held. Therefore that city will not
rant the 7-cent fare for another
onth.
Technicalities Delay.
'Technicalities in the law pre-
ant Davenport from granting an
from to Z cents in fare
the Tri-City Railway company,
r four weeks more, or until a ref
'endum upon that measure can be
resented to the people of that city.
ock Island and Moline city Off
ais are exerting themselves in
-ery way possible to prevent the
wing of this increase upon the
,ople. With no promise of a Z
mt fare upon either side of the
yer in view to take place for some
ne to come, the company firmly
mics their striking employees the
crease in wages which they de-
and. Therefore, the men will not
} to work, and the cars are in the
rms for a good long vacation, say
ose heading the various factions.
The public utilities commission
Illinois has the legal power to
tabI:sh a z cent fare on all
anches of the company in this
ate. Its meeting scheduled con-
for tomorrow in Moline,
,wever, will not take place, be-
use at the time of setting a re-
airing on the fare increase prop
ition for this place and date, the
signified that it would
set only providing that the wage
had been settled by
lding contract between the men
d company prior to that date.
Ierefore the rates in Illinois will
dergo no change tomorrow for
e preceding reasons, since a for
Il session and hearing is needed
: the commission to grant the
re.
Roll call and registration of the
ion carmen went on as usual to-
Y. A meeting of the executive
1nciI which is engineering the
ike and acting upon propositions
measures submitted to the men.
S held this morning also. There
S no action taken at this meet
s" said Mr.. Lawson, and we did