Evening journal., 1919-09-20

mlnglon streets was worth a dollar.
Mr. Creamer started to urge municipal
ownership, but the argument was
quelled by Mr.. Garrelson. Patrick
! Hevrln another audii0r. then referred
TO The light against the Traction Com
pany."
Il wouldn't call 1t Aght," said Mr..
Garretson.
1T sure is a fight" returned Hevrin
warmly.
Mr.. Garretson invited any member
or the audience who was prepared to
give evidence on oath to come forward.
Everett Jones. of the Taxpayers League
took the stand and explained the sys-
tenn used In Toronto, Canada where the
fares are less than Ave cents and the
service uneXcelled4 he said.
Mr. Hevrin took the stand and ex-
planned the cooperative street car sys-
tenn In Cleveland He submitted the
annual report OF the Cleveland lines.
The Wilmington Company IS overcapi-
tallzed, he said. and disnterested an
praisal OF the property should be made.
4. J. sawyer took the stand for the
State Income Taxpayers Defense League
and despite objection from Mr.. Tngley.
attempted to read a petition OF the
league, setting forth charges against
the company's finances previously made
by the league and published in the
newspaper. He was interrupted by Mr..
Garretson and warned that he must
c0ntlne himself TO evidence and mol ar
gument against the increase. All obiec-
tons made by the company representa-
tive against admitting the statement as
lmmaterial, irrelevant and uniformed
were over-rulcd by Nff GarretsOn and
Mr.. Sawyer got large part OF the state
ment into the record.
lie stated that at the 7-cent fare hear
Ing certain party" offered 10 buy the
lines for their actual value, run them
and give better service and run more
cars for a scent fare Mr. Wilson Wig
orously denied the statement. but his
efforts TO have the statement barred
were overruled by hte chair.
Mr.. Sawyer Aan stated that a mem
Der of the league had boarded a Bran
dywine car on September "a. He
counted twenty fares rung up.
while twenty-five people were actual
ly standing in the aisles OF the car
John C.. Saylor, Of the Central Labor
Union, objected to the implied attack /
on The integrity OF the street car men,
but did not succeed in having the
statement barred from the record
Mr.. Tingley subjected Mr.. Sawyer to |
cross-eXamination. but many OF his /
questions The witness refused 10 an
swer. The final witness for the pub
tic side was John w. Forman, who
gave testimony on the street car sys-
tenn used in Trenton. n. J.
Council Chamber was crowded dur
ing the hearing, every available chair
in the building being pressed into ser
vice TO seat the large crowd that not |
only flled the part Of the chamber set
apart for the public, but crowded into
the Council portion. Representatives
OF over fifteen organizations, inolud-
ing City Council and the Chamber OF
Commerce and the Central Labor IN
ion were present,
The following communication sdvo-
ealing the fare increase was received
from the Chamber OF Commerce but
was not read
September rs. 1919
Public Utilities Commission. Whining
ton. Delaware:
Gentlemen. In View OF The announce
ment that your commission will grant
a public hearing on Friday, the 10Th
inst. on the application made TO you by
the Wilmington and Philadelphia Trac-
tion Company for authority to increase
the rate Of fare from six to eight cents.
TO be charged In this city, TO enable it {,
10 meet the large Increase in its oper- }
,iing s,,1, eSpsnsesmdTl es fact Ia that i
grant TO lis el Asl IN /,
,rease IN W - !
,oo,,,sr = ~ mn -, 'u] 'liishFlA1 H