The sun., 1919-07-15

T0DIG INTO ILLS OF
STREET RAILWAYS
Federal Commission Starts
Hearings To-day in Hope
Of Finding Cure.
MANY ROADS NEAR RUIN
More Than Half Of Lines in
q. S. in Receivers Hands
or in Poor Shape.
MANY ROADS NEAR RUIN

WARRINGTON, July 1t.-Hearings on
the street railway situation will begin
Tomorrow. The Federal Electric Rail-
ways Commission appointed by the Presi-
dent to determine what ails the street
railways OF the country and to recon-
mend relief that II deems necessary and
Just to these utilities will start on what
Is planned as thorough and impartial
investigation of conditions In all cities.
More than half of the street railways
OF the country are in receivers hands or
threatened with financial ruin because OF
Increased war costs and disinclination
OF communities to pay more for trans
portation. Efforts during the war to get
Federal intervention were unavaillng be-
cause the President and his advisers felt
that the problems were purely those at
ftcting matters over which the Federal
Government had no Jurisdiction. With
many cities threatened with a collapse
OF street railway service, however. the
President appointed the Federal COM
mission to find solution II possible.
The commission has no authority to
enforce its Judgments but II il expected
that its recommendations will be gen.
orally accepted by the municipalities at
fected. All the moral force OF the Fed
eral Government will be behind the COM
mission. which was organised with rep
resentatives of many Federal depast-
ments here besides authorities on tho
questions involved.
To Hear Manager First.
Testimony of the street railway man
agement will be heard first, and this
angle Of the inquiry is expected 10 take
about ten days. President Psrdee OF the
Rai luyax stint nt,
will be the first witness
Mayors and other officials of the mu-
inequalities most seriously affected will
be called to testify later. Labor repre-
ssntatives will be fully heard and every
effort will be made to get to the bottom
Of street car costs and returns.
The committee Of 100 selected by the
American Electric Railways Association
ana operating under the Craftsmanship
Of Gen. Guy e. Trip viii present the
railways testimony. Fifty or more
prominent street Runway men. financ,ers
and others familiar with present day
transportation and financial problems
have been summoned.
, IT is stated that no attempt will be
made TO make q case" nor will the
committee urge concrete recommended
tions upon the commission. II will
simply present the facts a. they relate
TO increased expenses ana lowered net
income and ask the commission to make
recommendations for relieving the situa-
tion.
War Doubled Some Wages.
Efforts will be made to establish that
owing to the exigencies of the war wages
of street railway men were raised by
the Government as high as 100 per
can't in some cases and the cost Of
street railway operation was increased
generally, while no relief was afforded
20 the companies. AS a result of these
Increased expenditures the street rail-
ways world is in a chaotic condition for
the most part.
In an attempt to restore normal condi-
tions increased fares have been resorted
to in some cities, and in others COM
panies have been relieved of some OF
their local burdens. None of these meth
DDS appears to have supplied more than
temporary relief. however. and the hope
now is that the commission will be able
To arrive at recommendations of perma-
mont national assistance.
Composing the Federal commission are
Charles e. Elmquist, chairman; Edwin
r. Sweet, vice-chairman. and Royal
Meeker. Louis B. Wehle. Eugene Mayer.
Jr.. Philip H. Gadsen. Charles w. Beall,
William D. Mahon and George L. Baker.
Charlton Ogburn is executive secretary.