New-York tribune., 1919-10-01
Public Control Of
Car Lines Called
Only Real Solution
Homer Loring, of Boston,
Tells Federal Board State
or Municipal Ownership
May Be Needed to Save
Roads
NeU Yorl, Tribune
tEushin0fon Rtfyenr


WASHINGTON, Sept. 80 - Street
railways of the United States have lost
their credit, and unless they can get
back the public confidence which is
necessary to restore that credit a large
measure Of public control Of the prop
critics, if not actual municipal or state
ownership, is the only solution of their
problem, Homer Lorlng, of Boston,
chairman of the board Of trustees of
the Bay State Company, testified be-
fore the Federal Electric Railways
Commission.
Other witnesses included John A
Beeler, Of New York; Morris L. Cooke,
of PHILADELPHIA; Ralph S. Bauer, Of
Lynn, Mass, and Lawson Purdy, of
New York.
Mr.. Bceler, recognized as one of the
traffic experts Of the country, said he
believed that among tho things neces-
sary to enable the street railways to
get out Of their serious difficulties
were reduction Of taxation to place
them on q par with other industries:
operating economies, such as better and
faster schedules. reduction of layovers,
improvement of routing, abandonment
OF non-essential service, standardiza-
ton Of equipment, saving Of power
and elimination Of waste.
The cooperation of the authorities
and the public, he said, should be OBJ
tanned in the installation Of loading
platforms, regulation of street traffic,
control of parking. elimination of steam
railroad grade crossings, regulation OF
jitneys and bus competition, staggered
hours Of business and skip stops.
Mr.. Cooke, a former director Of
Public Works of Philadelphia, and who
has made a study of rapid transit CON
ditions in that city and other cities
Of the United States, laid the blame
for the present condition of many Of
the street railways Of the country to
financial control of the properties
through politics and through other
| influences which could not be traced
either to unusual conditions arising
from the war or to the ordinary course
of the business.
Mr.. Cooke said that except in iso-
lated cases the differences between the
public and the street railway COM
panies have become almost irreconcil-
able and that no compromise is possible.
"Personally.' he said, II am not
such, but | would view with more than
concern the burden Of exercising such
municipal functions by our cities. But,
frankly, l see no adequate solution
which does not involve a maximum of
public control and possibly ultimately
government ownership"
Mr.. Bauer said he had studied the
street railway problem since 1908 and
believes the carriers had started wrong
and continued on an uneconomc theory.
He said if it is good business for own
ers of tall buildings to operate eff
cient elevators TO the top stories free
to all who wish to ride, on the theor.
that the riders ring prospeity and
profits to the tenants. and if it is good
business for the public to take over
the toll roads and toll bridges. then
it is better business" publicly to take
over "the moving highways, the street
railways. rebuild and reequip them
with sufficient economic operating ma
chinery and carry the people = the
messengers Of prosperitf-frss wher.
ever they want to go."