Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-31
FARE INCREASE
MEETPR PROCEEDS
Figures on Railway Valuation, Ex-
penseS and Income Presented
During Afternoon Session.
MAY REACH DECISION TODAY
Scott Contends That Arsenal Work.
erS Are Not Entitled to
Cheaper Rate Now.
Especial to The Argus. }


Springfield, H. Jan. 81
The Illinois public utilities
commission issued an order
to-day, resuspending until July
-, 1918, pending further inveS-
tiga-iOn by the commission into
the r-ISCnableness OF the same,
the proposed advance OF rates
for street railway fare in Rock
island, Moline, East Moline and
Milan Cf the Tri-City Railway
company, and in Moline, East
Moline and SuFis of the Moline,
I.Ock Island Il Eastern Trac-
ton company.
Yesterday afternoons session be-
tween the state utilities commits
SION and the Representatives Of the
Tri-City Railway company at the
Moline city hall on the proposed
increase in fares from to Z cents
in the Illinois cities in which cars
Of the company are operated, was
a long grind Of figures on valua-
ton, expenses and income. No de-
cisiOn was reached and the hear
ing was continued today.
The only thrill came during the
last few minutes when James
Johnston, Moline city attorney, and
K. L. King, engineer for the Tri-
City Railway company, became en-
crossed in an argument over the
arsenal fare and the double fare
from Moline and Rock Island to
East Moline.
Mr.. King finally admitted that
the only reason the company had
for charging two fares from Moline
to East Moline is that the company
is doing it, has the right to
do it, and can do it.
Mayor William McConochie caus-
ca q little stir when he interrupted
q witness to declare that the com
pany had to pay for paving between
tracks on the government bridge
20 Rock Island.
John K. Scott, Rock Island city
attorney. and Attorney Johnston
had asserted that the street car
company had no right to discrim-
mate against the people of Moline,
Rock Island, East Moline and Sill
Wis by charging arsenal employees
cents a ride and others 5, s or Z
cents
Mr.. King answered that the COM
pany had a contract with the gov
eminent In explanation Of that
contract he stated that the govern
ment gave the company certain
rights on the island and the bridges
and had paved the right of way on
the bridges. He later modified that
statement by declaring that the
10
part of the paving.
Million Too Low.
Mr. King occupied the witness
stand during the entire afternoon.
His principal object appeared to be
to try TO snow that the utilities
commission engineer had estimated
the company property value 2bOut
Il million too low. He also made it
a point to repeatedly assert that
operating expenses had increased
tremendously and that the COM
pany must have more revenue if
it is going to continue to exist.
II. NJ Slater, the commission
representative at the hearing in
Moline yesterday, declared that
situate in regard to the grants
cities is practically the same Il
am not convinced he said, that
the cheaper fare isn't disCrimina-
ton"
Mr. Johnston, city attorney of
Moline, contended that it is absurd
for the company to charge 10 cents
for a ride from Moline to East Mo-
line and only ; cents from Moline
10 Rock Island and East Moline,
Milan.
Mr.. ChamberIin, tri-city attorney,
said he is willing that the company
get more money for rides to the
arsenal But" he said. don't hold
us responsible if Davenport be
comes a more popular place of res
idence among arsenal employees"
Mentions Collision.
Mr.. King testified that the actual
earnings of the company for the
SIX months period ending Dec. 81,
1918, were 2.7S per cent per an
mum on the total investment II
half the loss due to the collision
last November is added the income
will decrease to LOS per cent, he
said.
The Moline, Rock Island and
Eastern Traction company, (the
East Moline Iinel earned only 80
per cent per annum during the six
months period ended Dec. 81, 1918.
said the company engineer, if one
half the cost of the November col
6sion were deducted from the earn
iDgs of that period.
Mr.. King stated that the increas-
ed fare will mean an increase of
income Of $4,000 for four months.
IF the increase is granted. he said,
the earnings of the company will
be large enough to pay 4.51 per
cent on the total investment.