Evening journal., 1919-09-04
TRACTION co. ASKS
FOR SCENT FARE.
Continued from Page One.


the said committee OF motormen and
conductors stated as follows;
"rhe cost OF living has been on tho
Increase for tho past year 10 such an es-
ten that Il ls impossible for us TO meet
our ordinary expenses and enjoy our
customary pursuit Of happiness. Rents,
coal. provisions and al edlblos con-
sumod by tho ordinary workman arc
far above normal prices"
.. That Wilmington and Philadelphia
Traction Company, after conferences
with the committee OF its employees.
under date OF August %, 1919. addressed
and delivered 10 said committee a letter,
a copy OF which Is appended hereto.
marked Exhibit A." which your COM
plalnanl and petitioner prays may be
taken as a part OF this. Its petition and
complaint.
2. That as appears from the state
ments illed with your honorable body
and quoted I'm the letter herelnbefore
referred TO, attached hereto and marked
Exhibit A." the railway system OF this
company I'm the state OF Delaware,
under a slx-cent fare, showed a deficit
OF S37, ,0O6 % for the twelve months end
ing June 30. 1919. Notwithstanding over
time allowances were In effect less than
six months.
q. The company also said in It's letter.
as you VIII note IN Exhibit A. hereto
attached.
"The company owes a duty 10 the cit
liens OF Wilmington, the community
which Il serves, We wish TO
give this community good trolley serv-
ice. and where humanity possible with
out interruption OF such public service
The company was threatened with an
immediate strike OF its motormen and
conductors. II some adjustment Of wage
conditions was not made, which strike
would have resulted In the cessation OF
the trolley service OF the city, TO the
great detrlment and loss OF the public
The company. recognizing the increase
in the cost OF living during the past
year and the increase OF wages granted
in other lines OF employment In the city
OF Wilmington TO men Of like capacity
with its motormen and conductors
after frequent interviews and negotia-
tions with the committee Of It's en-
ployes. granted to its motormen and
conductors an increase OF ten cents per
hour, which was finally accepted by
them and which will result in an in-
crease in payroll OF 100000 per year.
.. Your commission must realize
that the cost OF material, labor, taxes
and the paving obligations imposed by
the city upon the traction company have
not decreased, but rather increased
since June, 1918, when your honorable
body made an order allowing an in
crease OF fare, and which, on appeal,
was confirmed by the Superior Court
for New Castle county, Delaware, to the
extent OF six cents.
G. Your honorable body must realize
that. while, in order 10 prevent an
interruption OF service 20 the public
which would have caused great incon-
venience and loss 20 the community, in
Guiding wOrkmen who. OF necessity, are
compelled 10 use the trolley service,
this company has granted a necessary
I increase IN wages 10 its men, yet u Is
manifest such wage increase cannot be
maid onl of the present rate OF fare
J showing as it did for the last fisca
year ending June 90 1919. deficit or
I as stated above. S37 00645. based upor
: a six-eent fare and the old scale OF
wages. The increased rate OF wages
recently granted by The company would
/ therefor result In an increased dencil
aggregating s227,0O6iJ.
Your complainant and petitioner,
! therefore, respectfully shows 20 your
honorable body that the present rate OF
! fare Is totally inadequate 10 meet the
present charges, 10 give adequate serV-
ice. 10 comply with the paving require
ments OF the city Of Wilmington. 10
meet taxation and to keep its roadbed
and rolling stock in proper cosditlon.
7. Your petitioner and complainant
would respectfully suggest TO your
Honorable body that. in order TO fulnl
its obligations to the public and give
adequate and uninterrupted trolley
service 10 the public. 70 Is necessary
for the public TO recognize the expense
/ OF such service and 10 be willing 10
nav an increased rate Of fare.
! 3. Your petitioner and complainant
would call 20 the attention OF your
/ honorable body that In a large number
/ OF cities in this country, this situa-
/ ton has been recognized, and even In
| cities where the gross earnings per
mile OF track and per car per hour are
/ greatly IN excess OF such earnings In
the city of Wilmington, fares have been
! increased 10 eight nine and ten cents.
More than forty cities. including Bos-
/ ton. Pittsburgh. Fall River, Lynn, Port
land. Me, and Joliet H. now charge a
! ten cent fare and the list N such cites
is increasing from day 10 day.
! .. You petitioner and complainant,
therefore. respectfully asks of your
honorable body, by virtue Of The pow
ers and authorities in you vested under
the statute Of the State OF Delaware.
TO grant, authorize and approve rate
Of fare 10 be charged by your petitioner
/ OF eight cents, where six cents is now
charged.
The experience OF other companies
similarly situated, who have increased
their fares from six TO eight cents
shows that such increase is followed
/ by a substantial decrease in the num-
| Der OF passengers carried. which would
undoubtedly be true in the case OF this
company, and based upon the number
Of passengers carried by this company
in the State OF Delaware during the
last fiscal year under the slx-cent rate
the company cannot hope or expect "a
secure an increase in revenue beyond
| 1892, $50 per annum under an eight-ceni
rate OF fare and 10 may not amount 10
more than Si50.OO0 per annum.
10. Your petitioner and complainant
further requests that your Honorable
body will give an early hearing upon
/ this petition and complaint, and shows
that your petitioner and complainant is
prepared TO appear before your honor
able body at such hearing and submit
/ data and figures in substantiation OF
the prayers OF this petition.
And your petitioner Will ever pray