Omaha daily bee., 1919-09-21
SKIp-STOp PLAN
Of STREET CARS
IS TO Be FOUGHT
Falconer and Butler Up In
Arms at Grant Of Railway
Commission Over
Protests.

The finding and order OF the
State Railway commission, granting
to the street railway company au-
thority TO continue the skip-stop
system indefinitely, prompts City
Commissioner Falconer to inquire
whether the war is over.
The mayor and city commisst IN
ers are outspoken in their terms OF
criticism against the finding of the
railway commission, and also of the
attitude of the traction company Of
fcials in this and other matters per-
tanning to street car service In
Onn1a.
Pictured Dire Results.
The street railway company more,
than a year ago went before the
city council and with tears almost
in their eyes pictured the dire re-
suits that would ensue if the skip
stop system was not allowed. Citi-
zens appeared before the city COM
missioners and presented their OBJ
jections. The matter was taken to
the state railway commission. which
granted the company six months
permission to adopt the system OF
skip-stops.
The company, at the time of its
original request, argued that they
wanted the skip-stop system as a
war measure, to conserve coal;, and
now that the war is over and they
have been granted a 7-cent rate of
fare, they are still fighting for their
selfish interests and denying the
patrons the full service they are en-
titled to.
Says Service Shameful
Commissioner Butler, who has led
The fight for the suspension of the
skip-siop system, said: Our street
car service here is in shameful
condition. 1t is time that the mayor
'and council should get busy, exert
their moral influence, and obtain a
genuine expression of public senti-
nent | realize that the council has
no legal authority in regulating the
skip-stop, system. but we might ex-I
ert an influence which would be felt.
Tom Hall, chairman of the COM
mission. told me in a Lincoln hotel,
and in the presence OF R. B. Howell
of Omaha, that after the expiration
Of the six-months' order of the
commission the skip-stop system
would be ordered discontinued in
Omaha. I notice that he has had
an awful change of heart on this
subject.
Public Not Notified.
"The investigation held by the
commission was joke. Chairman
Hall sent Victor Wilson, who held
a meeting lin a rear room of the
court house. The public was not
sufficiently notified Of that meeting
to obtain any general expression of
objections. | asked the railway
commission at that time to obtain a
real expression of public sentiment
IN Omaha on the skip-stop system,
but they did not do it.
The company has been granted
7-cent fare, the war is over, the COM
pany is observing the near-side
stop ordinance to suit their own con-
venience, and now they refuse to
abandon the skip-stop system.
think we should get the sentiment
of the people who use the cars"
Hardship on People.
Il though the war was over,p said
Commissioner Falconer, comment
ing on the order of the Railway
commission. This skip-stop sys-
TEN works = hardship on many peo-
pie, particularly those who five in
the outskirts Of the city. There is
no occasion for continuing the sys-
TEN now. The company has been
granted 7-cent fare. Transporta-
ton facilities should be improved
by the street car company"
The people are dissatisfied with |
the skip-stop system, and that is
quite evident" said Mayor Smith.
Il feel confident that if the city
council had the authority, we would
order the system abandoned at
once. Now that the company has
7-cent fare, Jthink they should |
make some concessions to the pub
lic."
There are many complaints
against the skip-stop system" stated
Commissioner Ringer. "The street
railway company is not paying its
debts to the city; it now owes
$4,000 of occupation taxes. I fail
to see where the company is en-
titled to any special considerations.
This looks to me as one-sided
proposition in favor of the street