The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-05-07

nllon hcid 4 hearing on the "equin-
mtnt ana service" of The company,
ard that although testimony showed
ihe lighting and power plant was
llkcly to break down az any moment,
leaving Richmond Borough in dark
ness" the rublie Service Commits
sion adjourned the hearing for two
months whalen emphasized that the
pfoper maintenance Of transportation
ana lieAtlng service in Richmond was
dependent upon the board.
The staten Island anti-eight cent
fare delegation numbering 100 was
then heard. f. A. Verdon said there
Was a meeting Of 500 New Brighton
residents last week at which the
Hylan busses and municipal owner
shin OF the traction lines in Richmond
were unanimously approved. lie said
the trolley company hooded staten
Island with money in 1895 when II
Was seeking the franchises II is now
Violating.
,. r. Rourke of the Board Of Trade
aaid the conduct Of the trolley com
pany - dopopulatang Richmond
Thomas r.. Lehman, Chairman OF the
Executive Committee Of tho Civic
League said the resumption OF troll
iey service has not afforded relief be-
canse the people are opposed 10 the
eight cent fare.
Mayor Hylan observed that per.
haps some convenient Judge will re-
strain the Staten Island bus service
from continuing 10 serve the people
and thus force riders to pay eight
cent farea"
-Ifthat happens" said Mr.. Lehman,
-they with isolate Richmond and
suppose the ferry boats may as well
cease operation"
The trolley system on staten Island
faced a grave and quite unexpected
sltuatlon to-day when It was learned
that the income from an scent fare
l. much less than II used TO be from
scent fare.
The buses were crowded this morn
ing while trolley cars ran with only
handful Of passengers In some in
stances trolleys ran with only two
or three fares.
This is a sad blow to the Richmond
Light and Railroad Company and Il
Public Service Commissioner Nixon
Nixon grantee the higher fare ~
prevent the complete demoralizatIoI
q a public utility" and that sam'
fare was threatening TO bankrupt tn,
company.
The only one Of the five trolle!
lines operated by the company tina
did any business to speak OF was tn
Ellzabethport line, which had n,
buses to contend with The othe
lines were running at great loss
Meanwhile the employees wer
talking OF striking again for NOR
wages, based on the increased fare
Corporation Counsel C'Brien is ex
pected 20 arpty for an injunction to
day halting the fare raise. John
Kuhn. Federal receiver Of the troile
lines. who has found the public
not disposed to pay cents 20 rid
on his cas- when they can re
the buses for ) Gel Is. intiunateS n
may seek an Injunction 10 stop IN
city's operation of the buses.
Public Service Commissioner NlKo
\ standing pat on his authoriyatiO
OF the increased trolley fare. an
Terence Farley. counsel for tho Com
mission. backs him up lnran oplnio
that the eompany's fraAehise spe
cincally gives the Commission powS
20 regulate the fare.
The men who went on strike Il
7B cents an hour returned at 60 an
90 cents. but many OF them wei
grumbling to-day. One OF the strik
leaders said last night:
AT the conference Wednesday v
were urged to return to work at
slight increase in wages over whl
we were receiving before we struc
Had we known the fare was 10 !
raised 20 eight cents We would N,
have gone back TO work for the mont
and the hours we did. We intend
send our committee 10 see Mrl Nike
and Receiver Kuhn tomorrow. II
men will meet again tomorrow mig
in Emerald Han and hear what III
committee reports. Perhaps some
r.ro1fe IN hack 20 vsynr.ir m Hafr,