Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-06
Predict Ten-Cent
Fare in p. X. T. Plan
Continued from Page One

Continued from Page One
cusscd advertising in street cars and
on al" station platforms. concessions
for vending machines and freight sCrv-
ice.
The company, he asserted has con-
Quoted safety first" campaign that
has reduced street car accidents. and
by means of superior housekeeping
has reduced fire hazards at car barns
and other buildings of the company.
Costs Up-Rates Stationary
Whrn Mr.. Dunbar declared the cost
of operating cars n car mile is now
double that Of 1910, Mr.. Ballard asked ::
Has there been any raise in fare?"
NO. was the reply.
Transportation is what your com
pany sells. isn't it," asked Ballard
Assured it was the company's attor-
nCy continued:
I'm other words it costs twice as
much to produce transportation now as
it did in 1902" The witness replied
that was the case.
Mr. Dunbar declared the physical
condition Of the company's property is
excellent. lie said appropriation from
earnings mp to the present have been
sufficient to renew the company's prop
crty where renewals were necessary.
The cOmpany's vice president cited a
/ long list OF articles used by the com
! pany which have increased greatly in
price. White paper used for transfers,
! he said. has increased in cost from two
cents pound in 1912 to "a cents a
pound this year. Car wheels which
cost $3.50 apiece in 1912 now cost
! So. whl" castings selling at three
! cents pound eight years ago, now cost
| fourteen cents.
I'VE are already $3.50. 900 behind
what we would have had" continued
Mr.. Dunbar. had the adv2nced rate
I we desire become effective July 1. 1t
is impossible to say what rate will have
to be established until W" know when
we can put the now rate into effect.
THE Pittsburgh situation will have
to be reproduced here. | am afraid. and
me fare increased to ten cents. The
fare. Of course. will have to be made
, larg" enough to take care of the
aCcumulating deficit
, Dunbar Tells of Costs
3 Mr. Dunbar, after testifying to in
crcaS"S in cost of operation also said
that the wages of trainmcn had ad-
vanCCd.
In 1910" said Mr.. Dunbar. "thc
rate per hour for trainmcn was twenty
three cents. it has now been increased
t. ifty.hvc cents. Further adjustments
will have to be made. and | estimate
that Seyrnty-two and one e-half cents an
hour viii soon have tn be paid -
Figures were given To show wages in
Philadelphia. with the exception of those
paid in Buffalo. were lower than those
Of most large citiesp. Wages for train
men, continued Mr.. Dunbar. in other
Iarg" cities have been increased as fol-
/ lows: Cleveland. from sixty cents to
| seventy five cents; Chicago. sixty five
cents 10 eighty cents: Detroit, sixty
cents to seventy five cents.
He then went on to say that an in
crease of even one cent an hour adds
5000 .OOO to the annual payroll of the
Z. Il. T.
Til" added wage cost will increase the
operating costs Of the company for the
r'maindrw of the year 50 ,T12 .UOU, said
the witness. For the seven months Ju.C
l to December | this year. there would
b" Under the present rate Of fare de-
tir,t of S1.192 900.
For the year under this rate the
gross estimate would be insufficient bv
SlOO 900 to meet operating expenses. +"
said Mr.. Dunbar. He then cited figures
I" show that the i. r. T., had. in
1917. showed a net income surplus over
all expenses Of $l,3j3 ,OOO.
There have boon constantly rising
costs and constantly decreasing sur
plus he testified
Mr.. Ballard asked what the revenue
would be under tn" three cent extra
1 rl, Nv Ilu,tl.np 81 II
produce about $3,OOO,U0O more per
annum.
IF the thrco- cent rate went into
effect by August l. the increase for
| the remaining months of this year
! would BE- approximately $1,250, 900, .
he said.
Cross. examined by Beasley
After a recess for lunch, the hearing
| was resumed at 2:1O p. M, with Mr.
Dunbar again on the stand. Assistant
cry Solicitor RoSonbaum asked leave L
defer ~" cross examination and the re
quest was granted.
oscar R"aslcv. counsel for til,
lnIt"d business Mems Association
which. has been fighting the underIyinl
."a,"> and alleged discrimination through
tran>i"r privileges. was granted permis
sion T." cross examine Mr.. Dunbar.
Mr.. BraSley asked the witness ie h.
had included in his maintenance an
operating expense figures the company
franchise and financial obligations.
Mr., Dunbar replied that. speakin,
generally, those obligations had beer
inrlud"d
Thr romDany's vice president ais
was asked if the total of wages paid fo
operating cars was greater or less thar
rentals paid 10 the underlying cOmpa
mics
"Grpatcr. was the reply.
/ Mr. Dunbar previously had statr
that wages formed 20 per cent Of th
operating expenses.
He was asked how much Of tn
money represented by stocks and bond
was invested in facilities. The witncs
replied he could not answer that Ques
tiuD.
In 1910. Mr.. Dunbar continued, tn
company received 4.32 cents passen
ger, while this year. due 10 the create
use Of exchange and transfer privileges
it only totaled 3.0S.
PR. T. Loses Objections
At one point in the cross eXamna
tion, Mr.. Ballard objected to question
that sought to probe further into tn
uRQTPS buDIlllltu ny wv N'NH'nH VI vi
rect examination.
Chairman Ainey sustained Mr. Boas
ley's line of Interrogation, ruling he ha
a right 10 know the various element
that entered into the Company's calcu
latiOns.
Mr.. Beasley brought out by Ques
tiouing Mr.. Dunbar that the Rapi
Transit Co. carried about twice a
many passengers last year as it did /
1910