Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-08-05
STREETCARCO.
PAWN IN BUCK
PASSING GAME
Neither Mayor Nor Service
Board Head Can Find
Time to Act.
SHUTDOWN PREDICTED

AT THE TRACTION OFFICES
sit is clearly evident that we must
be given relief at once, or the city
of Indianapolis will be without street
car service before winter" says Dr..
Henry c. Jameson, director.
AT THE CITY HALL-"No sub,
No sub. Jest doan know when
Mayor Jewett will be in. TouaII kin
walt In his office If youaIl keer to,
subj" says negro Janitor who seems
to be the only attache of the city ad-
ministration in the vicinity of the
mayors office.
AT THE STATE HoUsE-"The
commission could write an order
now, but I prefer to wait for a con-
ference with Sam Ashby, corporation
counsel, and H. H. Hornbrook, at
torney for the company" says E. /.
Lewis, chairman CT the public service
commission, as he prepares to take
another two-week vacation.
These three statements, reminis-
cent of the story of Nero and the
burning of Rome, are typical of the
street car situation in indianapolis
today, situation that has been cry
ing for constructive effort ever
since Charles w. Jewett became
mayor Of indianapolis.
The Indianapolis Street Railway Com
pany, the reorganized owners of the city
car system, petitioned the public service
commission to permit the adoption OF a
service at cost contract with the city
Of Indianapolis in April, 1920.
hearing was held before E. I.
Lewis, April Is, 1920.
No action has since been taken by
the commission.
No action has since been taken by
the city.
No action has since been taken by
the company
No betterment in the street car
service has since been seen by the
public.
Today the newly organized street car
company is pleading that its revenues are
not sufficient to enable it to comply with
the orders Of the board of public works
for street car betterment-
Today the board Of works is continuing
to give its "orders" with one hand and
nullify them with the other.
Today the mayor Of Indianapolis is
more interested in acting as a messenger
between the managers Of the Indianapo-
lis News and the councils Of Warren G.
Harding, candidate or-pTesident, than %
bringing the street car trouble TO an end.
COMPANY DAILY
SLIDING BACK"
Meanwhile the street car company daily
is becoming in more desperate circum-
stances. according to DIR. Jameson.
I'VE have no credit at the present time,
said DR.. Jameson. "and in addition to
this we are daily facing the necessity
for more cars.
"The company has purchased thirty
five old cars. ten Of which are in shops
in Dayton. O.. being reInodeled.
When this bunch has been repaired
and remodeled. then the remainder will
be sent
I'VE purchased these thirty-fve cars
and are having them remodeled wholly
on the assumption that the public serv-
ice commission will give US the relief
ne ask
There is hardly need Of going into
a statement of the increased cost OF main
tanning our system
There is the problem of obtaining
coal, and we are told that in short
time We practically will be unable to
obtain it at any price.
Right now we are paying $4,000 to
S25,O0 more each month for coal than
we paid in 1919
Then we have depreciation on our
stock and the increased cost of main
tenance.
"It is clearly evident that we must
be given relief at once, or the city Of
indianapolis will be without street car
service before winter comes.
Everybody knows what that will
mean in city Of this size"
TWO POSSIBLE
SOLUTIONS OPEN.
There are two possible solutions Of
this lack of transportation facilities in
indianapolis.
The city can enter into service at
cost contract with the company under
5 the terms of which the fare in Indian
apolis win be governed by the net rev.
enue of the company, decreasing as the
(ContinIed on Page TwO.)