Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-08-18
SEEK SOLUTION Of
STREET CAR ILLS
PRESIDENTS COMMISSION TO
MAKE: REPORT IN NEAR
FUTURE.
SERVICE, AT COST"
PLAN RECOMMENDED
May Be Means of Solving of Diff
euIties Confronting Car Lines Since
Close Of War-Left in Crippled
Condition Physically and Finan-
oial!y, With Higher Wage Dem ands.
[By q. G. Dougherty.1

l'S - ~. l1ouS HSTty.J
Washington, Aug. 1S.--The street
car strikes, wage disputes and other
troubles OF urban Transportation
companies Of Iowa and in fact every
state in the Union may end or an
end to thern be suggested this week
or early naxt week when the presi-
dents electric railway commission
Will report; on it's investigation of
the street car problems Of the ma
ton.
While the details of the report are
being guarded carefully it is under
stood that the commissions recon-
mendation will lay great emphasis
on the service at cost plan as
probably The best means of solving
the difficulties which confront a
large number OF cities and their
street transportation services.
The commission is without au-
Minority to enforce its Recommended
lions, being purely An advisory body,
but doubtless the comprehensive
study given the question will result
IN general scheme for the solution
OF many Of the difficulties which
have developed since the war. The
commission was appointed early last
year. and during its investigations
It has held numerous hearings at
which the public. labor, bankers,
and publt: service corporation OPP
eraters We're heard. A thorough
study OF the whole question of cleo
trio railway transportation was made
by the commission.
Car Lines in Bad Way.
The wal. left the street car svs-
TENS of many. cities in a disturbed
condition. Equipment was run down
and short, the men were asking for
increased wages, the cost Of opera,
ton had ts,ne up, income had stood
still, and credit to get money to meet
the immediate demands was lacking.
From all sides came reports that
many OF the large companies were
facing Bankruptcy unless relief was
granted. Ia practically all cities the
chief trouble was that the compan-
les and the men were unable to get
together and talk business in a spir-
1t of sco-opsration. Cities demanded
increased efficiency and refused fl
financial he'll, In the way Of increased
fares. The companies pleaded in
ability Il, do anything without
money. s-
The general financial situation be-.
came so threatening early in the
spring OF 1919 that various govern
ment agencies. including the council
OF national defense and the capital
ISSUES committee, suggested COM
mission t., be appointed by the
president for the purpose Of study
ing conditions and advising with the
various cities that were affected.
The president finally consented to
authorize the new commission, but
1t was distinctly understood that it
would be purely advisory and that
neither city or company would be
bound to accept its Recommended
tions.
Tackled Big Job.
When the commission was first
organized 1t was promised that an
early report would be made as i'm
mediate relief seemed to be impera-
stive. The whole purpose of the
body was to help avert financial
disaster to- the street railway sys-
TENS Of nearly one hundred cities
and at the. same time bring about
( an Improvement in the transporta-
ton facilities of these cities. Speed
/ was regarded as an essential Cities
and companies and the other var
I ious interests came down upon the
commission in droves. It soon was
discovered that the job was much
larger than at first thought. The
commission needed time to do it's
task thoroughly and it took it. In
I the fourteen months since the COM
mission was organized majority
of the cities and their companies
/ have failed to meet any solution of
their problem, so the report of the
commission, with its analysis Of the
: service at cost" plan, is earnestly
looked forward to. For the most
part this scheme is said to have
proved success. Cleveland is one
of the cites where its success has
been particularly noticeable.