The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-08-19
COMPANY ASKS DISTRICT
COURT FOR RATE BOOST;
HEAR PETITION MONDAY
Officials Claim New Rate
VIII Leave $96, 900
Annual Deficit.

The Tri-City Railway company
this morning filed a petition in
Davenport district court asking AM
amendment Of the injunction served
last June in order that the company
may collect a 10-cent fare on the
Iowa side of the river.
There will be hearing on the Pc
tition before Judge A. ]. House at
10 O'Clock next Monday morning.
The company sets forth figures
pretending to prove that even 1t
a 10-cent rate there would be loss
Of 5000 in the course Of one year.
basing an earning on the invest
ment at per cent.
7.Cent Fare Unjust
The company sets forth that the
injunction issued by Judge Housel
at MaQuoketa last June, restraining
thas company from collecting more
than a 7-cent fare, is unreasonablel
and unjust. The injunction men-l
toned was issued on the request OF
Davenport business men. first to-
restrain the Davenport city councils
from enforcing the scent fare ord
nance on the expiration Of the 7-i
cent fare ordinance on June l.,
which was claimed would have tied
up service as the company intended
to reduce wages to motormen and
conductors and the men issued an
ultimatum that in such case they
would quit work. AS secondl
measure the injunction restrained
the company from collecting more
than a 7-cent fare.
City Council Powcriess.
It has been rumored for some
time that counsel for the company
had unearthed clauses in the Iowa
state law, which set at rest fears
that the Davenport city council had
the power to set or enforce any
! street car rate. 1t was said that
the Iowa general assembly gives
municipalities right to set and en-
force electric, water and similar
public utility ratings. but the law
does not mention street car fares.
Company officials have shown re-
luctance in discussing this phase
of the case, and for the last several
weeks have made announcements
that no plan had been worked out
as to the procedure to be taken In
obtaining a 10-cent fare, which was
claimed to be absolutely necessary.
However, the filing Of the petition
today places the company IN q
stand to trust the fair fixing OF the
rate to the district court.
| Ask Boost Here.
i On July 7 the public utilities COM
mission of the state OF Illinois
granted a hearing on an Scent fare
petition of the street car company
and on July 20, by order OF the COM
.. mission, the Scent fare went into
effect. The company at the time ol
. filing the Scent fare petition. ask
ing for an immediate adjustment
also filed petition for 10-cent fare
effective Sept. /. No hearing has
been held on the latter petition. Que
to City Attorney James M. Johns
ton of Moline asking for 30-da.
delay in order to give officials o.
Moline and Rock Island time to fee
out public sentiment on the "one
man" car, which, if accepted, wal
claimed would allow for a lowe
} fare.
Don't Want Small Cars.
The time limit is up on the inves
7 tigation, which was never place,
under full swing in Rock Island
City Attorney ]. X. Scott OF Roc
lIsland said today that he feels tha
: the people of Rock Island do no
< want the "one man" cars. and tina
: little effort was ever made here Z
e feel out public sentiment on the Is
q sue. He was unable to say whethe
v or not City Attorney Johnston IN
/, tends to make report to the utill
: ties commission in the case. How
q ever. no notice has been received
a hearing set on the 10-cent fart
} However, that patrons on the Ill
nois side OF the river are facing tn
t necessity Of paying a lO-cent lar
j in the near future seems to be IN
: opinion Of many.