The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-04-08
THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1920
THE SIX CENT FARE


exact the six cent fare in the city. 1t is not
surprising that the order should be issued and
for the most part the great mass of the peo-
pie of the city are given six cents worth OF ser
vice The increase in street car fares for Ke-
nosha has been just as certain as death and
taxes for a long time and it is as certain that
the only reason that the commission has not
handed down this order long time ago is the
fact that it questioned the kind of service that
the company was giving to the city Of Ke-
nosha
The six cent fare decision is not victory for
the company because it has strings tied to it.
These strings suggest that the commission
believes that the company should earn the fare
if it is to be continued more than specified
period Of time. The commission let's it be dis
tinctly understood that it is not handing the
company bunch of money without expecting
1t to earn it. The commission admits that it
is convinced of the justice of the six cent fare
Most every other person who has made any
investigation Of street railway operating con-
ditions will also be convinced that it is not
longer possible for properly handled street
railway to carry passengers for the time honor
ed nickel fare. The contention has been all the
time that the lines here have not been proper
" HANDLED" that the company has repeated
~ refused to see it's chance to convert the
line into a paying institution by becoming
part Of the progressive movement Of the city
The commission has not left to conjecture what
it thinks the company should do to earn in
creased fare. It has pointed out in black and
white extensions which it believes should be
made and changes in physical property which
it knows will bring better service to the lines
and larger earning capacity for the company.
ofc
full contradiction that the people of Kenosha
are not looking for something for nothing but
at the same time they do not want to pay a
considerable for nothing. If the Wisconsin
Gas q Electric company will just study the or
der of the commission and follow it's sugges-
tions, if it will make extensions and improve
ments so as to be in position to render the
people of Kenosha real service the people of
Kenosha are not going to object to a six cent
fare They have stood the gaff on lot of
things and they will bare their flesh to increas-
ed railway fares if they are just assured that
they are going to get what they are paying for.
1t is the duty of the people to give the COM
pany a chance. Keep on riding-pay the six
cents and smile, but every time you pay that
extra cent demand from the company that it
give you what you are paying for. Let the
company know that you pay the six cents under
protest and with the understanding that it is
going to be returned to you in improved serv-
ice
The six cent order is not a permanent order
The commission let's it be understood that it has
set definite probationary period for the COM
pany to show willingness to make good
Neither the commission nor the people of Ke-
nosha have any expectation that the railway
company will build all of the extensions sug-
gested by the end of July What both want is
that the company show willingness to get
move on itself and get ready to make extern
sions, The city needs these new street railway
lines now but the city can wait for them if the
people have the assurance that they are coming
The city is not going to be fooled by any more
whining or camoufage on the part of the COM
pany This is the last chance of the electric
company to make good on street railway lines
If the company fails now it must not expect any
sympathy from Kenosha people. Chances ga
lore have been given to the company but it
evidently has reached the place where it be-
ieves that long suffering Kenosha will wait for
ever and accept what the company wants to
give it. Kenosha will not wait forever. It
wants definite program. It is willing to pay
Just as soon as it sees that the company is 60
ing to show it's resentment by just stopping
using the car lines. Junk with a fare of six
cents will not be very valuable to this company
or any other A six cent fare coupled with
willingness on the part of the company to do
real things will mean that the company is on
the way to making the property which it OPP
crates in Kenosha property worth while OPP
Grating both for the city and for the stock
holders of the company Its up to the railway
company--no one else.
Tho t,-i,,rnrh &c Marro,. Ioachirn u, soal.ino .