Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-03
Member of Associated Press.
G,[snIne'09 Evsnlns 9estsfday asfdy 1856
Should be Settled at Once.

In Justice to the people of Wilmington,
as well as to the Wilmington & Philadel-
phia Traction Co, the Beard of Public
Utility Commissioners should act finally,
without further delay, on the petition OF
the traction company for permission to
increase its fare charge TO eight cents
per passenger. (which has been pending
since last September And the City
Council should do its part to this end by
promptly acting upon the two appoint
mcnts 10 the board made by Mayor
Tavor, last week. rs il is essential to
have full membership Of that body
before final action IS taken The City
Council should have acted upon these
two appointments az its last meeting,
but saw III 10 order a postponement.
There should bc no delay in action beyond
the meeting Il next Thursday night.
III way. the pliGhted word Of the city,
through one of Us lawful agencies Of adj
ministration. was given months ago that
tn, matter 81 increased trolley fare would
he finally detcrmincdand favorably
IN the event that certain things were done
~ the traction company. The traction
company's petition for permission to
make the increase was presented last
September. and the Board Of Public
Utility Commissioners under date OF
October "a, 1919, made order to this
effect That il the company, within
three months, would take steps to collect
fares adequately and do away with
transfer abuses; submit, complete
physical valuation Of its properties within
the city. made by competent appraisers,
and also submit semi-annual statements
of the cost Of improvements. better
ments and extensions. beginning with the
date of the appraisal, the commission
would agree, after three months from the
date Of the order. to permit the traction
company to charge rate Of fare sufficient
to provide for:
All operating expenses, taxes and other
charges as prescribed by the Interstate
Commerce Commission in its uniform
system for accounts Of electric railways.
Fifteen per cent CT the cost Of improve
ments. betterments and extensions, being
the portion for which the company is
not permitted to sell its bonds
A return Of per cent on the valuation
Of the said electric railway properties
shown by said appraisal, plus IS per cent
Of the amount Of improvements, better
ments and extensions shown by the said
semi-annual statements.
With these requirements, as set forth
by the Board of Public Utility Commits
sioners. the traction company has com
piled completelyN \ But the board has
been remiss in meeting its obligations,
as plainly set forth in its public statement
and order of October "a, 1919. Three
months from that date was the time set
for granting permission to the trolley
company 10 establish and enforce rate
Of fare esufficien to meet its financial
requirements as shown by the condition
placed upon II by the Board of Public
Utility Commissioners. That made the
time for the final action January q, 1920.
1t is now the first week in August, making
more than six months during which the
traction company has virtually been
"held UP" awaiting the fulfllment OF |
promise that was formally and lawfully /
extended on October "a 1919
The traction company has done every |
thing asked Of il. The desired appraisal |
was made by agents selected by the Board !
Of Public Utility Commissioners, the
cost, between SIS, 600 and $4,000 being (
met by the traction company. The latter
also has submitted the required statements |
TO the board.
i will thus be seen that the Beard of
Public Utility Commissioners has been
derelict in not carrying out its part Of the
contract virtually entered into by its
order of October "a, 1919 In fact, it
has defaulted through non-action, for
mere than six months This is really
Of good faith by the city. as it
was default by an authorized and legally
agency of the city administra-
ton. The traction company cannot
be accused in any manner Of unfair action,
as it is not now asking for all that was
promised by the Board of Public Utility
Commissioners, but merely for an Scent
fare, whether that would be sufficient
for the purposes specifically set forth by
the Board of Public Utility Commissioners
or not.
The good name and credit Of the city
are therefore invoIvnd IN this ,na44nr |
and can only be maintained by prompt
action in accordance with the order of
October "a, 1919 Also, the interests of
the people are involved. as it is a matter
Of Importance to them, as well as to the