Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-02
I1JY PLANS ACTION
|OUNEW PR. T.PLAN
Q0uDciI's Transportation Com
1nittee to Discuss Subject
with Mayor Tomorrow
SEES HINT OF GENERAL RISE

Action to be taken by the city re-
gnrding the Rapid Transit Co.'S pro
< posed increase in fares will be discussed
y fonAorrow morning at conference be.
< tween the trensportation committee of
3 Council and Mayor Moore.
~ ~ was reported today that the rolG-
mlttce had mapped out liue Of action
which will be started providing their
plans meet the Mayors approval.
Members of the committee. it Is said
have considerable data which they say
indicates that the company intends TO
nse the transfer abolition plan as n
stepping stone to a further increase of
fares generally.
City officials scritinizing tho com
panT's plan to abolish free transfers
4 thought they detected such an object.
Fhe paragraphs which the officials are
going over now with fine legal comb
70 gee II they contain anything more
than appears on the surface are as fol-
lows:
The establishment of the universal
three cent transfer charge does not
limN the possibilities Of increased fa~"S
as may be later found necessary. But
~ compared to horizontal increase in
fares, at this time. IL provides 81. 600. .
OOO, OF earnings secured through equal
ization Of the fares now paid by all
classes of passengers. leaving tho way
opep TO such further increase as may
: Inter be found necessary.
Mr.. Mitten SAYS farther down: "The
present average fare of sos cents may
be greatly increased.
1T Is impossible now to estimate
what the average fare is going to be
Il wages and expenses continue to, rise
There will. however. always be a ride
In philadelphia that should be had for
nye-cent.piece.
Mayor Silent Over Fares
Mayor Moore would not discuss tran
sit today, saying that he was occupied
with multitude of other important
4 things. He indicated. however. that
following his talk yesterday with the
city solicitor: the 1907 contract is be
ing scrutinized carefully to see whether
the fare increase asked by the com
pany does not conflict with it. Their,
r. some belief that the p r. r. uuder
the terms of its contract. may not in
crease fares without the city consent
This consent will be withheld. it is said
The hearing in the complaint hrough
by the Cliveden Improvement AssOcia
ton. which is trying to force the +
r. IT. to put on a universal tve-C
fare and free transfers. was postponed
4 from this afternoon to an undeterminet
date.
II was learned from member Of tn
Public Service Commission that hishe
fares may not be suspended by tina
body. acting of its own initiative.
Nor can IL suspend higher rat
pending the hearing of the case. II eau
however, order the company to attac
coupons to it's eight cent transfer tick
cts, so that these coupons can be re
tanned by the passenger and redeemc
IL the rate is disallowed. For the com
mission to make such an order. how
ever, request to this etfemt must b
made by some citizen. -
The transit situation was the sui
iect of a long conference today bptwep
x Director Twining and City SOliCitC
Il Smyth. Mr.. Twining said he gave ii
city solicitor information rogardiu
. transit matters. 1t is understood thI
} this will be used to support the city
- action regarding the new fare incrcas
;ngsplan of the company.
Husiness mems organizations in a
sections of the city will oppose the pla
of the Philadelphia Rapid Transit c.
to increase fares.
It was learned today tnat representa-
tives of numerous organizations wi
appear before the Public SDrvice Com
mission and strongly opp".e the pro
Z posed increase.
In West Philadelphia especially
where moro than half the residents us
transfers, it is cOntended by representa-
tives OF business men and improvement
n organizations that the proposed advanC
In fare will work great hardship.