Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-05-03
NO PETITION FOR AN
INCREASE SENT
TO BOARD
) CENT FARE: 0. K.
DECREE or EASTERN FEDERAL
COURTS GIVES ELECTRIC RAIL
ROADS THE RIGHT TO CHARGE
3 CENTS A MILE.

Oficial notification that the pubic
utilities commission did not sanction
the raising of the local fare rates ON
the Chicago. Ottawa 4 Peoria ran
road has been received in Ottawa by
Mayor George V. B. Weeks the
notice was sent to the Citv's chief "X.
ecutive after he had written a letter
to the commission inquiring If they
authorized the raise in fares which
was made by the interurban officials
on April "a.
The company is now charging at
the rate OF three cents mile with
minimum fare of ten cents. lhr
franchises granted the company to
operate cars thru east and west OF
iawa call for a five cent fare. These
contracts, which govern the opera
ton of cars have many years TO run
before they expire.
When notification was first given
that the company was going to raise
The local fares to ten cents, Mayor
Weeks unearthed the old ordinances.
Verifying the five cent rate in the
franchise he next got in touch with
the utilities commission to see II 1t
were possible for them to grant the
company a raise OF rates, without
notifying the administration.
According to the mayor. the com
pany having the franchise govern.
ing its operations and not having
received permission to collect min
imum fare of ten cents cannot legal
ly charge Il passenger ten cents for
a ride which starts and terminates
with in the city limits. He further
has given out the opinion that a pas
senger cannot be evicted for failure
to pay ten cent fare.
The following letter which covers
the situation so far as the commission
is concerned was received today by
the mayor from Fl. NJ, slater trans
portation rate expert Of the public
utilities commission,
George V. b. Weeks. Mayor
Ottawa. III.
Dear Sir We acknOlcdge receipt Of
your letter of April p, having to do
with the fares charged by the G.. o.
& p Co. electric line
The carriers authority for its de
parture from the terms of your city
ordinance and the state statute,
known as the two-cent fare law. was
obtained thru decree OF the federal
court of the eastern district OF llll-
nois. When the federal government
assumed the control OF carriers, II
prescribed three cent fare for a
passenger traffic both state and in
terstate The electric lines were not
benefited by this order, consequently
they brought suit in the federal court
to obtain similar authority and sue
ceeded.
The commission has never sanction
cd any departure from the two-cent
fare law, nor has it authorized ten
cent fare within the city of Ottawa.
Very truly yours,
Public Utilities Commission.
BY r. NJ Slater
Transportation Rate Expert.
Navor Weeks gave out StatpmHnt
on the matter a few days bctor" the
new rates went into effect, expressing
the opinion that a person who oliered
the company ten cents for rae
within the city limits paid Tor 'N'lT
TRANSFORMATION in full and could not
he evicted for failure to pay more.
A few days later orders We're issued
by the company officials that no one
was to be put off a car for failure TO
pay dime for a ride, although the
names and addresses Of all such per
sons were to be taken and turned into
the company offices in ottawa.