Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-04-14
PROBE FINANCES
Of PR. 7. CONCERNS
S. M. Clement and James Benn
Direct investigation OF Under
lying Trolley Companies
HEAR TRANSIT SIDE OF CASE

The Public Service Commission in
rcstigation Of the Rapid Transit GO.
was further broadened today to include
inou;ry into the financial condition OF
the underlying companies.
This action was directed by Samuel
N Clement and James Benn, public
goryice commissioners, sitting at City
Hall, on the complaint brought by the
-liycdpn Improvement Association.
Oscar c. Beasley. of counsel for the
COMPLAINANT. presented petition to
amend the original complaint so that
the investigation would be pushed into
the finances Of the subsidiaries. The
commissioners consented.
The session today, in the finance
committee room in City Hall. was
devoted to the transit company's side Of
the case. The complainants closed
their case last week.
Seek Stockholders Names
Joseph L. Lewis, president of the
Cliveden Improvement. Association
sought to have the names Of all p. r.
r. stockholders introduced into the rec
ord as well as the company's charter
and the names Of the companys Or
ganizers.
Commissioner Clement replied the
rharter was on file with the recorder OF
deeds and could be consulted ut any
time and that the names of the com
pany's organizers were recorded in the
office Of the secretary Of the common
wealth.
The commissioner added he did not
see that the names of p Il. II. stock
holders, from the date of organization
to the present time were relevant to the
investigation. He said he would give
the question consideration. however. \
The skip stop system last year saved
the ?. X. T. 1923 300, according to X.
Il. Horton, traffic engineer of the com
pany. The p. II. T. divided its evil
dcnce into two sections, service and
hnances. taking up service first.
Mr.. Horton preceded his defense OF
the skip stop system with review Of
service here in horse car and cable car
days. The horse cars, he said. would
stop anywhere along block.
Cleveland was the first city to intro
duce. the system, the traffic engineer
continued. 1t was adopted in 1912, he
said: In April, 1918. the Public Serv-
Ice Commission Of this state ordered its
adoption in Pittsburgh, and in August
Of the same year 1t was adopted here
and throughout the country on order oi
the fuel administration.
The skip stops continued here since
the war, he continued, give improved
efficiency. lower operating costs and
better service.
Gives Accident Figures
8, The first attack against the skips in
ms city, he declared, was based on
their supposed danger. Quoting figures
TO combat that. Mr.. Horton said 767.
'Cs;D6 passengers were carried in 1918
with Is, ,446 accidents, and that in 1919
with Sl2,755, ,30S passengers carried
The accidents were reduced to II, ,443
In 1918, Mr.. Horton continued, will
"4,OOO automobiles in the state, ther,
were 1907 collisions here between troll
lcys and mOtorcars. Lasct year, will
10! 900 autos in Pennsylvania, the col
Nsions had dropped to 4702.
In calculating the savings effecte,
through skips, Mr.. Horton said $3.50,
"o was saved on maintenance ant
,gHlpmcnt: $225,770 on power. 1865.
"'o on trainmen's wages, and $75, ,5O(
20 the interest on investment in seventy
'our cars and their appurtenances.