The labor world., 1920-10-02

7 The electric railway fur
Il nishing transportation
upon rails is an essential
public utility, and should
have the sympathetic ul-
dcrstanding and co-opera-
tion of the public if it is to
continue to perform a use
full public service.
II The electric railway
H. has been, and will con-
tinuc to be, a public utility,
subject to public control as
to the extent and character
of the service it renders,
and as to the rates it
charges for such service.
TTT 1t is Of the highest i'm
ILL., portance that both the
total cost Of the service and
the cost to the individuals
who Use it shall be kept as
low as possible without in
justice to those who take
part in producing it.
~ The electric railway
~ industry as it now
exists is without financial
credit and is not properly
performing it's public func-
ton.
" This condition is the re-
" suit of early financial
mismanagement and eco
nomic causes, accentuated
by existing high price levels
of labor and materials, and
of the failure Of the uniform
unit fare Of five cents, pre-
scribed either by statute OF
by: local franchise ordin-
,ances or contracts to pro-
WIDE the necessary revenues
to- pay operating costs and
to maintain the property
upon a reasonable basis.
UI The industry can be
W. restored to a normal
basis only by the introduce
ton of economies in opera
ton, improving it's tracks,
equipment and service, and
securing a reasonable re-
turn upon the fair value of
its property used in the
public service when hon
estly and efficiently man
aged.
I/II The electric railways
VIZ must expand to meet
the growing needs Of their
communities; therefore, the
first essential is to restore
credit in order to obtain
necessary new capital for
the extension and improve
ment Of service.
VIII Restoration Of credit
VA1'involves a readiust-
ment of relations which will
remove public antagonism,
provide public cooperation,
and insure Ito the investor
the integrity of his invest
ment and a fair rate Of re-
turn thereon.
~ Effective public CO.
Ia operation should be
exercised by eliminating, in
so far as it is practicable,
special assessments for
sprinkling, paving, and for
the construction and main
tenance Of bridges which
are used by the public for
highway purposes.
Y Extensions into new
a. territory resulting in
special benefits to the prop
erty in that vicinity should
be paid for by assessments
on such property in proper
ton to the benefits received.
and that the amount Of such
assessments should not bc
added to the physical val.le
OF the corporate property.
VI The great increase in
AL the use Of private auto
mobiles, the jitney and mo-
tor busses, has introduced
a serious, although not ia
The value and merit of the report is
the men composing the
CHARLES E. ELMOUIST. Presider
Association Of Railway and Utili
EDWIN F. SWEET, Assistant S
Department of Commerce.
PHILIP N. GADSEN, Representing
alton.
ROYAL MEEKER, Commissioner Of
representing that department..
LOUIS B. WHEHLE, General Cou,
representing the Treasury Depart
CHARLES W. BEALL. of Harris. +
~ senting the Inve stment Bankers
WILLIAM D. MAHON, President O.
Electric Railway Employees Of A
GEORGE L. BAKER, Mayor of Pc
Cities League of Mayors.
>A.... ~